, 1883-07-28
OUR Knowledge FACTORY.


Just as the twig is bent, the trees inclined"
It is evident from the natural geo.
graphical position Of Spokane Falls,
considering the present and prospec-
tive position of the greater body of
settlers in the Northwest, that this
is to be the chief educational centre
Of large section of territory, as well
as the manufacturing and distribu-
ting point. Our people, while deep
ly engrOsscd with business cares'and
occupied by the rapid influx of peO-
pie and the accompanying hustle Of
building and improving, have not
lost sight Of the necessity Of the best
Of educational facilities. The men
Of to-day are fully alive to the i'm
portance Of preparing course Of
studies for the rising generation,
and founding buildings to be devot-
ed to the moral and mental improve
ment and training Of the youth Of
both sexes. In this enlightened age,
when the progress and the higher
development Of the mind is the chief
aim of the civilized world, an appeal
for assistance to construct and main
tain schools is responded too with
prOdigal liberality. The free school
system of America, while it may
have some minor Objectionable fea-
lures, is in the main founded upon
the most liberal and far reaching
principles, and under the laws gov
erning it no child need grow up in
Ignorance. On the frontier, as in the
more populous localities, education is
looked upon as a necessity, and
where the sturdy immigrant settles
down and gathers a few neighbors
about him the first object to be OBJ
tanned is the formation Of a school.
1t is an indication Of the American
spirit Of advancement, the desire
on the part Of parents to have their
children reap the benefits Of an edu-
cation and keep step with the pro-
gressiOn Of the age. This feeling
predominatcs here, and our citi-
zens are alive to the importance Of
thorough schools. Circumstances
have seemingly cOnspired to balk
the efforts Of the people to establish
higher grade Of schools in time
past, but we are now on the eve Of a
new era in our school history. In
the present article we will barely
mention the fact that several Of the
finest and best colleges in the terri
tory are about to be constructed in
the city, confining ourself particular
ly to our new public schools, with
the understanding that we will treat
more eXtendedly upon the colleges
at an early day. Last winter the
children received instruction, bad
colds and ailments in the building
now occupied by the REVIEW, but
the growth Of the populationand the
condition Of the edifice made ii nee
eessary for the Trustees to devise
some means Of meeting the require
ments Of the case. With that OBJ
ject in view an election was called
to vote direct tax for the purpose
OF building Il school, and the PROPOSE
tiOn was carried almost unanimously.
The next thing in order was to Sc
cure a centrally located and suitable
site for the building. After careful
ly weighing the advantages and dis
advantages Of several localities the
chose u block Of land at
the southern extremity Of Howard
street, then belonging to the railroad,
The situation is most excellent, be-
ing in easy reach Of every part Of the
city, and the piece Ofland more elcva-
ted than the surrounding property.
Communication was entered into
with the railroad Off ials and
the railroad magnates generously
donated one half the price Of the
block, concession that could have
been more liberal, while at the same
time it might have been worse. The
property was purchased. Then the
delineating skill 0f,Architect Pruesse
was called in to produce a suitable
plan, and with his usual care that
gentleman executed an elegant draw
ing of an edifice in every way suita-
bic for the purpose intended, and as
soon as the eyes of the trustees lit
upon it the plan was accepted. The
next step was the letting Of the con-
tract. Mr.. Oliver was the successful
bidder, and that experienced me-
chanic Immediately started in to
gather the necessary material and
the work has commenced. II is the
design to have the building COM
pleted by the lst of September, but
it is hardly possible that It win be
ready for occupancy by that Z Ne.
When finished the Spokane Fails
public school will be second 10 none
in appearance east of Portland. The
greatest care has been taken for the
and convenience Of the chill
dren and teachers in charge. The
building is to be Of frame fronting TO
the north. In the front and center
of the main building is II projecting
l. forming the entrance to the school,
which surmOunts the roof Of the
main structure in the form Of bell
tower. Entering by an easy and
short flight Of stairs one enters a
hall from which ascends three flight
Of stairs to the upper story, that
gives fine and easy entree and exit
to the building. On the ground floor
are two school rooms each 24-SX32.
Two cloak rDOms 6-gX4-2 and 6-9Xh