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1 also called upon our leading politicians and pressed the
claims of our Schools, but received no encouragement from
them. Not receiving any aid from that source, I had a suffi-
cient number of tickets of both the political parties printed
with the necessary words upon them, and had a plan per-
fected throughout the County to hold meetings in every
School district prior to the election, so that the friends of the
Public Schools could meet and mature their plans for work on
November the 6th.

At a time like the present, when political questions are
agitating the whole country from end to end, and absorb
every other topic, it is with much solicitude that I await the
results of the action of our citizens for or against a Local
Tax, yet trusting that our labor will not have been in vain.

Topic 3d. '' What are your resources for building School
houses, or what plan do you propose as most likely to accom-
plish speedily the essential work? "

Answer. At the present time we have no resources of any
kind, and will not have, unless by an act from the Legis-
lature.

The plan thus far adopted by the Board has been where
the citizens have erected houses according to proposed plans,
that the Board should take the buildings at first cost as soon
as funds accumulated, or a law was passed to provide funds
for such purposes. In order to hasten the work, I would
suggest that the Commissioners, with the State Superinten-
dent at their head, go to Annapolis at the coming sessioa of
the Legislature, and press the importance of passing an act
requiring every male citizen over 21 years of age, to pay a
Poll Tax of one dollar throughout the State, in addition to
any other act that may be passed for School purposes; thus
in a short time we would have a revenue at our command to
place the Schools beyond any wants.

Having read the Report of last year's work previous to its
being sent you, I have not much to add to what it contained,
save that there is manifestly a much better feeling towards
the Public Schools this year than last; for instance, in one
Commissioner's district last year in order not to have School,
when the teachers presented themselves to open their Schools,
citizens would ask an enormotis price for boarding, so that in
some cases teachero had to leave. But this fall, the same
School districts have made arrangements to furnish board
free for their teachers.

I am also satisfied, that at the end of this year's work it
will be found, that there has been an increase of attendance
of children in the Schools all over the County.

Our teachers as a class this year are 50 pr. cent, in advance
of last year, and the Public Schools are supported this fall by
some who were formerly their opposers.

One of tur most influential citizens congratulated me the