The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-07-30


Anent the controversy which has
been raised In the State as to the
question Of more money for schools
and million dollars to be used In
Improving the school houses as advo.
Gated by Supt. Whitfield. that figures
showing the amount OF taxes collected
and the proportionate amount ex-
pended for education might prove in
teresting reading. Treasurer Miller
kindly furnishes the writer with the
following statement Of the amounts
in question, which refer to the taxes
collected in 1908 and the school funds
OF the sessions Of 1904:
Collected.
State tax, advalorem- /. Isl, 521, $50. So
State tax, privileges -. a9I $40 IA
State tax, polls .....s... BOA ,046 .29
Insurance tax ......-v. 46,132.3 "a
Total ................ .s2.2ss,s71 IS
Expended.
For common schools -. III ,200, 600 90
Chickasaw school fund 4. 55.573 .04
Blind Institute ........ 11,411 10
Deaf and Dumb Institute. 80, ass IL
Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College 1880. l5s,l7s. s5
Alcorn A. & M. College
tcoloredl 1890. .'.>.... SO, 92a .08
Industrial Institute and
College so.72s 81
University of Mississippi 101,715. 30
Holly Springs Normal
(colored) ........ 2,249. so
Summer Normals ....... 1850 90
Total .................$1. 727. 1884 rs
This leaves balance for other ex-
penses of the State of $5S5,887.27. OF
the whole amount collected IS per
cent is expended in the cause of ed
ucatton. The appropriations for the
coming session, however, are much
larger, the common school fund be-
ing about $685., 900 larger, and an in
crease in the college appropriations Of
considerable Importance. This State
has magnificent system Of public
schools to show for this amount Of
money expended, much better than
many of the States in this section of
the Union Whether the cost is too
much or not for the service rendered
and whether the limit has been reach
ed, as some conterd, this writer will
not attempt to say, but it il an undis-
puted fact that every Mississippian is
proud of the common school system
of the State. It has been stated, and
not contradicted, SO far as we know,
that Mississippi spends more money
for education as per the assessed val
uation of her property than any other
State in the Union. If we get good
results the money is well spent; if not,
then change should be made.
Alcorn county has taken most
commendable course on the question
Of better roads. Ten thousand dollars
is being spent for grading and gravel
as On experiment, and the prediction
is made that ere long every important
road in that county viii be graded
and graveled. Money cannot be bet
ter spent by community than in the
way of making good roads. It is econ
omy to have them, and it is passing
strange that men with excellent busi-
ness Judgment on almost every other
question will balk at the expenditure
OF q little money on the roads. A team
can pull several times the load over
good road that it can over q bad
one, do it with more ease and with a
saving to wear and tear Of harness.
vehicles, etc. One hundred thousand
dollars judiciously expended upc'l the
roads of any county in the State would
increase the value of property in that
county several times that amount and
besides the economy in drawing power
Of the team, saving harness, vehiclc.:,
ETC., would make life worth living. The
campaign for better roads in Missis-
sippi is on to stay and the solution will
be reached before interest in the sub.
ject is allowed to wane.
Send for few OF the Greater Mis-.
sissippi bulletins. write a letter to-
some friend or acquaintance in an.
other State and enclose them. This
VIII do good. Every citizen should
take an interest in the welfare Of
his State and in this manner good can
be done without cost. Resolve that
you viii do something for Mississippi
before the week. lis ended, and then do
II. II everybody would speak good
word for his community every time
the opportunity afforded, we would be
richer. more contented and happier
Give this plan trial and then write
your experience for this department.
Never let the opportunity pass To-
say a good word for Mississippi.
This department is promised some
facts and figures concerning the fruit
farm Of Howerton Bros. near Gun.
town, in the northern section Of the
state This is one Of the largest III
the State. and By far the largest in
that section Success has attended
the efforts of the promoters and their.
experience will we worth publication.
The city of Greenwood IS very anx;
ious % locate chair and mattress
factory there Inducements Of 4 strong
nature are offered the man who Will
supply these deficiencies.
The prairie region IS in fine condi-
tion, crops were never better, the peo-
pie are happy and contented and times
are good generally The raYages Of
the weeviI IL Texas will likely bring
the price Of cotton up 10 the last year,
mark, and with plenty Of corn ana
other necessarles BIZ life, The people
40 54xs1SS thar f441