River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-03-18

school House.
The principal question agitating our |
village at the present time is that of a
new school house. That a building |
must he built is conceded by the ma
jority, but the way 10 accomplish this |
result and how to do ii seems to be a |
very mixed question. Many theories
have been promulgated. among which
are the following First, not to build
at all the present year but use the
buildings we now haYe until better
times or Il more united feeling in the
district. Second. to erect a small
building to accommodate from fifty to
one hundred pupils somewhere on
the east side, preferably ia the north
ern part of the district and not erect
any other building at present Third,
to erect small building ON the old
site and make some progress the pres
ent year towards erecting large
building on the east side. There are
numerous propositions offered as va
rious as possible but these seem to be
the chief, excepting the recommends
ton of the committee appointed by
the district to inquire into and report
the needs of the district in this re-
spect. This report WAS presented last
Friday evening and will be acted
upon on Saturday evening OF this week.
And is in substance as follows: That
the district requires accommodation
for about three hundred pupils. That
to meet this requirement five rooms
are needed. That under all circum-
stances the committee recommend that
the building heretofore selected by
the district ana on which bids have
been received be constructed the pres
| ent season.
The bid on this building was little
over eleven thousand dollars. The
plans of the building can be seen at
| the office of Mr.. Holmes. 1t is a fine
commodious structure capable Of ac-
| eommodating three hundred pupils as
ordinarily seated. and while it is pos
sible il may anticipate little the
wants of the district it will undoubt-
/ eddy he but short time before it
would be fully used. The committee
cordially advocate the construction of
the building after having thoroughly
discussed the wants of the district.
That this is question of no ordinary
| Importance to this community cannot
! but be conceded. That whatever is
done should be done with proper econ
omy is self evident proposition.
! That it would be an error to confine
| ourselves To the actual present needs
of this district without any regard for
| the future would not seem wise, as
this is fast increasing village and is
very likely to have a large increase in
population in a few years. That q
school house is mark of the charac-
| ter Of a community is well known and
| should be considered in this matter
and what might be economy for one
| place may be extravaganza for anoth-
er. 1t would seem that the building
to be erected by this district should be
| cOmely in appearance, convenient in
| arrangement and have so many of the
| modern improvements as have proved
of real value after fair trials. Costly
experiments Of mtried theories should
| be avoided, but substantial, conyen-
| lent and well arranged building con-
structed This it would seem should
| be done, and we think done at once.
There is no real economy in letting an
other year pass without a good build
/ ing sufficient to accommodate the pu-
| pills of this district. That the subject
| should be discussed with all candol
and without attempt at deception or
under false colors is too evident to
need argument. Every person who
has a view to advance should receive
respectful attention and the question
determined 10y actual reference to the
advantages Of the children rather than
on grounds Of taxes. pc 7olel conyen-
fence or local rivalry.
! Few places can boast Of 50 com
mandins site with ample grounds
well drained and accessible, and view
ed as it is from every avenue of APP
proach, the building erected should be
a monument Of the generosity, fore
! thought and wisdom of this genera
ton. and even if as claimed by some,
a little in advance of the village in
general. let it be an educator to teach
improvement il our buildings. both
public and private. Let it be remem-
/ bered that w have expended on
churches nearly as much as this build
ing viii cost, and these are the prop
erty Of individual societies. This viii
be the p4vperty Of the whole eommu-
nifty; each man has an ownership III
it, and con have when it is finished a
Justlilaile prlGe iii Al AS a part or ms
property. We feel a pride in indiyid-
ual buildings in the place which are
handsome and convenient. How much
more in one that all own and join in
buil ling. J. IS not nearly as much for
this village to-day to build this build
ing as it was for our first settlers to
erect the oldsAcademy, not rs much
as it was to raise the fund for the
Normal School. Would it not be best.
therefore, to accept the report of the
committee and proceed at once to
build building which viii be an or
nament to tine village, convenient
home for our children aud a rival in
advantages Of education TO the young
81. l., 80 o,,, NOrtaoI -abnaI