Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/777

 DELAWARE 773 forming part of the state debt. Of the out- standing bonds, $165,000 mature Jan. 15, 1875 ; the remainder of the war bonds become due in January, 1885; while the $352,000 railroad bonds run till 1890. The state has a fund of $452,419 for the support of free schools, and a general fund of $471,800, both invested in local institutions and enterprises, leaving a net in- debtedness of only $400,781. The oyster fund is derived from licenses, and from the lease of oyster plantations in the Delaware river. The receipts and expenditures from Jan. 18, 1871, to Dec. 15, 1872, were as follows: RECEIPTS. Source. Amount. Vacantland $112 07 Interest on investments 26,272 50 Clerks of the peace, for licenses 55,587 72 Fines and forfeitures 441 63 Railroads 45,858 62 Tax on bank shares 5,695 76 County treasurers 53,762 84 " officers (clerks of courts) 4,448 52 Tax on insurance companies 1,650 00 Oysterfund 5,688 80 Belonging to the school fund 5,189 71 Total $204,70817 EXPENDITURES. Purpose. Amount. Eailroad instalment $1,150 00 Attorney general 1,125 00 Coupons and bonds 169,871 60 Judiciary 7,950 00 Executive and secretary of state 2,800 00 Publishing laws and printing 602 80 Librarian 150 00 Legislative committee 1,000 29 Resolutions of general assembly 46 00 Vol. ii. of Houston's reports 1,000 00 Incidental expenses 16 42 Total $185,711 61 At the latter date the treasury contained $58,- 046 82. The rate of interest is 6 per cent. There is no state prison, convicts being con- fined in the county jails. The blind, deaf and dumb, and insane are provided for by the coun- ties, when poor, or sent to the Pennsylvania in- stitutions, at the expense of the state. Delaware is entitled to one representative in congress. The school system of Delaware is very imper- fect, and has remained substantially the same for many years. There is no state or county superintendence, educational matters being left to the voters of the school districts, of which there are 370. The voters of each district meet annually on the first Saturday of April, and elect one member of the school committee, who serves for three years. They also decide what sum shall be raised for school purposes for the ensuing year, and whether it shall be raised by taxation ; if a school tax is negatived, the sum agreed upon may be raised by subscription. Not more than $400 can be appropriated for schools in each district, nor more than $500 for building and repairing school houses ; but a minimum, fixed by law, must be raised by tax- ation or subscription to entitle the district to its share of the state school fund. The schools are free to all white children over five years of age. The committees have general supervision of schools in their respective districts, and are authorized to levy a tax for the support of schools in each district of New Castle co. of $100; of Kent co., $50; and of Sussex co., $30. In the city of Wilmington the interests of education are better cared for. Its schools are under the immediate supervision of a super- intendent appointed by the board of education, which consists of 30 members elected by the people, and has full control both of the schools and of the amount to be raised for their sup- port. The state school fund is derived from the income of the share of the " surplus reve- nue " received by Delaware from the United States, and from a portion of the proceeds of certain fees and licenses. In 1869 $113,727 77 was expended for school purposes, of which $81,697 46 was raised by contribution, and $32,030 31 derived from the school fund. Ac- cording to the federal census of 1870, 19,965 children attended school during the year, of whom 9,862 were white males and 8,908 white females, 663 colored males and 532 colored females. There were 375 schools of all kinds, having 147 male and 363 female teachers; in- come for year ending June 1, $212,712, of which $120,429 was derived from taxation and public funds, and $92,283 from other sources, including tuition fees ; 326 of the schools, having 388 teachers, were public, of which one was a normal school, 12 were graded common schools, and 313 ungraded schools. Of those not public, 11, including 2 colleges and 9 academies, were classical schools, 14 day and boarding schools, and 24 parochial and charity schools. The state makes no provision for the education of colored children. The Delaware association for the moral improvement and education of the colored people, a charitable organization, had 20 schools in operation in 1871, with 1,040 pupils enrolled, and an average attendance of about 800. The Delaware state normal uni- versity, at Wilmington, was organized in 1866 and incorporated in 1867, but from political motives an act was passed in 1871 to repeal its charter. It continues, however, in successful operation, and in 1871-'2 had 11 instructors (6 male and 5 female) and 221 students, of whom 68 were females. It consists of a nor- mal and high school, with 17 male and 18 fe- male students; a mechanical and commercial school, with 79 students (male) ; a select school for the ordinary English branches, with 29 male and 29 female students; and a primary school, with 28 male and 21 female pupils. The university confers the degree of bachelor of teaching. The Wesleyan female college, at Wilmington, organized in 1839, in 1872 had 12 instructors, 132 students, of whom 60 were in the preparatory department, and a library of 3,500 volumes. Delaware college, at Newark, a state institution, organized hi 1870, in 1872 had 10 instructors, 105 students, of whom 93 were in the preparatory department, and a li- brary of 6,000 volumes. It has recently been opened to female students. The congressional