her free acceptance or rejection the following proposition: "That the section numbered sixteen, in every township, and, when such section has been sold, granted, or disposed of, other lands, equivalent thereto, and most contiguous to the same, shall be granted to the inhabitants of such township for the use of schools.' Indiana 'chose the good part that shall never be taken from her,' and thus fell heir to about five hundred and seventy-six thousand acres of land. This became the corner stone of our system of free public schools.” Let us now turn our attention to the present condition of the glorious system of popular schools in Indiana. First, then, as to the means of support. And just here we strike the great key note that makes the heart of every Indianian bound with patriotism. INDIANA HAS A LARGER SCHOOL FUND, BY TWO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE UNION. The following was, in 1872, the Indiana COMMON SCHOOL FUND: Non-negotiable bonds .... Common school fund. Sinking fund, at 8 per cent... . Congressional township fund .. Value of unsold congressional township lands.. Saline fund... Bank tax fund Escheated estates.... Sinking fund, last distribution Sinking fund, undistributed.. Swamp land fund Total.... . $3,591,816 15 1,666,824 50 569,139 94 2,281,076 69 94,245 00 5,727 66 1,744 94 17,866 55 67,067 72 100,165 92 42,418 40 $8,437,598 47 These items are all embedded in the constitution, and form the principal of the common school fund, a perpetual fund which may be increased but never diminished. Let us compare this fund with the school fund of the other leading States in the Union: Indiana,. Arkansas.. 88,437,593 47 2.000,000 00 We may add to this that the common school fund of Indiana is still increasing. The next grand feature of the educational facilities of Indiana is her numerous and commodious school houses. The school house is the unerring sign of civilization; there is no better exponent of the educational progress of a people than the number and kind of their school houses. Two provisions have been made by the legislature of Indiana for the erection of these. The first authorizes the school trustees of the townships, incorporated towns and cities, to levy a special tax in their respective corporations, not exceeding twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars' worth of taxable property, and fifty cents on each poll in any one year; the second authorizes the trustees of incorporated towns, and the city councils of incorporated cities to issue bonds to the extent of thirty thousand dollars. Under the operations of these two provisions of the law, school houses have sprung up in all parts of the State. Wherever the traveler passes through the rural districts, the neat frame or substantial brick greets him with a smile of cheerfulness, and as he enters the towns and cities of the State they arise before him in commanding proportions. Among the cities a commendable spirit of rivalry is at work. The following statement will show the progress in the number and cost of the school houses for each of the last nine years pre ceding 1875: The more recent amendments of the school law provides for County Superintendents, and for a high standard of qualifica tion of teachers. Having observed some of the general features of the educational facilities of Indiana, we would naturally turn to notice the universities, colleges, normal and high schools, and other special educational agencies. A full history and description of these being included in the history of the town or city in which they are located, and presented in another part of this volume, renders superfluous any mention of them in this connection. Readers are referred to the contents and indexes to find special features desired. The following table, however, will show the number and class of special educational institu tions that are noticed at length elsewhere: |