The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-08-21
Additional Local.
An Appeal For Aid by the Board of
Education Of Johnstown, Pa.
JOss1owS. Pa. Aug. G. 1889.

JOSsToWN, Pa, Aug 6, 1883.
/ To County. City aud Borough Superintendent
# Pssslssyieaaia..
As the Board of Education of Johnstown,
! Pennsylvania, We beg leave TO present for
/ your consideration the following statement
1 Of facts touching the educational interests of
our city. We do this in the hope that you
may feel justified in extending to as the aid
necessary to open our schools and provide
educational facilities for our children.
The terrible destruction Of property and
the bitter suffering ofour people by the food
of May ist render it impossible for Us to Sc
cure. by means Of taxation, the money re-
quired to maintain our schools during the
current year.
No portion ofthe money which has been
50 generously contributed by a sympathetic
public can be used for public school purposes,
as it viii be exhausted in supplying The i'm
mediate and pressing wants of our stricken
people.
We have appealed to the Governor of our
State for assistance but whilst admitting the
necessities Of our position. he yct does not
feel that he possesses the authority 10 apply 10
our relief any part of the educational appro-
pristion Of the Commonwealth.
During the past year we had thirty-six
schools, thirty eight teachers. ard an enroll
ment Of nineteen hundred and thirteen pu-
lils The expense OF maintaining the schools
FOR this period was in round numbers S23,-
60. 1t the opening of the approaching
school term We shall have eighteen hundred
children FOR whom school accommodations
ard educational facilities must be provided.
Some OF our school buildings were destroyed
Others are seriously damaged, and We have
not the money with which to bald or repair
There is, in addition TO our loss, bonded
Indebtedness Of $4,000, which, with our re-
duce,l valuation through destruction of pro-
pesty. will bring our Indebtedness up to the
limit allowed by the Constitution.
To supply the needful accommodations
and provide the necessary teaching force will
require, for the year. an expenditure Of not
less than $4,000. This money we cannot
secure by taxation or loans, and ge have ex-
haus'ei every other resource known TO US,
We now appeal to the educational people Of
Pennsylvania for aid in this, our hour Of
need.
Humanity forbids that our children be left
TO roa about the streets, subject TO the con-
taminating influences Of street associations.
But the cause of the public schools Of this
city, in their utter destiiu,ion, needs argu-
me At before the schoolmen of this State
We feel that We have only to state our need
10 secure the requisite aid.
We destre to open the schools at the usual
tine, and, to this end. we hope our friends
will be prompt in giving us assurances Of CO.
operation. A small sum gathered from the
citizens Of each Of the twenty-five hundred
school districts of the State will not be miss
ed by them, and will be blessing TO US.
Johns;own has been prosperous city in
the past, and when she rises, as she surely
will. from the ruin and desolaiion which
enshroud her at present her grasefu. people
will not forget in their happier hours the
friends whose generous and sympathetic
hands were stretched out to them in the
night Of their sorrow and want
II. L. CouLTER, Pres.
d. J. JOKES, Sec.
JAMES J FRoSHEIsEE.
GoTLIEB BANrLY.
J. w. HAMER.
HoRAcE X. ROSE.
JoHS VOS Air.
FROM DR.. E. Z. HIoBEE. suPERISrESDES- OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.