The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-03-30

"COME AND LET Us REASON TOGETHER" THAT
WE MAY REACH JUST AND PRACTICAL
CONCLUSIONS, AND SO VOTE AND
ACT AS WILL BEST AND MOST
CERTAINLY PROMOTE THE
PUBLIC WELFARE.

wishes of many citizens, have called an cleo
ton of the qualified voters Of the district,
to decide whether or not there shall be
tax of ten mills, or one per cent, levied on
the taxable property in the district for the
purpose of erecting school house suited to
the wants of the people. The first Of April
was set for this election, but on account of
an informality in the proceedings, the time
has been changed to Saturday, the 18th day
Of April. The law does not require it, but
in order to give ample opportunity for fair
and full expression upon this important
question, the directors have determined to
keep the polls open from o'clock A. M. to
6 P. M.
Now for the reasons, or some of them, in
favor of more suitable site and building
than we now have. In the first place, it is
not the intention to waste any money or
property in this business. The present
quarter block and building are worth more
for something else than for school purposes,
and should be sold, in my opinion, as soon
as the district can well dispense with their
use and a favorable opportunity shall offer.
think the house and ground by that time
will bring $1,000, perhaps more. But the
school district is not speculative corpora
ton, and if the property is worth more for
| some other purpose, that is perhaps not a
sufficient reason for selling it, if it is reason
ably suitable for its present use. Now, let
us look at that question just moment in
| the light of candid enquiry. In the first
place, it is hardly to be supposed that a
school house built in the very infancy Of the
| town-22 years ago, would well answer our
present wants. Such an admission would
be poor compliment to our prosperity and
enterprise. The fact is, the building is
neither suitably designed nor of sufficient
capacity to accommodate our present wants
at all. There is no room for ornamentation,
and no playground except the streets. The
whole thing is old, confined and uninviting,
without practicable possibility Of improve
ment. II anyone thinks differently, now is
| yet standing TRUTH that "whatever is worth
doing is worth doing WE'LL" applies with
special force to our public schools. They
cost too much to be neglected. The expen-
diture involved and the interest at stake,
which is nothing less than the welfare of
states and nations, demand the best sur
roundings and most favorable facilities for
moral culture and educational improvement.
The man who is wise and enterprising will
usually acquire property, not only to the
benefit Of himself, but Of his fellows. 1t is
the same with communities. Good was not
made to be suppressed, nor light to be put
under bushel. We should act as promptly
as possible. We are even now behind the
times The erection Of good school houses
and the improvement of the public schools
is the order of the day. Look at Portland,
Seattle, Walla Walla and Olympia, and other
towns no larger than our own, to say moth
ing of the good and universal example set
US by our sister cities and towns in the east.
The public schools should be fostered every
where throughout our common country as
| the central idea of American civilization and
progress. If we fail in Vancouver ON this
question, we fail to emulate the good exam
pie Of more enterprising towns and commu-
mites; we signally and unworthily fail in
our duty to our children; and worse than all
this, if possible, we fail to represent and en-
courage the true idea Of American civiliza-
ton.
Mr.. Editor, ask you to pardon the
length of this article. The Importance Of
the subject is my apology. must present
a few thoughts from business standpoint.
Physical and social attractions are governed
much by the same laws. Like attracts like.
As certainly as one body attracts another.
so certainly will we as o community, by acts
Of enterprise, industry and public spirit
attract to us persons Of corresponding quail
| ties, and thus increase as community, our
material wealth and social Importance. /
do not believe in the end it will cost US any
thing to build good school house, or at
least that we shall any Of US, be the poorer
| for it. think the increase in the value of
our property, consequent on such public
Improvement will equal. perhaps more, the
| cost of its construction. But some tax pay
payers may feel from the fact that they have
no children to educate, or that they do not
desire to patronize the public school, that it
will be unjust and . burden for them to pay
such tax. I appeal to such persons to
take Z wise and generous view of the case.
By escaping the pleasurable burdens of edu-
cation you may fastcn upon you the disa-
greeable ones Of ignorance and crime. Again
we are al parts Of common body polite
none can live independently of his neighbour |
we cannot all zee and believe alike, but
We should ill exchange ofiicesof good neigh
borship and kindness and all take . little
stock in everything calculated 10 build up
the town, and thus promote the general vel.
fare. II 10 upon this principle and in sbs-
disnce to the injunction, do unto Others ~
you woald have them do unto you. that We
help our neighbors raise their houses snd
barns. This act 10 simply the performance
Of . social and Christian duty on oar part.
Our nsighbors, IL 10 true, are specially bone
fited but we are not injured. Indeed Ne are
benefited too. fortheir fineimprovemsutse en-
hance the value Of property in the neighbor-
hood OF which ours 10 part % that none