The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-10-13

homes The business men of the city are max
ing attractive localities for residences. and many
are going along the Western Maryland Railroad
Farm lands are not advancing owing to our Sec
ton being that of manufactures also, because
of the expense in growing crops which do not
compare in product with other sections. The
people are much at fault here because the con-
ditions are not better"
Mr. T.. M. Bacon said I'VE must build houses
and make community for labor as people want
to get where there is congeniality. The estab-
lishment of homes causes an attraction for bet
ter things. It is not we'll for one man to own too
much land. There is no reason why this section
of the county should depreciate in value as we
are ahead of other states in the average yield of
wheat and corn. We should appreciate our
farms more and show the best results. Labor
has much to do with the condition of farmers.
1 think half of the land in Maryland is not de-
sirable or attractive along the railroads; espe-
cially is this the case from Baltimore to Wash
ington. The Western Maryland and part of the
Northern Central are exceptions"
Mr.. George Frame said: much property
along the water seems to be preferred now to
inland places and is bought for homes especial
ly. The price of land in Talbot, Kent and Cecil
counties is about 800 per acre and farms are
sought after, but it is different in this section
A farm was bought for $500 years ago that
could have been sold for $4,000 soon after, but
now the selling value is far less. 1t is the case
in our city; some parts of it show decline
while others are advancing in value because of
fashionable people seeking more desirable local
tiles. In Accomac and Northampton counties,
Va. land sells well-as much as 500 per acre.
In some instances sweet potatoes are profitable,
as four acres has been known to give $1,000 re-
turn to the owner. In the West the crops are
grown with less expense, owing to large yields
and the natural productiveness of the soil. Much
of the land has been bought by capitalists and
the owners have gone to Canada"
Mr.. T. ]. Lea said: 81 do not know why there
is not the desire for our farm land and yet 1t 1s
so the values are not encouraging. Much de-
ponds on the farmers line of effort and their
success. They should make it point to be sue
cessful, then there is union of interests in the
community. believe hog-raising can be made
profitable. have recently sold hogs that gave
me net price of 8 to OK cts. per pound. This
county is ahead in corn growing, but Montgom-
cry is ahead in wheat"
Mr.. s. Crowther said: 1.-THE farms that show
a profit are desirable. The present price Of pro-
duce is discouraging and farmers, being reluc-
tant in their efforts. their property shows de-
cline. There should be union of interests to
bring about paying profit in growing crops"
Mr.. John Bond said: 1.-THE crops in the West
are grown easier and with less expense, besides
the railroad accommodations are better. The
success of the farmers encourage them to stay
on the farms and their lands become valuable"
Mr.. e. G. Merryman said: "Some places are
too far off and have not the facilities of travel
dot for
full farming. Labor should be provided for, as
we cannot keep up our farms without it. have
seven houses for farm occupants"
The members of the club sat on the front porch
during the proceedings, which lasted until after
O'Clock, owing to the favorable weather. The
secretary was requested to make note of it, as
it is unusual for the weather of September 2eth
at night being so warm.
Meeting Of the School Board-Superin-
tendent Cooks Annual Report.--The
School Board held a meeting at Towson on the
9th instant with the president, Mr.. Thomas
B. Todd in the chair, and Mr.. A. s. Cook,
secretary.
colored school at Lutherville for which lot
has already been secured.
Commissioners Arthur's action in selling the
old school building at Kingsville. 18th district
for 1895, was ratified and the deed signed:
Permission was given Commissioner Shoe
maker to have well dug at the colored school
at Pikesville.
The matter of moving the Hoffmanville
school building and proposition for the loca-
ting of q new building at Rockdale were re-
ferred to Commissioner Shoemaker. A petit.
ton was received, signed by eleven patrons of
Hofmanville school, asking. that the old
building be permitted to remain in its present
location.
Mr. Thomas v. Richardson appeared before
the Board asking transportation for pupils
living at distant points to the Phoenix school.
Miss NJ. Jane Afford was appointed to fill q
vacancy in the faculty OF Franklin High
School, Reisterstown.
SUPERINTENDENT COOKS ANNUAL REPORT.
Superintendent Cook submitted his annual
report in which he discusses school CONSOLE
dalton and domestic science in the county and
other important educational topics. The re-
port, in part, says:
Cat recent meeting of the Board it was the
unanimous opinion of the members and the
superintendents that the schools be more and
better supervisioned.
Gas fully two-thirds of our pupils are in the
first three grades, the problem OF providing
presented itself, and the item of expense was
one of the first considerations. The manual
training appropriation by the State of $1,000
annually to each county that establishes q
white manual training and colored industrial
school was also considered. With this fund in
hand the Board was able to employ two white
and one colored teacher, with something left
over for supplies.
II believe that this plan of having an expert
in primary work is the very best solution of
the problem of supervision in these grades in
the counties, especially so since the expenses
for this additional supervision have been met
by an appropriation from the State, without
any additional expense to the county, except
for materials used. In county the size of
Baltimore county, with more than 400 teachers,
however. small appropriation from the coun-
ty funds should be made to assist in further
extending this work both to more schools and
to the intermediate grades.
1.-The primary teachers have taken advantage
of the additional help offered them. the princi-
pals of the schools have heartily co-operated In
the work, and our aim has been to give the
pupils of Baltimore county as good teaching as
can be found anywhere.
II cannot argue that school consolidation
will materially reduce the cost of schools in the
rural communities of Baltimore county be-
cause our conditions are not at all similar to
those in many communities of the Middle
West But by judicious selection OF schools
to be consolidated the expense OF the schools
will not be increased and in some cases there
will be a considerable decrease in expense.
We now have six schools consolidated by trans
portation-ive by wagons and one by railroad
and the total expense for transportation for the
last year was 81, 385.O2.
I'VE have been gradually developing 9
teachers institute on the plan of sectional
meetings for the last three years, each yeal
reducing the number Of teachers in each section
as well as the number of grades represented by
these teachers.
''By reason of the help given by the super
visor of primary work we were able to organize
a two weeks institute for teachers OF the tirs
three grades this year on the summer-schoo
plan that will have real and vital bearing or
the school work of the coming year. Al
observation lesson with class of firstgrads
children was given for an hour each morning
followed by criticism of the work by one o.
the instructors.
"Duripg the last two years classes OF upper
grade girls have been organized in some OF oul
larger schools in cooking and household
economy, under the direction of specia
teacher The classes are not forced upon any
community, but the matter of application il
left with the principal of the school, after con
sulting the pupils concerned and their parents
So many applications from schools have beer
on file during the last year that an additional
teacher has been employed for the coming year
Lessons are given once week during thu
year, the boys taking manual training while
the girls have the lessons in cooking"
A Native of Baltimore County After Mr.
Mudd's Scalp.-The Baltimore NeOs of 6tt
instant published an interesting sketch oil
Can't George NJ. Smith, the Democratic nom