Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-07-01
TIE NEW S.H1oL BUILDINGS.

Gil of the town for the purpose of ascer
tanning the sense of the people upon the
question of erecting suitable school
buildings was held last Saturday. After
the election was in progress, attention
was called to the fact that proceedings
were irregular and contrary to the pro-
vision of the constitution which re
auires all elections to be held by ballot.
Many who were in favor of the enter
prise thought it unnecessary to vote. A
spirit OF opposition from an unexpected
quarter was developed during the day.
The largest tax payers Of the town In
Guiding many who had no children to
educate gave the scheme their
hearty support, while many, who had
little children almost entirely dependent
upon the public schools for their ed
ucation and whose school tax is only
nominal, were most bitter in their op
position. The vote stood forty five tor
and thirty-tive against the measure. A
number who voted against the measure,
upon more mature reflection, saw that
they voted against their own interests
and are now anxious for the opportu
nifty of voting tor it. The great OBJ
lection urged was that the town is in
debt, that the debt has been in ex~
istence a long time and the reduction
has been small.
A review of the facts connected with
this subject will, we think, convince
any unprecedented mind that the debt
Of the town of Woodstock is very
insignificant affair. After its contrac-
ton it was gradually reduced until the
beginning of the war During the war
no town tax was levied, the interest
upon the debt was neglected, the cur
rent expenses we've permitted to ac-
cumulate and no etfort9was made to
meet any of the obligations of the
town. This policy was pursued not
only during the war but for sometime
after its close. Trustees were finally
appointed, and they levied a small tax
scarcely sufficient to meet the current
expenses of the town. In the year
1872. the council audited the debt and
caused statement to be published.
That which originally had been but
$500, had, notwithstanding the DIES
crease before the war, accumulated
until it reached the sum Of $4,000.
Three years ago the council levied a
tax with the view of reducing the debt
and OF meeting the current expenses of
the town. At this time, notwithstand-
ing the facts that we have purchased
and paid for fire apparatus costing over
one thousand dollars and have paid
about seventeen hundred dollars per
year, the costs of our schools, the debt
has been so reduced that it does not
now amount to three thousand dollars.
With this reduction in three years, is
the debt of Woodstock of such huge
proportions that the education Of our
children should be suspended? Are we
to wait until the town debt is entirely
sliquidated, before we meet the oblll'
cations which our own children hold
against US?
Some urge as an objection that there
is ne necessity to build new house as
long as we have one which has here.
tofore answered the purpose. An ex,
animation Of the facts will at once
show the emptiness of this objection.
The debt upon the building amounts to
five or six hundred dollars. To pay
this Indebtedness and to so repair the
building as to fit it for the use of the
Graded school would not cost less than
fifteen hundred dollars. The morey |
must be either borrowed, the taxes of |
the town increased or the school sus-
pended until the necessary amount is
raised. And even after this amount
shall have been expended we will have
a building badly located, not adapted
to the purpose. with insufficient ac-
comodations and with very objection
able grounds. the investment would /
be waste of the public funds of the
town, and it is very questionable
whether any council, composed oc in.
telligent business men, would permit |
trustees to invest the public funds of
the town in that manner.
An examination of the books of the |
Clerk of the School Board and of the |
treasurer of the town, will show that I
under the plan by which the schools
are conducted and paid for, the town OF
Woodstock is now in the position of I
town which has an endowment fund !
of '$16,666,66, the interest of which,
amounting TO one thousand dollars, is
annually used in paying the expenses of
our schools. Shall we by refusing to
take advantage Of the opportunity
presented, sacrifice one thousand dol. I
lars ryear3, in order to save four
hundred and forty. Another feature
which must present Itself to every man
in moderate circumstances is the fact