Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-11-08
WICHITA ON EDUCATION
Two More School Edihces
Completed,
Making Her the Forward City in the
State in Facilities of Education.

The completion of the two magnifcen,
school structures this season adds anothe.
laural to the metropolis Of the Arkansas
valley, placing her at once in the foremost
rank as an educational city, equaling the
most favored city of the west. The sew
erai fine structures that had answered
the purposes of only few years had be-
| come insufficient TO meet the growing de-
mands of the rapid increase of population,
and to meet the requirements it was decided
to move step forward and build two new
school buildings that would be a credit to
her enterprise as well as meet
the demands of the future. The
money was appropriated, then
estimates, plans and designs were settled on,
and the contracts let for two model school
houses-one for the north part Of the city,
and the other for the south part of the city.
Like all of Wichita's enterprises to speak
was TO act, and though it was late in the
summer when the work WAS commenced, to-
day the city is provided with two of the
most substantial modern devised and COM
modicus school houses in the state.
An EAGLE reporter yesterday visited the
two new buildings and by taking notes
gathered the following details Of the build
ings which are given:
The Park school house, the first visited, is
fine structure of basement stone, pitch
face range work, finished with brick, with
tower 90 feet high. The main building is
60 feet high, with six recitation rooms % by
30 feet; hall Il by "a feet, with entrance to
each school room. The vesticule is II by II
with belfiey. The first story contains three
school rooms nicely furnished with heating
and ventilatins apparatus. with black boards
surrounding each room. The basement has
two play rooms and one room supplied with
heating apparatus for the whole house with
Huxton boiler \ IL, and an independent
supply of water for fire and general use.
The second story is provided with the same
capacity. The capacity of the house is for
$50 pupils, and the rooms are so arranged
that the principal can stand on the landings
of the stairs and see into each room of the
house. The slightly and architectural design
is quite striking, and in the fine central posi-
ton which it occupies on Court and Water
streets commands apostion that is at once
convenient and sets off that part of the city
to good advantage.
The building committee is composed of J.
NJ. Allen, G. Z. Campbell and Prof. Abbott.
who have used the utmost care in seeing
that every detail of the building is carried
out TO the letter. The cost of the building,
which was limited, was but $4,000, and it
is admitted that j. is one Of the cheapest
houses for that money that has been erected
in this city during the season.
The Southern school house, which is after
the same design and duplicate of the Park
school house, costs exactly the same and is
also capable of seating $50 scholars. 1t is
also conviently located for that portion of
the city, and like its mate is model of arch
tectural design and finish, with the most
substantial basement stone and brick with
stone facings and covered with tin roof and
iron and stone cornice.
The architects who formed the designs
may be said TO possess the best architectural
talent Of the west. Willis Proudfoot and
George Bird are young men who have
drafted large number Of public buildings
in this section of Kansas, among which may
be mentioned the Congregational College of
Eureka, the Newton schools, and the Metho-
dist College at Indianola, Iowa, the latter at
a cost of $4,000; the Catholic Church at
St. Marks, and twelve residences in the city.
The school furniture for the two houses
has been ordered, and will be in the houses
in few weeks, at which time they will be
ready for occupancy.