The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-03-09
UIdICl
TO the Committee of the Wdsaingtor
WEST CENTRE.

MarCn 4, 1911.
EDS. HERALD.-Permit me through
your paper to reply briefly to some state
ments in regard to school matters in West
Centre School District which appears over
the signature of w. M. F. The first thing
in course that | wish to notice is the state
ment of the number of scholars in the
District According to the enumeration by
the Secretary in September last, there was
1872, instead of 100 as stated. We had an
undisputed possession of a perpetual lease
of half an acre for school purposes and
have had it for fifteen years; why was not
the mistake discovered when MIR. F. was
sub-Girector? A majority of the Board
contracted for two acres Of ground at 800
per acre, but refused TO submit it to the
ratification of the electors, according to
Section % and note thereto Of School
Laws The meeting referred to was COM
posed chiefly of a few who advocated the
building of a graded school house, and
their wives, awho by invitation to vote,
mostly voted for the house. But when the
electors came to legal vote-on the bonds
having had time.to consider the subject,
and that it was to be warmed by furnace.
The vote showed about two to one against
it then if there was cry all over the
District as stated by Mr.. F., 'too much
tax, too much tax" why need there be
two or three elections called to vote on the
bonds?
The neighbor referred to, not being very
well posted, and there being twins in his
family, seems to have convinced Mr.. F.
that there was a house full and that there
were 20 more of the same sort, (when there
were but children in the family.)
There was no debt against the District
prior to the contract for the two acres of
ground /; the tax was levied mot recon-
mended) as the minutes will show Cor
school house purposes, and no mention of
paying debts minuted. Mr.. f. seems to
have forgotten the difficulty that arose be-
tween his daughter and the principal of
the summer school. about the compound
noun. l am glad, however, that he issso
far convert ed as to admit that we have the
best school in the county, but did not
know he was so well posted 'all over the
county. But election time is coming round
| again. Mr.. F. does not seem to know that
our battery was opened on the Board long
| before the school commenced, until such
an army of veterans had enlisted in the
cause of justice that he could not help
knowing it, Neither does he inform his
readers that the reason the petition was
lot presented, is because the Board would
not come together after the act was passed
until after the school had commenced.
/ discover, in perusing Mr.. F's article,
that he has very incorrect understanding
of the real state of affairs IN many particu-
lars that | have not referred to. One is
that an injunction on the county Treasurer
was to reduce the tax $3.50. Another is
that parties are trying to "excite" the peo
pie by certain acts, &C.; when in reality
the excitement is caused by a manifest de-
termination of certain members of the
Board to carry out certain measures con-
trary to the expressed will ola majority of
the electors of the district And those par
ties seek by the use of the law in illegal acts
of the Board to stop the prosecution of the
acts of the Board. There are several points
| that would like to refer to, but proposed
to be brief so close, leaving the coloring
for my readers to apply as they think
proper. Yours Truly,
| G. WILSON.