Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That, notwithstand ing the repeal of the letters of incorporation, as declared in the first section of this act, the town of West Union shall remain liable for all debts contracted by the said corporation; and the present president, recorder, and trustees, and in case of their refusal, such other person, as the court of common pleas of Adams county shall for that purpose appoint, shall have power to collect all taxes now due to said corporation, and shall apply the same to the payment of any debts due from said corporation; and in case of a deficit, the said president, recorder and trustees, or such other person, as, upon their refusal, the court may appoint, shall have power to levy and collect such additional tax as shall be sufficient to discharge all debts due from said corporation; such tax to be levied and collected in the same manner as in case the said letters of incorporation were still in force.

JOSEPH RICHARDSON, Speaker of the house of representatives. ALLEN TRIMBLE,

January 22, 1821.

Speaker of the senatę.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

An act to provide for the regulation and support of common schools.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Ohio, That the trustees of the several townships in this state shall give public notice in writing, set up at three of the most public places within their respective township elections in March, notifying the electors within said township to vote at the next township election, for or against organising said township into school districts,and if a majority of all the votes given by householders should be in favor of such organization the trustees shall, within twenty days thereafter lay off the same or any part thereof into school districts, which districts when so laid off, shall not contain less than twelve nor more than forty householders: Provided always, that the trustees shall not allow themselves, or receive any compensation for their services under the provisions of this act.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That if the trustees of any township should be of opinion, that the interest of the inhabitants of any neighborhood would be better subserved by laying off school districts from parts of one or more of the adjoining townships, and it should appear to be the wish of the inhabitants of such neighborhood so situated, they

shall notify the trustees of such adjoining township or townships, to meet at such time as they may appoint, at some place within the district to be laid off; and when so met, if a majority of them think expedient, they may lay off such district.

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That whenever the inhabitants of any neighborhood may wish to be laid off into a school district, the trustees having previously omitted to lay off said neighborhood into school districts, may on petition signed by two thirds of such householders, be entitled to be laid off into a school district, for the purposes contemplated in this act, if the trustees of such township or townships shall deem it expedient, and the petitioners shall be bound to pay the expenses thereof; and on petitions as aforesaid, the trustees may proceed to lay off new districts from parts of one or more contiguous districts, if it shall appear to them that the petitioners aforesaid, are situated at an inconvenient distance from the school house or houses of their district or districts, (as the case may be) or that the interest of such neighborhoods would be promoted thereby, so that in no case shall the number of householders in such district, or either of the old districts from which it may have been laid off, be less than twelve, such petitioners paying the expense as aforesaid.

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the trustees shall, in all cases, cause the township clerk to make a record of each district so laid off, and when such district shall consist of parts of two or more townships, the clerks of the several townships in which such district maybe situated, shall record the same.

Sec. 5. Beit further enacted, That the trustees, in laying off school districts, shall have regard to any school company incorporated under the provisions of the act, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation of school and library companies," or under

any other law for the incorporation of school companies; so far as to include the members of such incorporation within one district, and not to affect their corporate rights.

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That the householders in each of the shcool districts, shall meet at such places as may be agreed upon in said district, on the first Monday of May, in each year, and when so met, to the number of ten or more, they may proceed to elect three of said householders, as a school committee for said district, and also some suitable person as collector, who by virtue of his office, shall be treasurer for said district; and said committee shall appoint a clerk, whose duty it shall be to keep a record of such meetings, and to make out such tax bills and keep such accounts as the committee may direct; and said committee, collector and clerk shall hold their appointment until their suc cessors are elected and qualified.

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That the committee aforesaid, be and they are hereby authorised to cause the erection of a school hous e, in some convenient place in each district; and for that purpose, they are hereby authorised to receive by donation or purchase, any quantity of land, not exceding two acres that they may think expedient, and the title of the same shall be vested in said school committee and their successors in office, to and for the use of said district, for the purposes as aforesaid. Two thirds of such house holders having previously at their meeting agreed upon the erection of such school house.

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That for the purpose of purchasing land on which to erect such school house, the committee may apply any donation or subscription, which may be made for that purpose, together with the taxes which they are authorised to raise by the provisions of this act.

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That the property all persons residing in said district, and which property may be situated therein, and liable to taxation, for state or county purposes, shall be liable to be taxed for the purpose of erecting a school house as aforesaid, and also for the purpose of making up the deficiency, that may accrue by the schooling of children, whose parents or guardians are unable to pay for the same, and said committee is hereby authorised to assess. taxes for those purposes, on property as aforesaid, not exceeding in any one year, one half of the amount of taxes which might by law have been levied on the same objects for state or county purposes and said collector shall have power to collect the same, in such manner as county taxes are collected.

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That the committee aforesaid are hereby authorised to employ a competent teacher or teachers, for such term of time as they may judge for the interest of the district, in each year, and such school shall be open to all the scholars of a suitable age within said district, and the committee are hereby authorised quarterly or at such other times as they may deem expedient, to cause the expenses of said school, to be assessed on the parents or guardians of all the scholars in proportion to the number of scholars, who may have been schooled, being residents in such district, and the collection shall be made by the collector as aforesaid. Provided however, that said committee may remit the whole or any part of said assessment, which in their opinion may have been assessed on parents or guardians, who are unable to pay the same, and such deficiency, if any such there should be, shall be paid from the fund raised by taxes, as are, in the ninth section of this act, authorised to be raised for that purpose.

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That the commit