Year: 1874

The management of our public
schools has been such as To. reflect
credit on the able and efficient Board
of Education. It will be seen by the
following comparative statement that
both the number of schools and pupils
have rapidly Increased in the last two
years: .L .g.f


Number of schools in 1872, s; teach
ers, 8. Number of schools in 1874, Is;
teachers, IS. Number of children at
tending in 1872, 575; number of chill
dren attending in 1874, SO.


!, According to the last census there
are in the city 2,4ll children between
the ages of five and seventeen years.
Deducting from this those under six
year old and those attending private
and denominational schools, We have
at least 1000 children who attend no
school. At least one-half of this
number will be compelled to attend
school If the compulsory education
law is enforced. AS our school rooms
are now nearly all full, it will be seen
that in order to afford room and teach
ers for the non-attending children,
largely increased facilities must be
provided. Provision ought to be made
for purchasing number of school lots
at an early day. Two of the school
houses now occupied are on lots owned
by private parties and one school
house is rented property. There are
now fifty children, nearly all small,
living on the east side of the river.
Parents in that locality are demand
ing the establishment of schools in
that part of the city. The settlement
around the new depot will sin ashort
time comprise population sufficient
to support school. This is also true
of the neighborhood about the WOolen
Mills.


The current expenses of our schools
are now about $4,000 per- month or
SO 600 per aniiunl fuT school year OF
ten months. To meet this expenditure
there will be received: From the State
School Fund, $l2,000; from the Coun-
ty School Fund, $4,000; from the City
School Fund, $4,000.


To meet the increased expenses con-
sequent upon the enforcement of the
Compulsory Education Law, and to
provide and furnish the additional
school houses required, provisions
must be made. Our teachers are all
well qualified and competent to dis
charge the duties they have assumed,
and our schools are in n highly satis-
factory and prosperous condition. In
the supply of books, apparatus and
other measures they will compare
favorably with those of any of our
sister cities.


Our High School in which all the
higher English studies together with
Latin and Greek are now taught will
soon afford our citizens all the advan-
tages of an academic and collegiate
school, thus enabling young men and
women to SECURE q thorough educa-
ton, and enabling the wealthy to ed
cate their sons and daughters ut home
and under home influence.


TIE LIBRARY QUESTION.


The question of establishing pub
lie library on the plan provided by the
special act of the Legislature-the is
suance of bonds-did not enter into
the campaign which closed with the
election Of the present city officials.
An expression from the people on the
proposition has never been obtained,
and what their verdict would be, we
have no present means of knowing.
1t has been urged that the funds avail
able from the plan provided for by the
act would prove inadequate for the
erection of a library building such as
required; that the revenue Designed to
provide additions to the collection of
books now on hand and to meet the
current expenses of the library would
prove inadequate. OF the correctness
of these arguments am not inform ed
and merely recapitulate them for
your consideration, should the ques-
tion. come up during your delibera-
tions. The day is not distant when
the city will erect a City Hall build
ing, and perhaps the best and most
economical plan of obtaining q library
room of sufficient capacity would be
to have such room or rooms set apart
for library purposes in the City Hall
building. AS the people have not ex-
pressed their will on the library ques-
tion, | shall make no suggestion as to
your future action in reference to the
matter. All issues involving an in-
crease of taxation should be carefully
considered and if possible referred di-
rectly to the people. r "'irnh'17 800 Hs


RAPID GROWTH oFTHE CITY. s4as.a..


The rapid growth of our city is
demonstrated by actual figures. Less
than two years ago our population
numbered but s, 600, while the year
Just closed shows a population of 13,





cent, and when we consider that a
great portion of this increase has been
made within the last year we see that
our growth has ben remarkable. AT
the rate our population is now in
creasing it is more than probable that
by the close of 1875 Los Angeles will
number 10000 people-making her the
second city in population as she now
is in commercial Importance in the
State.
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.


The law requiring the appointment
of Board of Water Commissioners is
q dead letter so far as our city is con
cerned. / would recommend that the
provisions of this law be complied
with by the appointment of q Board
of competent Commissioners. In APP
pointing the members of this Board
care should be taken, to select gentle
men free from partiality or prejudice,N
who will deal justly and fairly between
the consumers of water and those who
supply it. 1t would be equally unjust
to all to demand unreasonable reduce
tions and impose impossible condi-
tions. The law of supply and demand
should be considered. The cost, guam
tity and quality of the water brought
into and consumed by the city are I'M
portant items for the consideration OF
| those who assume the task of regulat-
| ing the rates paid for water and of
| passing judgment on the quality or
that water. A due observance OF the
law and proper regard for the inter-
1 A. f..k.x