1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
THE CENTRALIZED DISTRICT SCHOOL 
ABANDONING THE OLD SCTOOLHOUSE8 
Arguments in Favor of ihe Plan 
[Synopsis of an address upon centralization of country schools, 
delivered by Hon. E. J. Clapp, of Thompson, O., before the As¬ 
sociation of the Beards of Education of Ohio, held at Columbus, 
O , February 23 and 24, 1889 ] 
Tlie New for the Old. —Conditions are rapidly 
changing; success can be s'cured only along lines 
where improved methods are applied. The manufac¬ 
turer could not sell his goods if made by the old pat¬ 
terns and constructed by the methods of a quarter of 
a century ago. The commerce of our country would 
decay if our railroads persisted in using engines and 
cars of the old make, and conducted business by the 
old methods. The American farmer could never have 
become the leader in the agricultural world, had he 
refused to adopt the new and improved methods. 
America is America because her people have grasped 
every opportunity, and applied every improved method 
that would secure the greatest success to their call¬ 
ing or profession. No nation has ever opened so wide 
the door for educational opportunities to all her 
people, as this country, and as a result, we have so 
high a standard of intelligence that, if we would hold 
our proud position, we must utilize the very best 
methods for educational development; by so doing 
the perpetuity of this great Nation may be preserved. 
Better Country Education. — The cities and 
towns realize this fact, and are sparing no expense to 
give their pupils the very best. Schoolrooms are 
made attractive, and are furnished with the latest 
appliances. Pupils are taught by the most efficient 
teachers, and nothing is left undone for the health 
and comfort of the pupils. Bat what about the boy 
and girl in the country, the very class among all the 
youth of to-day who should have the very best we can 
give, because we must continue in the future as in the 
past to use the country as a recruiting station for 
men and women, who shall be the great moving 
force and inspiration to the business world ? The 
country is the only place to rear boys or girls, where 
they will have all the necessary qualifications for a 
high standard of citizenship; yet in view of all this, our 
country district schools are below the standard of 20 
years ago, because the most vital factor to success has 
been removed, ’hat of large numbers. Every boy or 
girl who can get away into the city school, where 
there are improved methods, has gone, and those who 
have not the financial ability, cease to attend the 
country school, at the age of 14 or 16 years. They are 
compelled if they do attend, to be in a class by them¬ 
selves, no inspiration to come from competition, no 
classmates by which to make comparisons, hence they 
drift away just at a period in life when they are best 
adapted to mental growth Do you ask what is the 
remedy for this unfortunate condition in our schools? 
My answer is, Centralization. 
Favorable Arguments. —I submit 10 reasons for 
applying centralization : 
1. By this method, we bring together all the pupils 
of the township, and thus get the inspiration that 
always comes from numbers. 
2. We have, under this plan, pupils enovgh to form 
strong classes, thoroughly graded as they are ad¬ 
vanced, which we could not have under the district- 
school plan. 
3. We have fewer teachers and better ones ; not hav¬ 
ing as many, we have the money to hire better teach¬ 
ers. In townships where we had eight to ten small 
schools, with as many teachers, we now have but 
three, and so get the best. 
4 We get daily delivery of mail in the country. The 
children, at night, take the mail home from school to 
every part of the township. 
5. We give to all the children of the township the 
higher educational advantages, when without this plan, 
only about 10 per cent could ever go out of the town¬ 
ship to get that which we now bring within the reach 
of all. The pupils are at home every night with their 
parents, where the moral as well as the intellectual 
growth of the child will be shielded. 
6. We carry the pupils to and from the school; in 
this way the better health of the child is secured—no 
wet feet and clothing, henca no colds and less sick¬ 
ness. 
7. Centralization means promptness in attendance, 
pupils always on time, no tardiness, by this method, 
and promptness is fixed in the character of the child. 
8. We are able to get better results for less money ; 
one central school building to heat and keep in repair 
instead of eight or ten. 
9. It solves the problem of how to keep the boys on 
the farm. We bring to the farm that which the boy 
goes to the city and town to secure. We are giving 
all the children in the county the higher educational 
advantages, which means a higher citizenship for all. 
10. Ninety per cent of the children in the country 
get only such educational advantages as they find in 
their own township, so if we would forever secure the 
perpetuity of our American form of government, we 
must educate the masses. 
