The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-03-28

the school, and its enemies hoping with
equal zeal that we will fail. The large
interest over the state which favors di-
viding The endowment fund of this school
between a number of schools scattered
over the state, as well as the various
points in the state who are only anxious
for a chance to bid on its relocation, are
sincerely DESTROYS that this county and
city will fail in their attempts to de-
post in the state treasury the sec, 800 re-
quired by the law.
There seems to be but little real Oppo-
sitiOn to the appropriation of the $780,
800, but taking occasion of the delay
caused by the suit, some are inter
jecting their opposition to the manner of
issuing the bonds. We have found rath-
er a surprising degree of sentiment in
the country in favor of making the APP
preparation. There would have been no
trouble in submitting the question to a
vote of the people, and we are free to say
that we believe, and always have believ-
ed, that such questions ought always to
be decided by the people. We suppose
that the lawmakers proceeded on the
theory that the proposition would meet
with little or no opposition, under the
dire necessities of the case; that the
bonds were issued before without vote,
and in the hurry of getting the measure
through, in the closing days of the ses-
sion, there was no time for consultation
or reflection. We are satisfied there was
no design to take away any of the rights
of the people. No one who favored the
measure in the legislature had the least
objection to submitting the proposition
to a vote, had they thought the people so
desired
In considering this question 1t will be
well to glance at the work of the school
here-the results the institution has
wrought, as by so doing we may be en-
abled the better to judge of what we may
expect of it in the future-the absolute
Importance it is to us, and whether it
will pay to invest the amount asked of
us.
In the first place the location of this
school at Emporia has given us more i'm
portance abroad than all other things
combined. In the light of an advertise
ment, and in bringing us good class of
people it has paid us well for all that we
have done for it. Other enterprising
towns understand this matter well, and
are ready to take it and donate the entire
amount for the cost of the building lfw
do not want it. The school was started
in 1865, and met with such unbounded
success that there was no place for it in
Emporia-no room that would accommo-
date it. Then the old stone building was
erected. Soon this filled to overlooking,
and the large new building was needed.
The institution went on flourishlng, and
shedding its beneficial influences until,
when the legislature stopped it, there
were 300 students receiving the splendid
benefits of its courses of study from
% counties of the state, more than half
of the organized counties at that time.
Three-fourths of the students, exclusive of
the model school, always came from out
side of Emporia. A large number al
ways attended from Lyon county outside
of the city, so that so far as its educational
advantages were concerned the county has
received just as much benefit from it as
the city. Had il not been for the mis-
fortunes which have, one after another,
overtaken the school in the last five years,
it would to-day have at least five hundred
1 afudantS apd ba In tho 1nOcf Y,rOcYoorOY,c
condition.
Now let us look at the former benefits
of the school in the matter of dollars and
cents. The state has spent here the mag
nificent sum of from $175 900 to 500, 900,
in the way of erecting buildings and
maintaining the school. Counting the
average attendance on the school from
abroad, for IA years at 100 year, which
we are satisfied is a reasonable calcula-
ton, rather below than above the truth,
and estimating that each one OF these has
spent 800 per year, which we believe
also to be rather under than above fair
estimate, and we have $4,000 more add
ed to the trade of the community, which
has permea4ed IN its beneficial effects the
entire county. Total, $4,000 brought
us by the school. Look at the benefits
to our youth in affordIng superior educa-
tional facilities; look at the large num-
Der of desirable people located in the
county directly through the influence of
the Normal school, the value of neither
of which can be estimated in dollars and
cents, and then let every intelligent pro-
gressive citizen ask himself whether we
can afford the sum asked of us to con-
tinue the school.
| We are free to say that if the school
were to longer depend entirely upon an
nual appropriations by the legislature
for its running expenses, we would say
drop it and let it go. But fortunately it
will, in a short time, have an endowment
of $4,000, ample to run it. We sincere
ily hope the humiliating scene of a rep
reseniative from Emporia begging an
4 appropriation for this school will new
er again be witnessed. Then we will
have this $4,000 kept among us each
year. Within two years after the build
ing is completed there VIII be at least
200 students in the school from abroad.
At 800 dollars year each, spent here,
they would distribute among US $4,000
annually. Total, $4,000. In fifteen
years, the time the bonds are to run, this
would amount 10 the magnificent sum of
$45O,Oo0. Now, these are perfectly fair
figures In our estimation, and they pre-
sent facts which the taxpayers of this
county ought TO consider in thinking
over this question. We really believe
the amount would be much greater in
the latter part of the term OF fifteen
wears. Let the motto of the meeting
1 Saturday be, "Wil 1t payT
Delay Is dangerous. In year the