Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-29

thfe a0Nh.
lie then proved the great change
which had taken place since the Dem
ocratic party had taken charge. The
annuai appropriation for public
schools in Virginia has Increased
from ssls.74027 TO si.630,550.5o. The
lamount given to colleges and higher
institutions increased from si45,63O..
rs to 1897 $4,000. The average daily
attendance. although the school age
has been increased from five to
seven years, has grown from l5l.0O5
to 252,06l. The number OF teachers
increased from 5.s97 to 1928. The
] number OF school houses from 1921 to
1922. The value of school property
from s1,442.4Sl 9S to $6.i52. 506.73 The
number Of high schools has increased
from "a to 315. The average salary
of the male teacher from $29.62 to
$3.50; the average salary of the fe-
male teacher from 1854 to sS+s6.
Governor Swanson then showed
how in recent years the number OF
high schools had so increased that
more than one-half ofthe magisterial
or school districts in the state now pos
sess a high school. and that the i'm
provement should continue until the
children of the rural sections had edu-
cationai facilities equal to those in the
cities. He enumerated the various
recent acts of the General Assembly
towards aiding education. The special
appropriation OF s475.0G0.00 annually
for the primary schools; $l00.0o0-0c
for the high schools; s15.o00.00 for
norma, training schools; $20,0O0.e0
create an agricultural and manual
training school in every congressional
district: a fund TO furnish free to all
schools travelling libraries, and also
travelling libraries for the public.
Single Book List.
He then said, that the Democrats
rarty had redeemed its pledge. and
established the single list for books,
saving to the people OF Virginia more
than $50 100000 annually in the pur-
chase of school books.
No state in the Union has shown
such progress in. education as Vir-
ginia, he said.
The Governor then presented the
advantages which have accrued to
the state from utilizing the literary
fund for loans to the schools authori-
ties in order that new school build
ings might be constructed. those loans
being made at the rate Of four per
cent, payable In ten years. Under the
wise provision OF this act more than
| two million dollars worth OF splendid
school buildings have been construct
led
Governor Swanson then said: "The
educational skies of Virginia were
never brighter or illumined with great
or hope. One Of the great factors
in producing this great educational
revival in this state is our present
superintendent of public instruction.
Democratic Aid to Roads.
Gle next discussed the new policy in
augurated by the state in the last few
years for the improvement OF our
public roads.
He showed that the prisoners In
the jails and convicts sentenced to the
De nitentiary fer less than five years
are now being utilized on the public
roads, to the great advantage and saw
ing of the state. There are now four
teen convict camps working in the
state. The state has appropriated
$3.50. eco to aid the local autbori-
ties in constructing roads This
amount has been availed of by all
the counties In the state except ten.
He showed the advantage Of the Law
and the great results that have &C
crued from its operation. Under our
present system of taxation fifty
Ter cent OF the taxes is paid by the
cities, and under this law the rich
cities Of the state pay more than one
half Of the state aid to public road
improvement and construction He
argued the great advantage TO both
the city and country to be derived
from good roads. how It benefited
country life. increased the value OF
farms and farm products. and how in
few years the expenditure would
be more than repaid by the increased
values. The state OF virginia appro-
| nrfafed this wear fer road imnrnze-