davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

and the red tape necessary to secure
any of this money put it out of our
reach, for the districts that needed
it most even too small, having less
than s. children to claim it. And
right here i want to say that in my
opinion the legislature ought to do
away with that appOrtionment or else
give each county its pro rata share on
some equitable basis for / do not think
it has served its purpose for which
it was intended. | think our very
efficient and much beloved State Su-
perintendent and his assistants have
done all in their power to distribute
this fund where it was most needed
but l am sure they have had a hard
problem to solve. We have II rural
libraries in the county and l have
the money subscribed for two more
and | believe that this is the best
money spent in the county, because it
helms to educate the old people as
we'll as the children. and we must set
the parents aroused and interested If
we expect to get a regular attendance
of the children.
We have two CD we'll established
graded schools in the county, one 1T
Enfield and one at Scotland Neck, and
an election has been held and carried
Almost unanimously for one at Weldon
rail- session. The two schools above
mentioned are doing fine work and the
attendance is splendid, showing that
when people are really Interested the
children get the benefit.
We have a supplemented school at
Littleton that l hope at no distant time
to change to an up-to-date graded
school and l certainly hope the pro-
gressive people at Roanoke Rapids
e nj
graded school there in the very near
future. for it is certainly needed, and
they must keep UP with the process
sion We have some good rural
schools in the county. among the
most progressive of these is the school
at Aurelian Springs where the
teachers have done exc client work, ana
where the attendance has been good
and when | hope to establish a local
tax or graded school at no distant
time, provided the people will not
allow themselves to be broken up
with local discussions We also have
good prospects at HObgood and at
new school just started at HeathsVille,
also at Brinkleyvilie and RingWood,
but the people in these places are
not as much interested as they ought
to be. Halifax Gown. too, needs
awakening in the cause of education.
However, we are not discouraged,
neither are we asleep. our people
move slowly. but they do not take
step backward. our schools are better
than they were and our teachers are
better prepared to teach. Our Board Of
Education is progressive, and in the
great battle against ignorance, now il
progress, old Halifax county VIII
give a good account of herself.
Yours. truly.
A S. HARRISON,
County Supt.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

ing Superintendent Jas. W. Hays,
Gull the following:
Number painted school houses, 1901,
3; 1895, 81.
Value of school property, 1901,
a20,959; 1905, $54.115
Average salary white teacher, 1901,
s29; 1905, $36
Average school term, 1901, IL
mouths: 1905, 5 Ia months.
Number school districts. 1901, rs;
1905. 49,
Number local tax districts, 1901, 1;
1905. 8.
Number rural libraries, 1901, O.;
1905. Is.
County teachers associations, 1901,
o; 1905, 2.
County teachers Libraries, 1901, 0;
1906, .
Number ladies' societies for inn
provement school property, 1901, o.;
1905. l.
Assessed valuation property listed
for taxation, 1901, $3,900.050; 1905,
$6,247. All.
A casual glance at the above figures
will show our Improvement much more
concluSvely than any amount of words
that / might use. To the wisdom and
energy of our retiring superintendent.
J. w. Hays. and his able board is due
much of our success so far.
The people of the county have the
greatest confidence in our present
Board OF Eiucation-Geo. w. Connor,
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

ffested in public education. Four
years ago our Board of Education
began a reconstruction Of the public
system of this county at first at the
protest of a large number of our
people, but the opposition to improve
school facilities as understood by mod
ern educators is rapidly melting away
and consolidation with larger and
better houses is fast making new
friends. During the past four years
considerably more money has been
spent in building new school houses
and buying equipment than the total
valuation of all public school property
amounted to i'll 1900. Perhaps there
is no stronger evidence that the pub
lie schools are considered of more i'm
portance by all the people now than
ever before than the fact that they
demand more competent teaches.
We have two local tax districts in the
county and one other district has vot-
ed local tax but the tax has not
been levied. All in all / consider the
outlook for the public schools of Yad-
kin very promising.
A. T. MARTIN.
County superintendent
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
VANCE COUNTY.

1t is difficult to estimate what any
rural or educational policy has done
or will do. We cannot judge but by
the outward signs and even these
must be "boiIed down and sailed"
We shall not undertake to specu-
late on what our schools Will do but
shall state in few words what the
people in Vance county have done in
the past years and let the people
judge.
Vance is a very small county but
it is filled with good public spirited
people, and what has been done to
improve the public schools has been
done largely by these people. encour-
aged by the Board of Education and
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