Figures Talk. —If the farmer means what he says 
when he asks for economy in the expenditure of pub¬ 
lic money, then he should set the example by so ex¬ 
pending the large outlay of money used for educa¬ 
tional purposes, that we can get value received. 
There is not a school board in Ohio in the country 
that feels that we are getting the best results from 
our district schools. If not, let us apply the remedy— 
centralization. Prof. Morrison, of the Kingsville 
schools, Ashtabula County, reports that, under this 
plan, they have reduced the cost per capita from $22 75 
to $12 25. Prof. Adams, of the Madison schools, Lake 
County, reports as follows; “ It is more economical ; 
under the new plan, the cost of tuition p r pupil, on 
the basis of total enrollment, has been reduced from 
$16 to $10 48 , on the basis of average dailv attend¬ 
ance, $26.66 to $16.07.” J. M. Braden, Gustavus, 
Trumbull County, reports that they have reduced the 
cost per pupil from $19 33 to $15. 
While we do not ask for the adoption of this plan 
because of a saving in a financial way, yet we find in 
nearly every place where centralization is applied, 
they get their schools for less money. Bat we do ask 
the school boards of our State to consider well this 
vital question of higher education for all our youth in 
the country. _ 
Some Pbol’hecies Overhauled. —In 1891, The II. 
N.-Y. published my guess as to what would be some 
of the conditions of farmers and others in 1915. As 
it looks now, some of these “ prophecies” will not be 
verified, but some of them may be worthy of note, 
even in 1899 : 
“ In such prairie countries as some parts of Illinois, 
where the black mud in very wet weather now makes 
travel by teams on ordinary roads next to impossible, 
there will be numerous narrow-gauge railroads, with 
light tracks for light traffic by electric motors and air 
engines.” 
“In 1915, the farmers of the northern States will be 
making most of their own sugar—not every farmer 
on his own hook, but large neigtiborhoods in suitable 
localities will work together on a large scale.” 
“When hens hatch ducks, they will continue, as 
did their ancestors, to be worried when the little 
things take to the pond.” 
“ Young men in literary colleges will continue to 
make more noise and effort for a victory in baseball 
or football than for almost anything else. There will 
be a growing tendency to cherish and respect true 
agricultural colleges, and they will become the most 
prominent educational institutions in the country. 
Reading and study and good observation will become 
more common.” 
“ There will continue to be new introductions of 
fungi and insects injurious to vegetation. New reme¬ 
dies will be found.” 
“ The most prominent change in a horticultural 
way likely to oicur in the next 30 years among oar 
people, is an increased interest in, and greater knowl¬ 
edge of, our wild native plants of all sorts, especially 
those that are beautiful or peculiar.” w J beal. 
Agricultural College, Michigan. 
Events of the Week. 
Domestic.—A heavy snowstorm prevailed in Ohio March 30. 
From five to six inches of snow fell. . . Lumber contractors 
In Montgomery County, Texas, have appealed for protection for 
their negro laborers, who have been brutally beaten by white- 
caps, and threatened with death. The citizens object to negro 
labor. . . A terrific blizzard raged in the Southwest, Iowa and 
Illinois March 30. Schools were closed, and business was at a 
standstill. . . More trusts were incorporated in New Jersey 
during March than in any previous month in the history of the 
State. The total capitalization is about $1,500,COO,000. . . More 
than 200 members of the Eighth Illinois Colored Volunteers in¬ 
tend to file claims for pensions on the ground of physical disa¬ 
bility, their health being ruined by tropical malaria. . . A lire 
in a San Francisco paper-box factory March 31 resulted in a loss 
of $500,000. . . A heavy snowstorm extended through Iowa, 
Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska Apri. 3. At Ottumwa, Iowa, the 
snow was 15 inches on the level, the heaviest fall since 1881. . . 
Wm. McGee, section foreman of a lumber company at Kent¬ 
wood, La., was murdered by tnree men in ambush April 3. The 
assassination was one of a series of crimes, the lumber company 
being attacked for employing negro labor. The negroes have 
been whipped or run off, and the fore man shot. McGee had been 
threatened repeatedly. No arrests made. . . Missouri has 
passed a bill to tax franchises, which will include incorporated 
banks, railroads, street-car lines, telegraph, bridge, ferry, tele¬ 
phone, sleeping-car, gas, water, electric power, etc. This is in¬ 
tended to prevent the operation of trusts. The bill permits 
courts to issue restraining orders, and persons injured by trusts 
to claim three-fold damages. . . The cotton and wool interests 
of the country are forming a trust, with a capital of $280,000,000. 
