Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-15
CITIZENS MEETING.
Some OF the Fourth Ward People DISCUSS the
School Building Question and Fire kesoiu-
lions at the School Board

the Santa Re railroad, north OF the rlScO
south of Thirteenth street and west of
Hillside avenue. AS is known, the ques-
ton has been before the board and consid-
erably agitated Ivy the people there for
some time, dating, in fact, from the time
the bonds passed furnishing money with
which to erect additional school buildings
In the excitement those most favorable
and earnest for building to accommo-
date that locality say they certainly can
find no one opposing the plan of getting
better facilities. except some one who
owns or has an interest in the dangerous
buildings which have been rented formerly
by the board for school purposes. 1t is al
legged that some of those having buildings
scarcely worthy OF the name and have
been receiving clever rent for the same
can't see any demand for school building
put up for that purpose and at the clty's
expense.
By o'clock last evening there
was quite a number on hand
IL response to an announcement
in the EAGLE yesterday morning
for a meeting to consider the school
building proposition. The meeting was
organized by e1ecting Mr. G. W. Graham
chairman and T. NJ. Robinson secretary.
The object of the meeting was explained
by Mr. 7. j. Shepherd, who commenced
with a brief history of the agitation and
the efforts already made to secure the loca-
ton of q building in that locality. Coming
10 the bond question, be said it was mat
ter OF record that those localities which
were most in need of school buildings give
the vote in support of the bonds, while the
opposition comes from the localities pro-
vided with school buildings. From no
part of the city did he consider the bonds
received more united and earnest sup
port than from the locality represented in
the meeting, This he considered logical
and natural, as in his judgment no part of
the city is more greatly in need of a school
building than that. He observed that the
bonds would have been defeated had it not
been for the strong vote from the parts OF
the city needing school buildings.
He said fattering promises had
been made before the election
that should the bonds carry they would be
given building, but soon after the cleo
ton some of the members of the board had
slight suspicious that there were no chill
dren in that part of the city; scarcely a
hundred, and Lot over that at any rate,
and no building was needed. AS a result
of that feeling and pretended belief an
enumeration was taken showing the
school population to be three hundred and
forty-nine, which did away with the sus-
picion of no children there. In the face OF
the sworn statement of enumeration and
general surroundings the speaker observed
that the board had refused to put houses
elsewhere but not there. The appropria-
ton made 50 far on buildings he thought
would amount TO over $95, 100000, or come
within s., 600 Of the limit. The section rep
resented he referred to as having been I'M
fortunate in other matters at the hands OF
the city and had created a feeling, by no
means pleasant one, and in this case 1t
was simply request for what they con-
slider right and fair and a discontlnuance
of being compelled to send children across
the railroads and everything else, and
facing many other dangers in getting to
schools that could not be as bene-
fetal as enjoyed by other parts OF
the city and the money paying for the same
coming out of the general fund. That
section had paid taxes to erect school
houses in other parts of the city and in re-
turn had no building or accommodations
themselves. Would continue to pay taxes
and help pay off the 100000 bonds and
yet it was proposed to deny them accom-
modations. He said he considered that
there were fair-minded men on the board,
who on being put in possession of the facts
would readily see the justice according to
what was asked. He urged that the board
be placed in full possession of the facts.
Thought it best to represent the matter to
the board in a fair and business like way.
On closing his remarks he moved COM
mittee of three be appointed on resolu-
lions. The motion prevailed and as such
committee the chair appointed S. NJ. Liv-
ington, T. j. Shepherd and r. Wilson.
sam Miller took Mr.. Shepherds place on
the committee and the three gentlemen re-
tired to 90 the work assigned.
In the interium Peter Getto was called
upon. He said he had property interests
in the section concerned and was greatly
in favor of school building, as he
thought it was greatly needed. He had
talked with some members OF the
board on the question and come to the con-
clusion that it would not be impossible TO
get a school building located there.
Rev. NJ. bold, Presbyterian minister,
being called upon said in his judgment a
school building is greatly needed and
should be located for the benefit Of the To-
cality mentioned.
Mr.. Graham, the chairman, said that in
his opinion a six room building is needed.
He thought the board would be little In
clined to change its opinion.
The committee on resolutions by this
time was ready to be heard from. The
resolutions as submitted asked for a
-four room" building, when Mr.. Castator
objected and moved TO amend by asking
for "slx room" building.
Shepherd feared that by asking so much
the result would be that nothing would
be granted He thought a starter OF four
rooms would be part of what really is
due and 10 more had best be asked for.
Mr.. Castator said there was no
difference as to theory, but in his opinion
a six room building was needed and If any
thing could be secured it could be captured
as easily as a four room building.
Mr.. J. II. Fazel, who lives on Tenth near
Chisholm creek, said he had had some talk
with members Of the school board and was
anxious for a building. He spoke for
some time on the location question and
thought it ought TO be located on the street
car line. He thought six rooms would be
necessary.
Mr.. McGee, of the north part Of the sec
tion also had something 10 say about loca-
ton when NJ Shepherd said the first
thing on the program was to get the school
house Get it located afterwards y