White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1869-08-19
The kchoo, House Question.


The fact has become so apparent to
our citizens that it is now universally
admitted, that we must have q suitable
school house. The enumeration Just
m sde, shows over three bundre&persons
in this District who are entitled to school
priyileges. Our school house viii bold
about IS comfortably; and there is an
other room rented for school purposes.
which win accom- N odate 100, tut it is
with difficuIty the room can be kept in a
condition suitable for the health end COM
fort OF children; and even then, to place
100 children there. would necessitate the
employment Of an additional teacher.
The colored enumeration will reach abou.
so. This leaves school of $50 whites,
to be separated and housed in different
buildings. with very poor accommods-
tions. Our school will never in the
world prosper in this way. We may
employ the very best teachers. and they
will be unable to do justice. and will re-
csive the blame. Oar money is spent to
little profit, and the teacher who honestly
earns it is not able to show it in the pro-
gress Of the school. The only remedy is
to build a house that is suitable for the
whole school, properly graded. and that
will be large enough for all contingencies
for years to come. This thing of saving
present cost by putting up, now and then,
house to answer the wants for several
years, and renting extra rooms from year
to year, is money wasted. that might be
applied for permsuent and substantial
purpose.
White Cloud is far in the back ground
in this respect. compared with neghbor-
ing towns. Wathens has built large
and handsome school house; SO have
Seneca and Hiawatha; and now Troy
has voted the money and let the contract
for one. II we except Wathena, none oi
these towns have the population of White
Cloud; end in wealth. our town is far
ahead Of any Of them, without the above
exception.
We have been figuring on this m alter.
and find that, with our present assessed
valuation, at the samo rate of school tax
that We had last year, (12I mills. J the
District could run a line months school,
and pay interest on $4,000 of bonds.
with small surplus for sinking fund.
Each year the taxable property would be
increased. and conseq uently sm aller tax
would be necessary. With the money
that could be realized from $50, 900 ol
bonds, house could be built that would
answer all demands for many years, and
woald beg credit and ornament to the
town.
The greatest objection we have heard
uraed is, that the bonds could not be
sa.1 10 euy advantage. If at all after they
were issued. We do not see why this
should be so. If person thoroughly
posted in such matters. and properly eu-
thorized. should go into the market end
represent aud explain the matter, these
bonds ought to sell as well as any other,
except, perhaps, Government aud State
securities. Eastern capitalists loan a
great deal Of n oney ct much smaller rates
OF interest than we are authorized to paw.
The bonds would be perfectly safe; for
our School Districts are permanent cor.
porations. and are compelled to levy an
nually tax sufficient CO pay the interest
on all bonds they issue, and also the
principal when due.
We offer these suggestions that our
citizens may think end talk over the mat,
ter. 1t is proposed to hold a meeting
shortly. to consider the question; and by
comparing notes and figures beforehand,
all will be prepared to act understand
ingly.