Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-23
coanty High School.

I ~V0ABy R1ABAA 0OsSUOAs
ED1roR Bu1IErfN:--1n my. last COM
munication l endeavored to show that a
County High School would be profita-
BILE investment financially. I now wish
to point out way in which we may
erect the necessary buildings and meet
all the running expenses of a high school,
not only without increasing our present
taxation, but in entire consistency with
its reduction.
First, as to buildings None of the
friends of this movement favor the ercc-
ton of magnificent buildings at an cx-
travagant expense. A building which
will be ample in Accommodations and no
discrcdit, intellectually, to the county,
can be erected at cost of from fifteen
thousand to twenty thousand dollars. A
suitable site for the building must be do
mated by the citizens of Independence,
and the purchase money for the same
will have to be raised by private sub
scrption, unless some far-sighted property
holder can see it for his advantage to do
nate the grounds on his own account.
But how shall the building be erected
without taxation? The easiest thing in
the world This county owns swamp and
indemnity lands officially appraised at
$15,828,35. A large portion Of these
lands is already in market and will doubt
less be sold within two years. The re-
mainder will be in market very soon.
BY vote of the people the proceeds from
the sale of these swamp lands may be
appropriated to the erection of building
for the high school. This would give us
nearly or quite enough for the purpose.
But in the event that the building, complet-
ed, should cost twenty thousand dollars,
the levy of a single mill by the Board of
Supervisors would make up the deficien-
cy. Let US suppose, then, that levy Of
one mill be made for the purpose of put
ting this enterprise on firm basis, how
will our taxes be affected next year? The
county levy for general purposes this
year is twelve mills. This includes the
temporary tax of two and a half mills
bounty fund This portion of the levy
will not be necessary next year 1t also
includes two mills, bridge fund. One mill
and half will doubtless suffice for next
year. 1t will not be necessary to increase
either of the other levies. Here, then, we
have an absolute reduction of three mills
upon the general tax levy Of the county
for the year 1871. This year we have q
similar reduction from last year, of one
MILL Thus it appears that tax of one
mill may be levied for the high school
next year and still leave reduction Of
two mills from the taxes of this year.
The fact is, our county has never levied
the amount Of tax for county school fund
authorized by law. The law requires a
levy of not less than one nor more than
two mills on the county, for, school pur-
poses. Our several Boards of Superyi-
sors have uniformly levied one mill. To
levy another mill for the high school
would only in reality be doing for our
schools what was contemplated in our pres
ent law. And an annual levy Of one mill
hereafter will furnish all the means neces-
sary to keep in operation II high school
which will furnish q thorough course of
normal instruction for all the teachers
employed in the county, as well as an ad,
vanced academic course for every young
man and young woman in the county
who may desire it. Is "sE
We have just built "a Jail costing $780,
900. This is equivalent to tax ofabout
five mills. Shall we now refuse to estab-
lish high school at tax cost of not
more than one mill aside from swamp
lands), which will inurc to the benefit,
directly or indirectly, ofeyery child-nay,
of every person-in the county?
No one need be frightened at the bug
bear of taxation in connection with this
enterprise. Our taxes are bound to be
dim .,ished, as we have seen, even with
the establishment of a high school.
In another article l desire to speak OF
some of the occidental benefits which will
follow to the cou,ty from the success Of
this movement
J. L. LOOMS.