The Ancient City Extracts 1850

starting January 5, 1850

 

P C Zylstra Postmaster

 

B A Putnam Surveyor General

 

Doctor. William H. Simmons, Register of Public Lands

 

Thos T Russell Receiver,

 

A Alvarez Keeper of Spanish Archives

 

Humphrey Judge of Probate

Peter B. Dumas Clerk Circuit Court

 

Rafael B Canova Sheriff and Tax Collector

 

James R. Sanchez Collector of Customs replaced by Col John M Hanson Oct 12

 

Ora Howard Inspector of Customs

 

I H Bronson Judge US Court Northern District of Florida

 

R. Fairbanks Clerk US Court

George L Phillips Justice of the Peace

 

F J Quincy, Justice of the Peace

 

Mathew Solana Mayor

 

C Bravo

 

A Rogero

 

P Benet

 

M Medecis Aldermen

 

Charles Hager, Clerk of the City Council

 

P. Ferreira City Marshal and Clerk of the Market

County Commissioners Matthew Solana, G. Humphreys, President of Board of County Commissioners, and Mr. Fontane

 

Common Schools

 

96,688 children are taught in the Common Schools alone of the City of New York, and 463,000 in the Common schools of the State. Governor Floyd of Virginia, in his Message says, the schools and colleges throughout the Commonwealth are in an unprecedented flourishing condition. Would that the Governor of Florida could say as much.

 

Mr. Brooks, a member of Congress from New York, has transferred the appointment of a Cadet to West Point, which returned with him, to the Faculty of the Free Academy, with instructions to bestow it on the fittest and most deserving student. We hope our representative from Florida will follow this example, and that the next Cadet from Florida will be appointed from the best organized common school in Florida.

 

The daughter of Mr. Fillmore, (Vice President of the United States,) received her education at the State Normal school and is now honorably engaged as a teacher in one of the public schools in Buffalo, an example commendable and worthy of imitation by some of our ladies in the south where female teacher are so much wonted, what a beautiful illustration of the simplicity of our Republican institutions, — the daughter of the Vice President of the United States a common School teacher!

 

Pupils are instructed in the science of common school teaching in 38 academies in the State of New York, and from these academies hundreds yearly go out into all part of the State as teachers.

 

There are 250 public schools in Philadelphia city and county, 696 teachers and ? scholars.

 

January 12, 1850

 

Schools.

 

We are gratified to observe that some movement is being made in some of our more thickly settled portions of the county towards the establishment of schools. It is true that our school fund is as yet too small to aid in this matter now, but upon a subject of so much importance as education, our citizens should act in advance and establish schools by their own endeavors. No better investment can be made by a parent for the benefit of his children, than in procuring them instruction; the crop of learning once planted in the youthful mind and nurtured for a season will produce a most abundant harvest of usefulness.

 

The only way which now suggests itself to us is that whenever 12 or 15 children can be got together within a reasonable distance, the parents should join together and procure the services of a teacher, females are preferable for the earlier branches of education, and require less compensation. Particular attention should be at once paid to the qualification of persons for teaching. Our planters, both large and small should at once send their daughters to seminaries in the towns where they can learn to become themselves teachers, and should fit themselves for it.

 

In connection with this subject, we have examined the Report of the Commissioner of the general Land Office, and observe with pleasure the following remarks having a peculiar applicability to our own State.

 

That the benefit of education might be extended to them and their posterity the sixteenth section in each township, or the thirty-six part of the public lands, has been set apart for the support of schools, besides munificent donations being from time to time made by Congress for colleges, seminaries, seats of government, county seats, and internal improvements.

 

The philanthropic intention of the grant for school purposes is, however, frequently frustrated by the 16th section falling upon swamps or valueless tracts; and therefore recommend that the proper authorities, in such cases, be authorized to substitute other lands. It may also be worthy of the consideration of Congress whether it would not be proper to enlarge the school grant by an additional allotment in each township.”

 

In connection with these remarks of the Commissioner, it would be well to our citizens generally to send on Petitions to Congress numerously signed, praying that these recommendations may be carried into effect. It is a subject of incalculable importance to us as a people. We hope to see public attention more awake to its importance than it now is.

