The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-27
PROGRESS OF EDUCATION.
REPORT OF STATE SUPERINTEN-
DENT JOINER.
An Increase in Attendance shown.
Percentage of miterates Being Re-
duce9-Govencr TycocI1 Over-Run
Young Boy Drowned-Other News
Notes.
Messenger Bureau,

$500
/ The revenue collector
that a seizure of 100 cases of bottled
goods has been made at the Wilson
d~ispensary, on the ground of irregu-
l~arities.
The governor is over run with ap-
plications for pardons both person
ally n by mail. One of the latest
applications is for the pardon of Ctley.
the murderer of HoIlingsworth, who
is now in the penitentiary for life.
The governor leaves on the afternoon
of Christmas day for the south and he
will return from Florica on the End
of January, when his message to the
legislature will be completed.
The state treasurer is very proud
of the fact that his annual report is
the first one to come from the public
printer. 1t is not a long report but
is full of interest. Late last evening
the biennial report of State Superin-
tendent Jopner was issued too late
to be handled by any of yesterdays
mail. The report is lengthy, sc pages
and is very varied. The tables show
al increase of 20,207 white children.
and Of 4,i76 negro children, in the
enrolment of last year and this year.
/ n a total increase in the average
daily attendance of 1891 white and
1926 negro children during the two
years. The increase in enrolment
and average attendance is very great
in excess of the increase in school,!
population. which is extremely en-
c~ouraging, as showing an increase il.
| public confidence and sentiment in
favor of education. During the past
/ two years there has been an increase
of S475,16G in the school fund and of
S390,0S1 in the moun raised by
local taxation. During the two yeats
$319.576 was spent in building and
repairing school houses, much more
than double the amount spent for
those purposes during the preceding
two years. The valuation of school
property is now $4,000, 600, an in
crease OF SAL, 905 in the two years.
No less than 694 new school houses
were built or more than one a day on
an average. During the period there
was an increase of 2 - weeks in
length of both the white and negro
; school terms. The average monthly
salary of white teachers has increas-
J ed to S29.O5, and that of negro teach
| ers to s22.27. During the two years
33S rural libraries We're established
and $50 local tax districts. No less
thar 12S white and % negro Teach
| ers Institutes and summer schools
were held, with 1928 white teachers
and 3,2S7 negro teachers IN attend
| ance. The number of school districts
has been reduced AL by consolida-
ton. There has been a. marked i'm
provement in the personnel of coun-
ty superintendent. The increase OF
| interest in public school matters is
very great as is shown in every a
! notably in the celebration of North
| Carolina Day in the schools. The
women nave greatly aided in the bet
terment of schools and the use of the
loan fund for this purpose has had
| a remarkable effect. There are yet
527 schools districts without houses.
and there are yet sos log school
houses. as we'll as scores of old frame
ones which ought to be replaced with
something better. There are yet PAP!
White districts which have less than
65 children of school age, SO that more
consolidation is necessary. The aver
age of children to the square mile Is
about Is, the state being very Sparsely
settled. The little school districts are
very and do not do the
work they should. There is in the
state 10 1-2 per cent of white Hitter
acy, by the census of 1900, but this Is
being reduced quite rapidly, the SUI
pe~rintendent says, and the next CEN
sus report will make a far better
showing.
1t seems that after all the street car
interests may get together here, that is
the present company n the one JUS
chartered, though 1t has been
ed that a test suit will be brought IN
the COURTS. to see whether the city can
grant a charter To the new company.
Moth Cardinals exhibits at the st.
Louis exposition arc practically all re-
packed for shipment here and II is IN
derstood Will he here early in January.
Commissioner General Brimley who
has been in charge IS expected TO re-
turn next week. There will be a great
| deal of work to be done in the state
museum in re~-arranging h exhibits
as there will be a number of changes
in the various halls devoted to the ex-
] hibi.s.
| Deputy Revenue Collector Lewis re-
ports the capture of a large Illicit
This year 81, 1O9 was apid from this
COMPOSED of several Of extreme north
| eastern counties.
The Grand Lodge Of negro Odd Fe.-
| lows has ended its annual communica-
| ton at New Bern. 1t reelected L. L.
| Randolph Grand Master c. S. Brown,
| Grand Secretary. and a. R. Middleton
| Grand Treasurer. The increased MEM
| bership during the year is 1880, the total
! now being $500. No less than % new
| lodges were formed, the total amount
| being 139. The endowment plan, first
put IN operation last year is the cause
of the great increase in membership.
Last year IA new lodges were formed.
| This year s4.109 was paid from thies
fund to widows and orphans. The In
| uranc Commissioner says the system
is excellent. James H. Young has been
| reelected secretary Of the endowment
| department.
a thirteen year old boy, Austin Dur