ers indicate that the school did con-
siderable good. The ten or twelve
high schools distributed over the
county are also patent factors in pre-
pairing and improving the teachers.
Several Of these, of course, are con-
Quoted in connection with the public
schools. On our high schools and prl-
vate schools we have to depend very
largely for our supply of teachers, De
cause only a small per cent OF the
public school teachers are college
trained 1t is to be hoped, therefore,
in order to complete our public School
system and to have a sufficient num-
Der of teachers, that, several pubhc
high schools will be established III
the county by the Board OF Education.
And thus we may solve satisfactorily
the most vital enigma confronting US,
the problem of having more and pct
ter trained teachers.
For several years we have had a
teachers association which meets
monthly during the winter. y pro
gram committee arranges the pro-
grams and appoints leaders for the
discussion of questions pertaining to
teaching. In this way also the teach
ers are improved, Last year splen-
did library especially suitable for
teachers use was secured as one OF
the accomplishments of the teachers
association
The seven or eight modern, newly
erected houses in as many localities
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

together, making here and there local
reforms, until q general reform could
be inaugurated.
The present county school officers
have not been in office long enough to
present To the public a well defined
policy for the rapid upbuilding of the
schools throughout the county. W.
are sensible that thorough reform is
badly needed, but we realize the
danger of attempting a general over
hauling of the school system until we
become perfectly familiar with geo
graphical, social and intellectual con
ditionS throughout the county. This
neCesS. tates in the main 4 conservative
policy during the coming school year,
but il does not mean stagnation. Every
effort will be made to improve the
efficiency of the schools by securing
competent teachers and increasing the
enrolment and attendance of the pu-
nils.
Through the medium of township
meetings for teachers. committeeman
and patrons we hope to study the ed
ucat Onal needs. TO help and encour-
age the teachers. and to arouse a pub
lie sentiment that will compel good
school houses, competent teachers.
better attendance of the pupils, and
the moral support of the people of the
community-these are the crying
needs of this county.
With an area of about 700 square
miles and 4 white school census of less
than 1000, Granville county has fifty
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
DAVE COUNTY

Davie is Piedmont county, lying
just west of the Yadkin river, and con-
tainS 264 square miles. In 1890 there
were 9,48O whites and 2.635 negroes.
There are only two towns, one. has a
population of 1855 and the other 273.
There is, therefore, little corporate
wealth in the county and only $780,
034 worth of railroad property. The
bulk of the $7,94S.56 raised for educa-
tional purposes during the fiscal year
ending June goth, was collected from
rural population. The school fund
per capita, is necessarily smaller than
in counties having large towns and
much corporate wealth.
There are 5000 white school chill
dren and 962 colored. OF these the
whites have enrolled 6S per cent, the
colored ~ per cent. The average at
tendance of the whites is 80 per cent,
of the colored 46.5 per cent.
The property and poll taxes of the
whites amount to $5,847.50, of the col
Ored to $41S.92. OF the total expendi-
lures for the year ending in June, the
colOred people paid not quite one-half
of one per cent, but received 1913 per
cent.
There is but one graded school in
the county, and that is at the only
cotton factory village. This school
has a good new building, one male
and three female teachers, with an en-
rollment of 297, and the average at
tendance of 1871. Besides this graded
school, there are four academical
schools, continuing through six or
eight months in the year. These
schools, all fit for college and with one
exception, use the public funds in this
respective districts. In these, all pu-
pills from to p have free tuition for
about four months in every year.
There is no local tax and little agi-
tation or sentiment for it, Until at
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
SAMPSON COUNTY.

Sampson, one of the largest coun-
ties in the State. maintains one nun
dred and forty-two public schools,
ninety-one Of which are white. and
lifty-one cOlored In addition there
are ten or twelve excellent private
schools, some of which rank second to
no preparatory schools in eastern
North Carolina To attend school
there are Of school age nine thousand
two hundred and ninety-siX children.
of which six thousand and twenty
three are white. and three thousand
two hundred and seventy-three col
ored. The county is divided into six
teen townships, each of which has ITS
respective school committee. The
schools open on the first Monday Of
November and continue practically
four months.
Among the most urgent needs of
our public schools may be mentioned
(a) better trained and a larger num-
Der of teachers; OBJ better and more
attractive school houses; tc) a larger
number of special tax districts and
consolidation of small districts, and
Cd and greater enthusiasm generally
for education. We shall speak briefly
of the work which has been done in
Sampson along these lines during the
past two years.
A bi-annual summer school for the
teachers of the county which is to
have at least a months duration has
been provided by the Board OF Edu-
cation in order that our teachers may
have an opportunity to equip them
selves for more proficient teaching.
Last summer ninety-siX teachers at
tended The summer school and were
instructed by four experienced teach
ers. The improvement in the cXaml-
nation papers of many of the teach
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