 

Feb 9, 1850

 

Common School Fund

 

We learn that there is now in the hands of the superintendent the sum of $8,042 18 and that additional sales will probably be made of lands during the year. There can be no doubt, as is suggested by the Register, that Congress will upon proper application and energetic exertion of our Representatives therein, make this munificent donation equal to that given to the other States. Congress never intended that One County should be recipient to a greater extent than another, nor do they intend that one state should receive a larger share than another.

 

In designating every sixteenth section, it has in consequence happened that this section in one township became more valuable than in another, and this inequity afforded the strong argument with our legislators for the consolidation of the School fund. The County Commissioners throughout the State and the respective County Superintendents should immediately draw up a memorial setting forth the true situation of these lands in their respective counties, giving their value and drawing comparisons with adjoining counties. The State Superintendent should likewise memorialize and among other things draw comparisons with other States thereby showing conclusively to Congress that by their enactment a great inequity exists. This is a matter worthy of the attention of these officers and of the people. If attended to in the language of the State Superintendent who is better qualified to judge than any other man, “the State may have a fund sufficient for the object of common schools without resorting to taxation.”

 

Since this faithful officer has had the matter in charge the Sixteenth sections have been looked after, and the utter worthlessness of a large portion discovered.

 

That the Sixteenth sections in every Township, it good land, would furnish a fund a sufficient for the support of Common Schools, and particularly now the lands are to be sold and the proceeds consolidated and distributed among the inhabited portions of our state, no man that will take the trouble to honestly calculate the amount will deny.

 

Petition Congress, fellow citizens’ urge this matter upon your Delegates, upon your County Commissioners, and let it no be said you did not point out t Congress the defect. Petition, thereby discharge your duty, and if God and is not procured in place of worthless the culpability will rest upon your members in Congress, and not with you.

 

March 9, 1850

 

Circular.

 

Mr. Phillips thankful for the patronage extend to him during the last 18 years, would respectfully inform the Parents of the Pupils now under his tuition, that hi age prevents him extending to his fifty Pupils the instruction he conceives encumbered upon him. He therefore considers it necessary to reduce his school to twenty five, from the first of April next. Being willing and desirous to retain and continue instructions to those of his Pupils who have commenced with him, or been under his instruction for two or three years, he respectfully notifies their parents that his charges in future will be $6 a quarter, and $8 a quarter for branches unconnected with an English education.

 

Parents wishing to continue their children on those terms will be so kind as to secure seats, as soon as convenient before the 1st proimo.

 

George L. Philips

 

St. Augustine 9th March

 

School Fund

 

Dr. the City of St. Augustine, Florida, in account current with Chas Haager, Treasurer, in the Quarter commencing second Monday of November, 1849, and ending second Monday of February 1850.

 

Treasurers Commission on 14.50, received at 2  1/2 per cent .36

 

Balance on hand 14.14

 

By amount received from Franis Bridier for lease of the Hospital Lot, from 21st day of January, 1850, to 31st day of Dec. 1850  $14.50

 

June 8, 1850

 

School Fund

 

Dr. The City of St. Augustine, Florida, in account current with Charles Haager, Treasurer in the Quarter commencing 2nd Monday of February 1850 and ending second Monday of May, 1860

 

Treasurer commission on 40.14 received at 2 1/2 percent .65

 

May 13 To balance on hand. 39.49

 

Balance on hand last quarter 14.14

 

March 25 by mound received of Mr. James M. Gould, interest due by him 26.00

 

Amount due the School Fund for money loaned Nov 10th, 1849  114.42 (owed by city)

 

Start August 3, 1850

 

August 10, 1850

 

The Census.

 

The North and the South

 

The persons appointed by the United States Marshal have commenced to take the Census of the city. Like all the other arrangements of the Federal Government in reference to our State, the most unfavorable period which it was possible to select, has been fixed on for the purpose of ascertaining our population, and determining the rates of our representation. Hundreds and thousands of persons are absent at this season of the year, and no Census can be taken which will approach thirty per cent, of our real population. …

 

Nov 16, 1850

 

School for Girls

 

Miss S E Lee will open her School on Monday next the 18th inst in the House formerly occupied by Captain Southwick on Picolata street opposite the dwelling of Mrs. Dr. Anderson.

 

The number of Pupils will be limited and none received for less than one quarter. Tuition 8 6 and $1 per quarter.

 

No charge for contingent expenses, but pupils are requested t furnish their desks and chairs.

 

Reference may be made to Mrs. Doctor Anderson, Doctor Peck and W A Forward.

 

St. Augustine Nov 16, 1850