Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-03-09
The Question of New School Building.

Next Monday the question of the cree
ton of new building for the accommo-
dation of our constantly increasing school
population will come before the voters OF
this Independent District, in the shape OF
proposition to issue the bonds of the
district to the amount of $4,000 for the
purpose indicated. AS we have before
remarked, the proposition comes before
the people not SO much question of pol
icy as one of necessity. Our present
school buildings are entirely inadequate
for the demand upon them. The latest
enumeration Of children of school age in
this district was 1912. all of whom have
right to receive, and, for their own good
and the best interests Of society, should be
receiving an education al the public ex-
pense. Allowing SO scholars for each
single room, and 100 for each of double
or grammar rooms, we have accommoda-
tons in the two buildings already erected
for 600 pupils. In point of fact the pres
ent enrolment is 655 who live in the dis
trict, and 1S pupils who reside outside
the district, from whom we receive reve-
nue., making nearly one hundred pupils
more than the estimated capacity of the
rooms. Here, then, are 557 children who
are positively debarred from the means
of education for lack of room for their
accommodation. But 1t must be remem.
bered that the number thus forbidden the
means of becoming good and intelligent
citizens is constantly augmenting The
enumeration of 1875 was 1 ,16S; last year
it was 1912, an increase of A. The av-
erage of the past i've years is something
over 20. So, the embarrassment arising
from inadequate accommodations is grow
ing greater. 1t is not probable, if the
new building should be commenced this
year, that it would be ready for occupan
cy before the fall of 1878, by which time
the number desiring to receive instruction
would be sufficient to fill it, for it is alto
gether probable that the enrolment of
pupils now would be larger if there were
more room.
From the above statements, it will be
readily seen that more room for our
schools is an imperative necessity, but
some may be doubtful about the policy
of erecting new building at the cost of
$4,000, on account of the Increased taxa
ton it may entail. Here properly may
come in statement of the present condi-
ton of the finances of the District. The
present debt of the district is $4,000, in
the shape OF bonds issued to build the
west side building. Against this debt,
however, there is sinking fund of about
$4,000. leaving $4,000 yet unprovided
for. II is anticipated that the tax of the
present year, and the levy for next year,
will nearly, If not quite, wipe out this
debt and interest, so that the debt of the
district at the time that the building is
finished, will consist only of the bonds
issued for It's erection These bonds can
be negotiated at s per cent. interest,
which is two per cent. lower than the
bonds now in cxistepce. We know that
this objection of debt and taxation was
urged when the proposition to build the
west side building was up, but we appre-
bend that the burdens have not proved Sc
onerous as was expected, and that none
who favored that project regret their &C.
ton. However, our object is not speci-
ally to advocate the issuing of these
bonds, but to place the facts before the
public, hoping that those interested, will
give them candid consideration, and act
upon their best judgment, without preju.
dice or passion.