The educational interests of Macon
county have suffered greatly from an
over supply of schools and an under
supply of teachers We have accom-
plished little in the way of CONSOLIDATE
ing school districts.
Last year we built four excellent
new school houses. Plans are on foot
for the building of others during the
present year, while extensive repairs
are being made on a number of old
houses.
We have no local tax districts.
Macon was the first county in North
Carolina to adopt, by vote of the peo-
pie. q compulsory school law. This
law provides that all children be-
tween the ages of 10 and 16 shall
attend some school annually for q
period equivalent to three-fourths of
the public school term in the district
wherein they reside. During the first
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

ripe scholarship, sound judgment pa
tent industry, sanguine temperament
and did as much, perhaps, for the
educational and moral uplift of the
people, with whom he cast his lot, as
any man who has ever lived among
them.
Long before the Civil War he found
ed Trinity School, ChocoWinity, an
institution whose influence has ever
been potent for good in this section
of the State.
Many men now in active life were
his pupils, and feel that they owe to
him a lasting debt of gratitude. He
died in 1898, but his work goes on
under the able and efficient direction
of his son, the Rev. n G.. Hughes
present principal Of Trinity School
NATHANIEL HARDING,
Snnt
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
GRANVILLE COUNTY.

Educational progress in Granville
county is yet in its infancy. During
the past few years theories have been
advanced and plans laid which prom
Used far-reaching results, but owing to
what seemed insurmountable difficult
ties little more has been accomplished
than to hold the county school system
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
BEAUFORT COUNTY.

Among great North Carolina teach
ers my mind mstinctively reverts 10
Rev. n c. Hughes, ID, for many
years the principal Of Trinity School
Chocowinity. N. c. DR.. Hughes was a
native of Pennsylvania, graduating.
when seventeen years Old from the
University of that State as salutatori-
an of his class. He was a man of
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
WILSON COUNTY.

few words will tell the story OF
the educational progress made in
Wilson county since Governor Aycock
inaugurated the movement in the
State that attracted the Whole nations
attention. and aroused our people to
such action that results hitherto UNI
expected have been attained.
From the last report of our rctir-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
LINCOLN COUNTY.

The educational sentiment is steadi-
ly growing On our people. The schools
are in the best shape they have ever
been. We have better school houses,
pay teachers larger salaries and have
longer school terms than ever before.
Within the last year we have voted
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
YADKIN COUNTY.

For more than fifty years Yadkin
county has excelled in number and
efficiency in academical schools. but
like all other counties of the State, no
considerable importance has been at
tached to the public schools by q
vast majority of the people. More re-
Gently a greater interest is being man.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

cent, and an increase of nearly 20
per cent. i'm the average daily at
T. J. JOHNSTON
County superintendent.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

special school tax and established two
graded schools in the county-at Lin
colnton and Denver.
G.. Il. HIGAFNER.
County superintendent.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13

superintendent T. f. Brown.
cational policy for the superintendent
OF the State to keep in touch with
each other, and know something of
each others work, and l can conceive
of no better medium through which
we can do this than the columns OF
Tic News and Observer.
r. e. BROWN,
Supt. Schools of HEREFORD County.
Alaska forum., 1905-02-04

them present at the latter end of the session. Still he could not spare time to finish up the business before the court, nor grant the demand of Idleman for an immediate re-trial, while all the witnesses were present.
 It was apparent that this extreme haste to adjourn court was to enable him to overtake the senate committee before their departure from Nome. Thus the inconvenience to the people, and the sacrificing of their financial and other interests were naught, when they conf1icted with the personal and political interests of Wicxersha1n. He has said: No one has the right to criticize the actions of judge:' If that judge enters the political arena as a candidate for public office, we claim the right to show lis disqualifcations.
Alaska forum., 1905-02-04

:. THE ..hoss" poets parody on The wearin' of the green" can soon be ap- propriately transposed to a parooy cn ,MJohn Browns body lies a mouldering in the grave" It will then fully and truly express the sentiments of tho miners across. tha divide J.
Alaska forum., 1905-02-04

THE people of Alaska are beginning to realize that the country at large is not progressing as it should. Many al- legged reasons have been offered. Gov ernor Brady would probably give his as: Agricultural possibilities over- looked" Alaska is an organized ter ritory;" but not 8 territory in the sense which the term ordinarily implies. In every territory in the United States, the inhabitants therein have a voice in the government. The American citi- zen who comes to Alaska is disenfran- chized-t the @'great American preroga- tive'' is not his. Until Alaska receives justice, all progress of a permanent character must necessarily be laggard
Alaska forum., 1905-02-04

