Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-10-08
GOVERNOR SWANSON PUTS 1T UP
TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HARD.
He Defends His Administration and Points TO Proud Demo
cratic Record in State Affairs for the
Past twenty-five Years.


| extent to which it generously aids public
education. No institution of this State
brings more blessings and benefits than
those derived from the great system of
popular education, extending from the
university and colleges to the primary
schools. II is through this alone that
the State can be fully developed to
moral grandeur, intellectual wealth and
material prosperity"
He then showed that in 1884, when
T the Democratic party took control of the
schools of Virginia, education was in a
wretched condition; that the school
funds were in arrears; the terms were
short; that the teachers had to discount
their warrants in order to obtain their
salaries; that the schoolhouses were in
q wrstched condition, and the great
system of education was on the verge
of breaking down.
He then proved the great change
which had taken place since the Demo-
cratic party had taken charge. The
annual appropriation for public schools
in Virginia has increased from $780,
TAO q to $1.63o, 55O5O. The amount
given to colleges and higher institutions
has increased from $145, ,690. 76 to S597,
$50. The average daily attendance, al
though the school age has been increased
from five to seven years, has grown
from Isl, ,005 to 252,O6l. The number
of teachers increased from 5,997 to
9,S2S. The number of schooihouses
from 5, ,29l TO 1902. The value of school
property from 81, l,445, 4Sl. 9s to So, ,l52, =
506.73- The number ofhigh schools has
increased from "a to BIS. The average
salary OF the male teacher from S29. 62
to S45 20. The average salary OF the
female teacher from S2b. "a to $34. sc.
In these dry figures one reads the
splendid record of the Democratic party
and the wonderful educational revival
that is now possessing the State.
AID TO Roads.
He next discussed the new policy
inaugurated by the State in the last
few years for the improvement of the
public roads.
He showed that the prisoners in the
jails and convicts sentenced to the pen
itcntiary for less than FIVE years are
now being utilized on the public roads.
10 the great advantage and saving of
the State. There are now fourteen
convict camps working in the State.
| The State has appropriated $3.50, 600 10
aid the local authorities in construct
ing roads. This amount has been avail
ed OF by all the counties in the State
except ten.
and the great results that have accrued
from its operation. Under our present
system of taxation fifty.one per 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. lie argued the great
advantage 70 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 a few years the expenditure
would be more than repaid by the in
creased values. The State of Virginia
appropriated this year for road i'm
provement 1929. 500. Under the opera
tion of the road laws of Virginia 1876
miles of permanent roadts have been
CO lstructed; loo miles have been let to
contract and are now in process of con-
struction, 126 miles have been surveyed
and will soon be let to contract. and
application had been made for the sur
vey of about 265 miles more. Thus, un-
der the operation of the present law, we
may expect in the near future the COM
pietion of 739 miles of permanent roads.
Few States in the Union exhibit more
progress. In addition the law permits,
when an amount to a county is
less than 81. 500. it can be used in con-
struction of bridges, and splendid
bridges are now being constructed in
more than eighteen counties of Virginia.
The law also permits the amount to
the counties to be used in payment of
interest on bonds issued for road i'm
provement. Under this provision
1855, 900 worth of bonds have been is
sued in the different counties, which
will greatly accelerate the movement
Governor Swanson said;
Il favor the State setting aside a
certain sum Of money, derived from a
specific source of revenue. for the pur-
pose of road Improvement. The best
interest of Virginia demands an advance
and not a retreat in this great move
ment.'
Agriculture.
Governor Swanson next presented
the claim of the Democratic party or
the farmers of the State for what il
has done in behalf of agriculture. He
showed how it had created a depart
ment of agriculture; had passed Law
requiring all fertilizer to have stamped
on the bag its ingredients. requiring il
TO be analy2ed. AnY farmer of TIA,
State can have samples of fertilizer
analysed hv the department free o.
cost. He showed how this law alon.
J has saved to the people of Virgini:
} more than million dollars year II
the prevention of the sale of fraudu
lent and inferior fertilizers. He show
ed how the Democratic party had in
creased the appropriations to the Agri