Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/601

 WEST VIRGINIA 577 hibits the teaching of white and colored per- sons in the same school, and provision is made for separate schools for colored children. The school revenues are from the following sources : 1, annual interest on the invested school fund; 2, a uniform state tax of 10 cts. on the $100 valuation of all taxable property; 3, a state capitation tax of $1 on every male inhabitant over 21 years of age ; 4, a distinct levy for a teachers' fund ; 5, a distinct levy for a build- ing fund. The last two levies are made or rejected by a vote of the people of each dis- trict. The condition of the public schools in 1873 and 1874 is shown by the following table : PARTICULARS. 1873. 1874. Number of school districts 829 821 " of subdistricts 2,411 2845 2,857 8028 " of school houses 2,612 2880 " of children between 6 and 21 171,798 178 462 Number attending school 81,100 110580 Average dailv attendance 61,244 69,908 8,082 8842 Average number of months schools 8-86 4-12 $1,401,655 $1 540 460 Total school revenue $748,064 $740,938 $606,691 $704 767 The state normal school, established by the legislature in 1867 at Marshall college, is now at Huntington ; it was opened in 1868. Five branches have been established, viz. : at Fair- mont, 1869; West Liberty, 1870; Glenville, 1873; Shepherdstown, 1873; and Concord. These schools are under the general supervision of a board of regents; they are maintained by the state, and are open to students free of charge for tuition, on condition that they will teach for a specified time in the schools of the state. In 1875-' 6 there were 3 instructors and 80 students in the school at Huntington, 5 in- structors and 161 students at Fairmont, 3 in- structors and 26 students at West Liberty, and 5 instructors and 137 students at Shepherds- town. The West Virginia university, at Mor- gantown, opened in 1867, is under the general supervision of a board of nine regents. This institution has received the proceeds ($90,000) of West Virginia's share of the lands granted by congress in 1862 for the establishment of colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The citizens of Morgantown contributed to its establishment about $50,000 in grounds, build- ings, and mone'y. The endowment has been increased to $110,000 by the legislature, which also makes annual appropriations. The univer- sity embraces six departments, viz. : 1, prepar- atory ; 2, literary, covering a four years' course of studies arranged in nine schools, upon the completion of which the degree of bachelor of arts is conferred; 3, scientific, affording a four years' course in eight schools, and leading to the degree of bachelor of science ; 4, agri- cultural, with a two years' course; 5, mili- tary ; 6, engineering. There is also an elective course for those unable to graduate in any of the regular departments. A normal class for the benefit of teachers is formed every spring. In 1874-'5 there were in the university 11 in- structors and 125 students. The institution has a library of about 4,000 volumes, valuable sci- entific apparatus, and a museum of natural his- tory. Bethany college (Disciples'), at Beth- any, opened in 1841, in 1875-'6 had 7 instruc- tors and 125 pupils. West Virginia college (Freewill Baptist), at Flemington, opened in 1868, has normal, preparatory, and college de- partments; in 1875-'6 there were 7 instructors and 75 students. Storer college (Freewill Bap- tist), at Harper's Ferry, has primary, normal, and academic departments. It was opened in 1867, and in 1875-'6 had 10 instructors and 130 students. St. Vincent's college is a Ro- man Catholic theological seminary in Wheeling. Chief among the institutions for the advanced instruction of women are the Wheeling female college and the Parkersburg female academy of the Visitation (Roman Catholic). The total number of libraries in 1870 was 1,728, having an aggregate of 372,745 volumes. Of these, 1,090 with 220,562 volumes were private, and 638 with 152,183 volumes other than private. The state library in Wheeling in 1876 contained 7,000 volumes. The number of newspapers and periodicals was 59, having an aggregate cir- culation of 54,432 and issuing annually 4,012,- 400 copies. There were 4 daily, with a circu- lation of 5,192; 2 tri- weekly, 550; 48 weekly, 42,390 ; 2 semi-monthly, 3,100 ; and 3 monthly, 3,200. The total number in 1875 was 75, of which 6 were daily, 2 tri-weekly, 1 semi-week- ly, 61 weekly, 1 bi-weekly, and 4 monthly. There were 1,529 religious organizations in 1870, having 1,018 edifices, with 297.315 sittings and property valued at $1,835,720, as follows: DENOMINATIONS. Organl- rations. Edi- ficet. Sittingt. Property, 802 205 58.400 $191,805 28 18 1450 9,050 Disciples .... 4 1 2f)0 600 Episcopal, Protestant Evanpelical Association... 21 2 1 19 1 7.855 800 166,500 1,000 22 21 7.800 98.800 679 552 152.865 728.018 Presbyterian, repular 87 2 76 27,820 828,050 Reformed Church in the United States (late Ger- 2 2 600 15,000 Roman Catholic 40 87 10,800 221,950 Second Advent United Brethren in Christ 04 4 62 1 18,800 800 42,450 1,000 Unknown (union) 11 11 1,425 5,050 On April 22, 1861, nearly 1,200 citizens as- sembled in Clarksburg, in the W. part of Vir- ginia, denounced the action of the Richmond convention in passing the ordinance of seces- sion, and recommended the people of N. W. Virginia to meet in convention in Wheeling, May 13. Similar meetings were held else- where, and delegates from 25 western coun- ties met in Wheeling and passed resolutions