The amount paid for new buildings and lots the past year was, however, nearly equal to the amount realized from a one mill tax, and this will doubtless be the case for the coming year, ending August 1, 1878. Inasmuch as the total amount expended for buildings and lots, and the running expenses of the schools must not exceed the income from rents, State school fund, and the proceeds of the four mill tax, it is evident that the greatest economy must be exercised hereafter in our expenditures for new buildings and building sites. Of the running expenses The receipts from the State school fund equal the miscellaneous expenses; receipts from the city tax of four mills equal the salaries of teachers, officers and janitors. This would leave a building fund equal in amount to the receipts from rents, or upwards of $40,000 per annum. But it has been shown already that the regular increase of the enrollment of pupils renders it necessary to provide for an increase in running expenses of about $40,000 per annum without considering the cost of new buildings at all. It remains therefore to draw the following inferences: 1. The regular receipts for current expenses will enable the board to run the schools for the ensuing year, 1877-8, and to build the additional school houses already projected. 2. The increase in running expenses occasioned by the extension of the schools will render it impossible to appropriate any money from current receipts for buildings during the year 1878-9. If any building is attempted in that year it must be paid for from receipts from the sale of bills receivable now in hand, or from the sale of real estate for revenue purposes. (The board holds real estate for revenue purposes to the amount of $1,200,000.) 3. Unless the assessed valuation of taxable property increases it will be impossible to pay the running expenses of the schools from the proceeds of the four mill tax and the other sources of income after the year 1879. These conclusions are based upon the data furnished by the experience of the past five years. The following considerations will modify them to some extent: 1. The running expenses will be reduced pro rata by the reduction of all values, including personal services, to a specie basis. 2. The rate of increase in the enrollment of pupils will doubtless be materially lessened. It has been far greater than the increase of our population and has been due to the popularity of our schools, partly from their excellence and partly from the severe financial depression which has caused parents to withdraw their children from private schools and send them to the public schools. But even should the financial distress continue, they will not increase at so rapid a rate as hitherto, for the reason that nearly all pupils likely to be drawn from other ́schools have already been received, and for the more important reason that a long continued financial distress ends by forcing the population of cities and towns to migrate into new States. The immense growth of cities in this country, during the past twenty years is to be followed by a temporary shrinkage, it would seem. It is possible to devise other means for decreasing the running expenses of the schools without seriously changing any of the present features of our system.* For better insight into, and a more perfect understanding of the details of the system, I would refer the reader to the reports of the Superintendent and Secretary hereunto appended. In conclusion I would express the hope that no untoward events may combine to destroy, or in any way to cripple or embarass our system of schools. They are the nurseries of good citizenship, tending as they do by the most healthful influences to remove and obliterate the baleful distinctions of caste, alien nationality, sectarianism and political partisanship. I commend the jealous guardianship and fostering care of the public school interests to the citizens of St. Louis. THOMAS RICHESON, President. At the date which this report goes to press it is possible to allude to the proposed system of half-day instruction in the two lowest years, which would save as much annually as the proceeds of one-fourth the city school tax. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT. OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, To the Board of President and Directors of the St. Louis Public Schools: GENTLEMEN :—I herewith submit the twenty-third Annual Report of the schools under your charge. GENERAL STATISTICS. POPULATION OF THE CITY. Population of the city, October 1, 1877 (estimated)........ 482,000 Number of children from 6 to 20 years of age (drawing State money) 146,000 Number from 6 to 16 years of age... 111,400 Comparative Table for Eleven Years. 1867. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1871 1872. 1873 1874. 1875. 1876. 1877. Number of houses..... 30 35 40 48 52 58 67 54 56 66 84 Number of seats........ 11,055 13,510 18,000 20,105 23,222 25,750 27,785 28,530 30,070 31,510 33,560 The large increase of buildings during the past year is due, in part, to the accession of 12 white and 3 colored schools by the extension of the city limits under the new charter. Total number of teachers in day and evening schools..... 870 |