magnitude CO cause Cne preS1QenC to hesitate. The reasons for Day not re- porting them to the president are best known to Day himself. Day refused absolutely to stop at Rampant and allow these charges to be proven to him beyond doubt. This fact alone would should lead the president to realize that something was wrong. It now becomes the investigation of the Investigator and we now look to the president to make good those promises made to the people before election, for the presi- dent has never yet dealt in campaign fire crackers.
 The fact Day has not acted fair with the president, is no reason why the latter should be unfair with the peo- pie: The interests of the people have been so shamafully sacrificed, and the welfare of Alaska so long neglected merely to satisfy the personal desires of handful of Federal officials with strong political aspirations-that pa- tience has almost ceased to be vir- tue. Judge Wickersham took advan- tage of the good nature, and apparent unconcern of the residents of this pre- cinct, as we'll as their lack of know ledge as to his true character, by caus- ing one of his henchmen to circulate a petition asking the president to reap point Wickersham, judge of the Third division. This henchman was H. L. Hedger, foreman of the last Rampant Federal grand jury.
 This action alone was sufficient grounds for those opposed to his reap pointment, and who were cognizant of his corrupt, illegal and unjust acts to publicly oppose such action and enlight- en the people as to the true status, thereby showing the disqualification of the candidate. It is we'll recognized fact that persons seeking office by ap- pointment are subject to the same searching public investigation as to their qualifications as though they came before the people for election through the ballot box
 !. Judge Wickersham could easily post pone the convening of court at Ram- part in 1903, for fifteen days, so as to enable him to have n1entv. nf time in
Alaska forum., 1905-02-04

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1905.
 PRES DENT ROOSEVELT, in his signed statement to the public of Nov. 4, 1904 in which he denounces the malicious charges made by Judge Parker as false, concludes as follows: t'If elected l shall go into the presidency unhamper- d by any, pledge, promise or under standing of any kind, save my promise made openly to the American people; that so far as in nay power lies, I shall zee to it that every man has square deal-no less and no more."' Now Mr.. President, we take you at your word. and desire to hold you strictly to the point at issue this Wickersham matter.
 We claim that your personal repre- sentative did favor one man more than another in his investigation of charges made against Federal officials of this of this division. We hold that this Investigator wilfully shielded cor rupt officials to the detriment of those seeking justice. Last summer the president, in referring to corrupt of- ficials, said: Mot only will turn the rascals out, but, if after rigid examin- ation, corruption is disclosed, the off, lenders will be vigorously prosecuted to the full extent of the law The fact that Day ignominiously neglected to make rigid examination, does not make these accused officials any the less guilty.
 Now that the senate is making the examination that Day should have made while in this division, the findings, no doubt. will be such as to convince the president that Wickersham is not the proper man for the place, and he will not insist on that body confirming the reappointment~ The charges which have heretofore been published in these columns, arc certainly of sufficient
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-11-24
Lackawanna Railroad Appointmen n,

J. J. Byrne, commercial agent for
the Lackawanna railroad at Cleve-
land, has been appointed division
fl eight agent OF that road with head.
quarters at Syracuse, N. ", to fill the
vacancy caused by the recent death of
William e. Wood. The appointment
is effective December 1st.
Mr.. Byrne, prior to his connection
with the Lackawanna railroad, repre-
sented the Lackawanna line, fast
freight service operated by the Lack.
awanna and Nickel Plate roads. The
new position means larger scope for
the ability he has already displayed
in connection with his company's
freight traffic, and both by training
and ability he is well qualified to as.
sumo the duties Of his new, position.
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-11-24
oxYaen TO Cut Metals.

Diamond may Ut diamond, but oxy-
gen cuts metals, at least at Liege.
There there is daily exhibition of the
Jottrand process for cutting metals by
a jet of oxygen. The apparatus con-
sists essentially in blow pipes, moved
along guide in front of the metal
plates or part to be cut at the rate OF
about six inches per minute.
One of the blow pipes delivers an
oxyhydrogen fame, which raises the
metal wnere it is to be cut to a tenn
perature corresponding with dark red.
The following blow pipe delivers jet
OF pure oxygen which enters into COM
hustion with the hot metal, thus pro-
ducing a clear channel like a saw cut
about one-eighth inch thick. the re-
mainder of the metal being unaffected
by the operating.-Exchange.
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-11-24
Odd Things About Gold.

Few people know the real color of
gold, because it is seldom seen except
when heavily alloyed, which makes 1t
much redder than when 1t is pure.
The purest coins ever made were the
$50 pieces which once were in common
use in California. Their coinage was
abandoned because the loss by abra-
sion was so great and because their in
terror could be bored out, and filed
with lead. They were octagonal In
shape and were the most valuable coins
ever minted and circulated.
: All gold is not alike when refined.
Australian gold is distinctly redder
than that taken in California. More
over, placer gold is more yellow than
that which is taken from quartz. This
is one of, the mysteries Of metallurgy,
because the gold in placers comes from
that which is in quartz. The gold in
the Ural mountains is the reddest in
the world.-Philadelphia Inquirer. -