Jasper Banner, Volume 2, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1855 — The New School Law. [ARTICLE]

The New School Law.

The bill reported in the House of Representatives, is substantially the same with the act of 1852, with modifications made necessary by the decisions of the Supreme Court. The Congressional township fund is to be administered for the benefit of the inhabitants of the township to which it belongs, according to the decree of the Court. The State by means of her own funds, so equalizes each county, that the educational means of every county, in proportion to the number of children, will be equal. It is only a different process,. therefore, to secure the same result., Instead of the inhabitants of the township voting taxes for the building of school houses, repairs, 6rc., the taxes will be levied by the township trustees', for those purposes. — Instead of the school in each township, being exclusively in charge of the trustees, each school will have a director elected by the people connected with it, who will have charge of-the school, and discharge most of the duties heretofore required of the town-ship Trustees. The amount of tax proposed to be levied is thirty cents, instead of ten cents on each dollar. The library tax is continued for two years. Ten Circuit Superintendents are proposed, who will inspect the schools, being required to visit each school in their Cicuit, they are also required to hold teachers Institutes in each county for the instruction and improvement of teachers. These it is believed comprise ail the material changes in the bill, from the old system. — Republican.

Fearful Steamboat Explosion., LOSS FROM FORTY TO SIXTY LIVES. The following particulars are from Sacramento, Jan. 27, 1855. | One of the most fearful accidents that has ever happened on the Pacific coast, has just occurred. The steamer Pearl, from Marysville, just as she passed the conflux of the Sacramento and American Rivers, exploded, and sent in a moment from forty to sixty human beings into eternity. It appears that the Enterprise, (Citizens’ Line.) and Pearl, (Combination Line,) were racing from Marysville to this city, and just as the latter was nearing the wharf, the boilers burst, and resulted as above described. There were ninty-three passengers on board, many of whom were Chinamen —most of them were on the forward part of the boat, near the guards, as is usual. on the landing of the boats. It is impossible to tell how many were saved; but from the statement of an eye witness, who assisted in conveying several of the wounded and dying to the hospital, it is believed that more than two-thirds have perished Some of them were drowned; others completely blown to pieces; others; with their arms and legs blown off, and otherwise terribly mutilated.— The pilot, who was thrown several feer into the air, escaped with but little injury, and also the cook and steward. These were the only officers of the boat who were saved.— Capt. Davis. Purser Gilman, and Mr. McBride, of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, are all dead. The treasure, belonging to Wells, Fargo & Co., is sunk. They are now about making preparations for its recovery. Mr. Keefer, of. Adams & Co.’s Express, was saved. The mangled corses of, several Chinamen are lying on each side of the river—most of them at Yolo. The boat is a total wreck.— The Enterprise arrived at this moment' being about 20 minutes behind the Pearl. It is impossible to procure the list of passengers, as the clerk was blown up with the rest. All that is known definitely is, that there were ninety-three onboard. A rope was procured, and the wreck has been hauled to the river side, abreast of the Gas-Works. The after-cabin and the hull are all that remain of her.— Those passengers who were fortunate enough to be aft in the cabin, providentially escaped uninjured.

The bow of the boat was literally . I blown into ten thousand pieces by, the force of the explosion, and here it was that most of the passengers had assembled, to catch the first sight of their destination. In -the cabin the floor was torn up by the ( steam pipe communicating (the Peral .being ,a stern wheel boat) with the engine and shaft. Several gentlemen were found here badly scalded; and • some in a. dying condition. The boat, or rather the wreck, then com-1 menced parting; one-hal f being more .completely (festroy^dth^nHjc other, broke loose from the remaining por-’ t'au of the hull. The efforts of those on board and on shore were then directed to bringing the wreck to the shore. ! This wa3,soon effected, and what remained ofthe bQht was moored alongfidr of a storesliip situated! about the foot of <•-»!.

In the meantime many bodies (some of them mutilated in a shocking manner) were recovered from among the fragments floating in the river. The number missing it about thirty, while eight dead bodies have been found, and also several persons who were wounded. As an incident worthy of note, it is mentioned that a large and powerful dog, of the bloodbound species, plunged into the river soon after the accident, and rescued Mr. James Johnson, who was slightly scalded, but nevertheless helpless, and would have been drowned but for the dog. Adams & Co.’s Messenger, Mr. Keefer, had just gone aft, to get his express matter to take forward, and it saved his life. The letters, treasure and express matter of Adams & Co. were also saved; the letters were soaked by falling in the water. Judge Anderson, of Nevada, and G. A. Shult, .of Marysville, were killed, There were only four ladys on board the Pearl, all of whom were saved without injury. The Messenger of Rhode and Lusk’s Express was killed, and all the express matter lost. Mr. Samuel Jones, book-keeper of Wells, Fargo & Co., was badly injured, but not dangerously. All the firemen of the boat but one were killed, Mr. Radall was killed. The pilot was badly injured. Mr. Gilman, clerk of the boat, was not killed; he was but slightly injured. The steward was saved. Mr. Springle was badly wounded. A great many died after being taken to the Hospital, and large numbers of the passengers had their legs and arms blown off. Fourteen bodies were taken to the StationHouse in Sacramento, and of these, three white and six Chinamen, were recognized. It is now ascertained that there were about 140 person on board, of which 35 only were Chinamen.

"T Governor Slade, says the Sfiitincl, has distributed his Yankee-girls over the Union; and wherever one ol them has taken up her abode, it-has been better for society than the planting of a rose bush for a garden. It was done by organized effort. Let ; the plan of distribution which has been so happily applied to the higher world of intellect and refinement, be adopt- ! ■ ■ ■ ed in the lower and coarser, but yet ■ most necessary, department of manual labor. !•«* Not one of those Yankee flowers was t>orn to blush unseen. Nature never intended them to waste their i sweetnessun the barrens of New England. Neither should the stalwart frames and stout hearts of the Ger- ' man and Irish emigrants be suffered 1 to dwindle and pine in the noisome ‘ atmosphere of our large cities. From the Spirit World.—The following is reported as a true message from a certain individual now in, the “Spirit Worldas we have been told: Rapper—John Jones? Spirit of John Jones answers two raps. ' • R. Are you happy? S. Yes, in all but one thing. R-W hat is th at? S.—l left the world without calling l on the printer, as I promised. O, if I I could butretutn to the earth, I would ! do,— —— R. Do what? i S —Call on the poor “Printer,” and ’ pay him them four dollars, but it is ■ entirely too late. R. —No, send a message to your once fond wife to pa} - it for you, and then you will be happy! S. Yes, yes! tell her if she wishes to enjoy cnternal happiness, to go at once and discharge that debt, and ' everlasting bliss is mine. K.-- I ivill do as you bid me. *

An Illcstration of SciurrcftE. — A traveller in Syria says that at the close of the day the roads are filed with wandering herds and flocks, and droves of donkeys, with one attendant herdsman, all returning home for the night, after pasturing on neighboring hill tops. J As soon as they get to the outskirts of the village, each separates from the other, and unattended pursues its way to its master’s door. “The ox knoweth its owner, and the ass his master’s crib.” —The Chinese are a' queer nipple to go to market. A friend at Canton 'wirites “Kemfick Van Tassell, w fhat a neighbor of his had just‘laid in his winter’s provisions—a hind quarter of horse, and two barrels pf bull-dogs. The latter salted to keep.

OCT 3 The man who is too poor to take a paper, has bought a slab-sided dog, and old shot-gun, and a twenty shiling gold watch. He educates his children in the street, and boards his shiuighais on hi* neighbors.