71

P. S. The Table C of the schedule is imperfect. It is
impossible to fill it. Many of the places reportjd as School
houses, are no more School houses than they are stores, or
churches, or Odd Fellow halls, being used for one purpose
as much as another. The approximate value of School
houses, it is also impossible to give.

If the average cost of Schools in this County seems large,
it must be remembered, that there is probably not a more
expensive County in the State to live in. Our County pro-
duces comparatively little of all that is consumed here. The
general commodities of life, except coal, cost more here than
in our eastern cities. Board is high. Then in the thinly
settled districts, the Schools are small. On the one hand,
the number of teachers is increased, on the other the cost of
living.

In reply to Circular No. 6, asking information in regard
to certain questions, I have the honor to report:

Topic 1st. " What has been done towards organizing the
County High School?"

Answer. Previous to the resignation of Rev. Mr. Perin-
chief, a Committee was appointed, consisting of himself and
Rev. Mr. Ross, to wait upon the trustees of Allegany County
Academy, to see if they would not be willing to transfer the
Academy to the Board of Commissioners.

The reply of the trustees to the Committee was, that for
the present they could not, that they had employed a teacher
for one year, commencing with the 1st of September, 1866,
thus leaving the board to infer that, had the application been
made in time, it would have been complied with.

At the proper time, the subject will again be pressed upon
the trustees, to transfer the said Academy to the Board, and
I think an influence can be brought to bear upon them, so
that they will not hesitate to comply with the wishes of the
Board, seconded by those of the citizens.

Topic 2d. "What action has been instituted, to secure
the continuance of the local tax for prolonging the School
terms, &c. ? "

Answer. I had a notice published in all our County
papers, calling the attention of the citizens and friends of
Education to the fact, that after Januaiy 1st, 1867, our
Schools would be entirely dependent for their support on the
funds derived from the State alone, unless the citizens of the
County express their willingness at the November Election,
for a County School tax.

A meeting of our citizens was also called on Monday even-
ing, the 15th, to consider the subject, at which time reso-
lutions were passed, a copy of which I sent you, instructing
the friends of Education how to vote to secure the desired
end at the coming election.