. . A writing paper trust will be formed, with a capital of 
$42,000,000. . . Thirteen men have been indicted in the United 
States Circuit Court at Charleston, S. C., for the murder of the 
negro postmaster at Lake City February 22, 1898. The postmas¬ 
ter’s house was fired by the mob, who then shot at him when he 
and his family tried to escape from the dimes, killing the man 
himself and his infant daughter, while his wife and two other 
children were wounded. No attempt was made to punish the 
assassins at Lake City, the Federal Government now prosecuting 
officially. 
Army and Supplies.—March 30 evidence was given before the 
Court of Inquiry as to the fresh beef issued in Florida. It was 
said to have a sour, bitter taste, and was spotted with greenish 
discolorations. The witness averred that one of Armour’s agents 
told him that the smell was due to chemicals used to preserve the 
meat. The agent referred to denied under oath that he had made 
any reference to chemicals. . . March 31 it was testified that 
Gen. Eagan had preferred beef on the hoof, but that Secretary 
Alger wished the refrigerated beef to be used. Gen. Eagan had 
referred to a chemical process to be used. . . Col. B. F Pope, 
chief surgeon of the Fifth Army Corps in the Cuban expedition 
under Gen. Shafter, was the next witness. He testified that he 
saw a good deal of the food supply of the troops with the Cuban 
expedition. “ The canned roast bsef or canned boiled beef,” he 
291 
said, “ had a decidedly unsatisfactory appearance, was unsavory 
to the taste, having no salt in it, and was stringy. It seemed to 
be covered with a suet. The great trouble was In the lack of 
facilities for cooking it. It looked like beef left over after mak¬ 
ing beef tea. As eaten right from the can, it was a very unsatis¬ 
factory form of diet. It had a washed-out appearance. I might 
say it looked exsanguinated. My own opinion was that it was of 
a low order of nutrition.” As to the refrigerated beef, Col. Pope 
s *ld that, after the outside was trimmed off, the beef was very 
good. In regard to the effect of the ration upon the health of the 
command, he said that he was unable to trace any particular 
disease to any part of the ration, the canned roast beef or the 
refrigerated beef. Intestinal troubles, which usually follow the 
use of decomposed meat, did not appear until some time in July. 
At the time the command was broken down, the travel ration be¬ 
came almost unendurable. He said he had no reason to suspect 
that refrigerated beef had been treated chemically. Major Lee 
asked whether, under the conditions existing on the flriDg line, 
canned roast beef was proper food. Col. Pope replied: “It was 
very trying food. A man might eat it with his eyes shut if he was 
very hungry. I would not regard it as a good and wholesome 
ration for troops in a tropical climate under the conditions exist¬ 
ing at Santiago.” April-1 Dr. Daly, chief surgeon under Gen. 
Miles, reiterated his testimony regarding the presence of chemi¬ 
cals in the beef. Inspector Devoe, of the Bureau of Animal In¬ 
dustry, who testified before the court in Chicago, was recalled 
and examined as to a report made by him to J. Sterling Morton, 
then Secretary of Agriculture, about May, 1894. This report re¬ 
ferred to some alleged Improper use of the vats of the meat pack¬ 
ers in Chicago. The Court of Inquiry called upon the Department 
of Agriculture for a copy of the report, and was informed that it 
could not be found. Recorder Davis announced that he was also 
informed that certain correspondence on the subject was miss¬ 
ing from the files of the Department of Agriculture. April 5 Dr. 
Daniel A. Currie, former Lieutenant Colonel of the Second New 
Jersey Volunteer Regiment, testified that, while stationed at 
Jacksonville, there was some complaint of the refrigerated beef. 
On one special occasion of complaint, when some sickness had 
been produced, an examination of some of the beef was made. 
The peculiarity about it was that it seemed to keep so well, but 
smelled so badly. It looked very much like salmon. The witness 
said twice he made examinations of refrigerated beef. He got a 
piece of meat from the cook and tested it for salicylic acid. It 
showed a decided reaction. At another time, he got another piece 
of meat, and examined it for boracic acid. It showed a reaction 
incident to boracic acid, but there was no trace of salicylic acid 
this time. The chemical analysis was made at the laboratory of 
a chemist in Jacksonville. The meat showed no signs cf being 
decomposed. His idea was that the meat had been soaked in an 
acid. Dr. Currie said that 11 years ago some refrigerated be* f 
purchased by his family looked so well that he examined it and 
found salicylic acid. He made another investigation two months 
ago, and found evidences of salicylic acid in beef served from 
Armour’s wagon. The beef examined 11 years ago, he said, was 
Swift’s meat. Prof Chittenden, of Yale, who was selected as an 
expert to analyze the beef, says that there were no acids in it, 
and that the canned beef was wholesome and nutritious. 
