MAINE. 



511 



ing business on the 4th day of November, 1878, 

 were $23,173,112.22. The assets, as compared 

 with 1877, are as follows : 



This statement shows a decrease in the de- 

 posits and profits of the banks during the year 

 ending November 4, 1878, of $3,725,320.54. 

 The decrease of the depositors for the same 

 period is 10,683. The whole number is 77,978. 

 The average to each depositor is $297. The 

 decrease in the deposits and profits of the banks 

 in 1878 is $2,804,988.60 more than in 1877; 

 the decrease in depositors 8,723 more; the 

 average to each depositor $6 less. The total 

 amount of net deposits on November 5, 1877, 

 was $25,092,872.65; on November 4, 1878, 

 $21,313,826.35, a decrease in the net deposits 

 in 1878 of $3,779,046.30. This decrease era- 

 braces $1,035,481.03, the reduction of deposits 

 in the thirteen banks that have had their de- 

 posit accounts reduced by decrees of court un- 

 der section 36 of the bank act of 1877. This 

 reduction added to the $21,313,826.35 would 

 make the actual net deposits $22,349,307.38, 

 making the actual decrease of deposits in 1878 

 by withdrawals $2,743,565.27, being $1,110,- 

 267.20 more than in 1877. Five banks only 

 have increased their deposits in 1878. 



Some changes have taken place in the pub- 

 lic schools of the State, which are shown by 

 the following facts. While the total school 

 population has decreased 2,620 within a year, 

 being now 214,797 against 217,417 in 1877, the 

 whole number of scholars registered in the 

 schools is 155,150 against 155,428 in 1877, a 

 decrease of only 373. But the improvement 

 in the sentiment of the people regarding the 

 value of education is shown by contrasting the 

 attendance at the schools in 1878 with that in 

 1868. In the latter year the school population 

 of the State was 225,200, 10,403 larger than 

 now, but the per cent, of attendance was only 

 42, against 51 for the past year. There is also 

 an increase in the amount of schooling. In 

 1868 the average length of the summer schools 

 was nine weeks and two days; now it is ten 

 weeks and two days. The winter schools, 

 which in 1868 averaged nine weeks and one 

 day, are now eleven weeks in length. In 1868 

 there were 3,719 school-houses in the State; 

 now there are 4,125, an increase of 594. The 



number built in 1878 was 82. The estimated 

 value of school property in 1868 was $2,163,- 

 409, which has been swelled to $3,063,480 in 

 1878, an increase of $900,000. The number of 

 male teachers employed is 2,554, and of female 

 5,929, a very slight change from 1877. The 

 average wages of males is now $32.63 per 

 month, including board, and of females $3.98 

 per week. In 1868 a male teacher got on the 

 average $29.50 a month, which is but $3.13 

 smaller than now, and the female $2.94 a 

 week, but $1.04 less than now. For the past 

 ten years there has been a steady increase of 

 the money expended on schools. The average 

 amount raised per scholar in 1868 was $2.65, 

 while last year it was $3.86, an increase of 

 $1.21. The amount expended for schools last 

 year was $936,648, against $951,877, a decrease 

 of $15,229. Of the counties, Cumberland 

 raises the largest amount of money per scholar, 

 viz., $2.91, and Aroostook the least, $1.52. 

 The total amount expended for common schools 

 in all the counties, from April 1, 1877, to April 

 1, 1878, was $936,648, and there was an unex- 

 pended balance of $90,205. The amount ob- 

 tained from the State was $337,802, from 

 towns $660,086, and from local funds $19,872. 

 Governor Garcelon, in his message to the 

 Legislature, lays before that body some grounds 

 on which opposition is made to the schools. 

 He says : 



The Constitution of the State enjoins upon the 

 Legislature the duty " to require the several towns 

 to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for 

 the support and maintenance of our public schools," 

 and also u to encourage, and suitably endow, from 

 time to time, as the circumstances of the people may 

 authorize, all academies, colleges, and seminaries of. 

 learning within the State." Under and in compli- 

 ance with this provision of our fundamental law, the 

 annual assessment of our people in all the towns and 

 cities throughout the State for the support of our 

 public schools has become a matter of statute regu- 

 lation. These primary institutions have become the 

 pride of our people, and they will willingly bear any 

 reasonable assessment for their support, providing 

 that assessment is made in accordance with the pro- 

 visions of the Constitution. The tax, however, lev- 

 ied by the State upon the entire population, to be 

 doled out by way of bounty to such towns as are able 

 to establish what are termed free high schools, meets 

 with decided opposition in many quarters. In the 

 first place, it is claimed that in no sense are they 

 free schools except so far as the towns themselves in 

 which they are located are concerned. Sparsely 

 settled and impecunious towns, so situated that they 

 are unable to establish such schools, although con- 

 tributing to the support of such as are established in 

 more favored places, have no claims upon the latter. 

 Another objection urged with much force is that 

 practically these high schools are very expensive, 

 and that the children of the more favored classes 

 are those who receive the benefits of their establish- 

 ment. The introduction of the study of the dead 

 languages and abstruse sciences into these schools 

 is of very questionable utility. The object of our 

 common schools is the education of the masses 

 within certain limits. Beyond these we have our 

 ac'i demies and colleges, where those who have the 

 ability and disposition can avail themselves of their 

 advantages at their own expense, as in duty bound. 



The Industrial School for Girls is very ben- 



