White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-02-16
(For the Chiefl

tFor the Chief)
The School llouse RonSls Amin.
II vas too much TO expect that the vote in
favor Of the Bonds would be unanimous. Peo
PIE are apt to be Influenced BY diversity Of
motives in their attitude toward public meas.
ures. Some are governed altogether by selfish
impulses. some are naturally predisposed to
narrow views; while others seem impelled BY
whln alone-a desire, perhaps, to be eccen
trio. or make themselves conspicuous BY breast
ing popular current. Yet 20 urgent appeared
the demand for new school house. so decided
the expression in It's favor, 50 elmo, Gus the
complaints against existing arrangements, that
it vas hoped there might be . general assent
TO the proposition. Our citizens have not
shown themselves niggardly. On the contra
ry. not one proposition looking to public i'm.
provement but has teen Overwhelmingly rati.
fed. Indeed, they have been generous in in.
curing obligations where nothing but q senti.
ment seemed involved-ths honor and good
faith Of the Ci,y-even giving to measures
united support which many suspected to be for
individual relief. Thus, the antecedents of
the past, as well as our present stress seemed
| to warrant the opinion that the pronostion
would receive the popular approval. The de-
velopments Of the past week. however, have
been sufficient to indicate that an effort is be
ing made to defeat this most beneficial of
| schemes. When it is borne in mind that two.
third vote is requisite. the fiiends of progress
will see the necessity Of exerting themselves.
The op ponents Of the bonds will he on the alert
and their last vote will be cast.
The pretext Of she opponents is that the
amount suggested by the Board is ex,ravagant-
| They assert that eight or ten thousand would
be sufficient; yet We hazard nothiug in saying
that every last one Of them would have as
strenuously opposed ten thousand as twenty five
thousand. Thus opposition has its origin in
the same spirit which prompts an adjoining
rural school district to refuse to make any pro.
vision whatever for their public school. The
few men of wealth who exercise controlling
influence find it cheaper to pay the tuition ol
their children abroad than to maint, lin dis
trict school for the benefit of all according te
the provisions Of the Law. Possibly we have bu
few men in our city who would carry affairs te
the extent instaneed above; nevertheless it i,
certain there is circle ever ready to stint ou
public SC hool in its resources and hamper il,
facilities within the smallest possible compass
under the plea of economy.
While this is true Of class, Il is Q matter
of congratulation that large portion of ou
tax paying citizens entertain broader views
and some Of the warmest supporters of ihs
measure in question are to be found among the
men of means and property holders. OF cours.
they realize that heir public burden will b.
augmented, but considerations Of public goot
outweigh the few dollars that will be added &c
their taxes. Besides, as the bonds do not ma
iure till the expiration Of twenty years. it j.
not true that the burden will be oppressive tc
US as certain parties represent. Like a large
proportion Of the expenses incurred in improv.
ing our streets, the payment will, in q measure
devoIve on future generation, and they will
be able to cancel them without hardship, be-
cause the place will be more populous and
wealthy, and secondly, the Improvements con-
templated will be permanent. 90 that the ci.i
zen Of tha. dag mag enjoy them even in great
er degree than We of the present
Aside lssm the inherent merits of the pro-
iect, the subject sill bear exami1E.ion rom a
pecuniary standpoint People, without re dect-
ing, are apt to view the entire expense as a
dead outlay, not imagining the possibility of a
monetary equivalent. Let us briefly consider
the matter in this aspect Nine tenths of the
expenditure will be within our immediate com
munity for material and lator. Brick and
lumber in large quantities will be required.
and it is not improbable that our dealers in
merchandise Of various kinds will make prcfit
on their sales Of wares toward erecting the
building, which will more than remunerate
them for their increased taxation. It is to be
ing, he frequently expends hundreds of dollars
in the purchase Of hardware, paint, lime &c,
so that every new house prt up is Of direct
pecuniary advantage to the man of business.
And now will tw wenty thousand dollar public
building be an exceptioL7 Then there is all
the immense labor Of erecting and finishing oil
to be performed-masonry. carpenters wcrk,
plasterng. painting, hauling. and common Ia
Dor in such variety as to almost defy enumer
alton! Surely our mechanics and common day
laborsrs can have no difficulty in seeing box
they are going to be compensated for their in
creased taxes.
Itis assumed that. as good citizens, We ought
to be actuated mainly By considerations Of ma
terial gain. The ruling incentive should be
desire to promote the common veal, and es.
pecially the moral and intellectual interests Of
the youth; but when mans cuEiii,y is appealed
to. for the purpose Of defeating public bene-
faction, a counter.examinaiion, from the same
standpoint, is admissible.
SESsIBLE-We learn with pleasure
that quite . number Of the Dem ocraric