Philippines.—The American forces captured Malolcs March 
31. It is believed that Aguinaldo cannot keep his forces together 
much longer. Many are deserting him, and returning to their 
homes under flags of truce. The situation is still uncertain in 
the southern islands. There was a sharp skirmish at Quingua 
April 3. P. isoners captured by the American troops report 
scarcity of food among the rebels. . . A skirmish near Calumpit 
April 4 resulted in the scattering of 1.0C0 rebels. A proclamaticu 
has been issued by the Philippine commission, assuring ample 
liberty, but demanding recognition of our sovereignty. 
Cuba.—Cuban planters have appealed for a further respite 
from mortgage foreclosures. They say that the Island will be 
ruined if further foreclosures are permitted. . . Brigands are 
active in the Province of Santiago. A detachment of the Second 
Immune Regiment, from Holguin, had a fight with bandits April 
2, killing two. One soldier wounded. . April 4 the Cuban 
Assembly finally agreed to the disbandment of ttfe army and the 
acceptance of the $3,000,COO offered by the United States This is 
a great step towards the establishment of peace and harmony. 
General Foreign News—The passenger steamer Stella, run¬ 
ning between Southampton, England, and the Channel Islands, 
struck the Casket Rocks, near Alderney, in a dense fog, March 
31, and sunk within 12 minutes; 70 persons were lost out of a total 
of 235 on board. Great courage and perfect discipline were dis¬ 
played by the crew. Survivors drifted in open boats for 15 hburs, 
several dying from exposure. It was on the Caskets that Prince 
William, son of Henry I. of England, perished with all his suite 
in 1119, and the Victory man-of-war, llOguns, foundered in 1744. . . 
Terrible distress continues in the famine districts of Russia. 
Thousands of persons are subsisting on garbage and water gruel 
or bread composed of chopped s raw, bran, and a very small 
quantity of wheat. Typhus fever and scurvy are spreading, the 
damp and filthy hovels of the peasants aidieg the spread of dis¬ 
ease. The position is as bad as in 1891-92, if not worse. The Red 
Cross Society is working, but its resources are inadequate. . . 
Australian seamen report the casting ashore of a two-headed 
sea serpent eo feet long and wt ighing 70 tons, on one of the Islands 
of the Solomon group. The skeleton has been brought to Sydney, 
N. S. W. . . Holland is discussing restrictive measures against 
American petroleum, because the quality is bad. . . Heavy 
snowstorms in Germany caused much damage to fruit crops 
March 25. . . Australia is again suffering from heat and 
drought. The Sydney Mail says that 1,000,000 sheep and hundreds 
of thousands of cattle and horses are already dead fiom the 
drought. It is said that the appalling loss of sheep is due to 
overstocking, as well as drought. . . Trouble has again started 
in Samoa, German interference being blamed for it. British and 
American marines united to restore order, the Philadelphia 
Porpoise and Royalist bombarding rebel villages. 
Porto Rico.—Gen. Roy Stone says that starvation is rife in the 
interior of the Island, and immediate relief is needed. The coffee 
crop is a failure, and the planters have neither money nor credit. 
Workmen are out of employment, and they have nothing to live 
on. Gen. Henry is employing men to build roads, but has not 
sufficient funds to continue for any length of time. He is issuing 
army rations to relieve the distress. 
Hawaii anil Samoa.—Three Chinese laborers were killed and 
many wounded in a race war with Japanese near Honolulu 
March 26, and further trouble is feared. The Japanese were the 
aggressors; Chinese on the Island are greatly excited. . . There 
is evidence to sho w that the Samoan insurgents, who fought with 
American and British marines, were supplied with ammunition 
by the German cruiser Falke. More trouble is predicted in the 
Islands. Admiral Krautz is very indignant at the German 
attitude, and is anxious for instructions from Washington. The 
American and British authorities have assumed joint charge in 
restoring order. 
