, 1882-04-08
The School Question Meeting at the Court
House

thereto
The School Question Meeting at the Court
House.
For the first time since its completion a
public meeting was held at the new Court
House. according to previous announcement
to discuss the school question.
At half past seven clock those " no took
an interest In tie question begsI to arrive
and among them swere several laGies-wives
Of some Of our prin :ipal citiz z-ns; about
60 persons we're present. The meeting Was
called to order by Mr. jesse and adge Win
gard was voted to the char, the Hon n. T
Cation vice president aud Mrs d.. Kellogg
appointed secretary.
Mr. Cation then addressed the assemble Ie,
explaining the object OF the meeting statins
that the last legislature consolidated the
different school districts OF this city, and
that the whole body Of dlr, ,ctors had settled
upon building good school mouse upan the
ground now occupied by school house Ma l.
Judge Wingard then spoke, and after say ,ne
that his object was the improvement of the
public schools, then rea the following:
lst- Resotced, By the people Of the city of
Walla Walla in public meeting assembled,
that We are in favor OF maintaining the pre-.
ent public school buildings, with such repairs
or structures as may be necessary :or .ae
uses and purposes of primary or prr?ar-tory
schools
ID That We favor the purchase OF
suitable site upon''whic 10 erect Enliding
to be used and occupied for a cent al school,
TO which pupils shall be Transferred accord
ing to their grade of aivanceu mt from tn.
primary schools.
81. That the 10. Of ground O2ned b. Mr.
John F. Abbott, situate on the s. f. corner
Of 2d and Poplar streets, In the scity Of
Walla Walla, be purchased for the locat on
Of said central school building, If the same
can be had at a reasonable pric-
18th. That as soon as practicable, after the
purchase of a suitable location, a brick
building be commenced and carried on
toward completion, for CENTRAL school
building. Prorided, that no more money
shall be expended during the present 5 ;hooi
year, upon said building. than the dfieren
between the purchase price Of the gronni or
site aforesaid and the sum Of seventeen
thousand dollars
The Judge then addressed the meeting and
stated that the public schools Of Walla
Walla are disgrace 10 any city or village in
the Territory and even went so far as to say
that even certain insignificant little VII age
near here, the name Of which he had forgot
ten, was far ahead OF this city in that re-
spect. He decidedly favored the building OF
school house on the Abbott lot AID as de-
cidedly opposed the erection OF one IN or
the use Of the old ground, stating that the
city had no tile to it and the owner would
not give a deed-he certainly would not
were he in the alleged owners place. He
also objected to the purchase of the Cantr,ll
property, on the ground It. being bounded
on one side by Mil creek. that rapid stream
upon which no scientific calculations can be
made, and on another by the workshops
winch Mr.. Glasiord intends shortly To erect.
He said that the Abbott lot was cheap, and
as personal Investment h. would be willing
to invest the amount it is offered at foI the
purpose Of speculation.
Mr.. z. X. Straight had but one fault TO
find he would be wiling 70 vote for S25.-
900 or $50, 900 house.
Mr.. VIM. klrkman inquired how much il
would cost TO make the old school house tit
TO be used.
Mr.. v ID. Lambert thought it would not
cost much to repair the 3li place .
Mr.. Jesse ,ad that the only use FOR the
old school house was - tear 1t down and
burn 1t up; it " IS Not safe or ut for Use.
John A. Taylor on economic principles
thought that wood N building would be
preferable
f. B. Whitman moved 10 amend by ill.,
increasing the amount to - or Thirty thou
sand dollars.
Mr. Cation then addressed the meeting.
He spoke in favor os bGiliiag as coed school
houses as the tax payers could vote: and if
they saw fit to vote fifty Thousand dollars he
would help t. eSpend it for The benefit O. the
public but no, for hish schools, which he
said are in antagonism to our institutions.
He thought tha. the different religious or
ganizations IN this city would opp1se the
plans as lid before them. In regard to
Seattle as quoted by Judge Wingard, Mr.
Cs'on said that :hey would build their So
Oo0 schorl As We built our court house-by
the acqui-sesnee Of the people. They are a
unit in Seattle and are divided here. Mr..
Cation vas frequently applandec
The resolutions were adopted by vote OF
. 10 u in this Large and enthusiastic meet
ing, which then adjourned.