American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-11-22
COSIMUNIGATIONS.
FoF the american Citizen
Address, 10 the Citizens of But
Ter County

Ter County.
You have, by your votes, appointed us
as guardians of an important interest be.
longing to Butler county. As Trustees
of the Butler Academy, we are anxious
to per orm our duty faithfully, and to sub
serve the best interests of the people
But we find ourselves in charge of an old
stone building in a dilapidatcd condition,
entirely unGt for school purposes To
prepare it for the purpose for which it
was Intended, would require lavge ex-
pcnditurc of money, The property and
funds of the Academy are worth from
sS,500 to s4,001; of this money and
bonds being about $1,000.
To attempt to keep up High school
in the present building, while there is
another Academy in the place in -four.
ishing condition would be futile. And
no sufficient compensation could bo offer
ed to Teacher TO build suitable
hoase woall absorb all our means. and
create for the county-a debt of two or
three thousand Dollars What then shall
be done? We ask the citizens of the
county what they would have as do
Several plans have been suggested to
the Trustees, neither of which would
probably be satisfactory to all the people
of the county.
/. 1t is suggested that the money lie
at interest till it accumulate to such
fund as will erect a suitable building-
This will take some 20 or 80 years.
2. 1t is suggested that the property
be sold, and that the proceeds, together
with the funds on hand, be equally diyi.
dcd among the common schools of the
county. This would give perhaps twenty
dollars to each school. Would this car
ry out the wishes Of the original foun-
ders of the Academy
Q. 1t has been suggested that q farm
be purchased with the money, on which
to erect a building Tor the use of the poor
of the county. Would this be in accor-
dance with the object for which the
school was founded.
L. 1t has been suggested that the lot
and money be handed over to the Direc-
tors of the common schools of the boro.
of Butler; and the Legislature of Penn
sylyapia have lassed .an Act authorizing
the Trustees of the Academy to place
them in the haRds of the said Directors,
if they think proper. The Trustees esn
do this. Would this be in accordance
with the wishes of the people of the
county?
D. IL has been suggested, as falling in
with the object Of the school, that it be
eonsdiidated with the Withcspoon Insti-
tute in such way as to retain unimpair-
ed all the rights and advantages of the
county.
The Witherspoon Institute is a High
school established in Butler By the Pres
bytery of Allegheny, and now in a -four
ishing condition. The property of that
school is supposed to be worth $4,000 or
1000, ,including,lot, building Philoseph-
ical Apparatus, library, &c, The Presby-
terry Of Allegheny have consented to the
union OF the two schools, and to give up
for that purpose the denominational or
sootaran instruction in the school, but
retaining in the new institution repre-
scntation equal to that of the county
The Academy would gain all the valua-
bic property belonging fothc Withcrspoou
Institute, amounting to more than the
value Of the property Of the Academy,
and give up no principle, onlysyielding to
the Presbytery of Allegheny the right
Of appointing half Of the Board of Trus-
tces. The Prcsbytery Of Allegheny would
give up 30 principle, but consent that the
shorter eatcchism shall not be taught in
the schools as heretofore nothing else
having ever been taught that thc people
Of the county would object to. Indeed
scholars from the various religious dsuonl-
nations have attended the school, and
/ their religious opinions have never been
interiered with, nor seetarian instruction
inculcated, SO far az known TO US
That the people Of the county may
know precisely the conditions on which
the consolidation is proposed to be made
we append them, As adopted 81 the Pres,
bytcvy anil frastees. subject to tho decis