Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-16
A PLEA FOR THE BONDS.
Samuel Rees Tells Why They Should
Be Voted.

THE BEE AS there is danger of the citizens
of Omaha not taking sufficient interest in the
bond election to secure the issue of the
bonds, the writer has deemed 1t wise to call
attention to it. and to give a few reasons why
the bond proposition should carry.
There is prevalent among the people an
idea that the board of education is disposed
to be extravagant in the expenditures for
school purposes; but whether so or not, is
not question at issue. The only question is
Are the proposed buildings necessary9 That
the people may Judge wisely, have thought
it best to enumerate the. several sites and
buildings and state a. few facts as go along
/. For site in the vicinity of Lathrop and
Twenty-fourJh streets, $1,000 is required.
This property was really contracted for last
containing three rooms with an attendance
of about one hundred and forty pupils.
2. For site in the vicinity of Fort Omaha,
s2,5OO hr5i -.
$780, These two sites are in the same con
dition as the one at Lathrop street.
4. For site in the vicinity of Dupont
Place. 81, 600. In regard to this site, would
say that there is now a building at Dupont
containing four rooms, and TWO rooms are
rented, and there is a demand for more room
The present site is too contracted for present
purposes, so that it is proposed to go a little
IarGuer WeSU ana purCUaSe large Sluc WIN
the expectation OF, erecting in the future a
large building, should it be uecessary. u.I ,
5. For addition to the Hartman site, S10,-
! 600. With this it is proposed to purchase
ground on one side or the other of the pres
ent site, so that there may be sufficient
ground upon which to erect a sixteen room
building.
g. For enlargement of the Hickory school
site, $500. This, also, is piece of ground
which was contracted for by the old board,
and the nnnhnrS Of the OraSept hoar1 from
that locality say that it is necessary. This
building is also designed to relieve the Cen
ter and Pacific schools, where there are a
number of rooms rented, and will save to
the board S205 per month in rent.
This much for sites; now in regard to the
buildings:
1. For an eghtroom building at Long
school, $4,000. There are now at the Long
school fifteen rooms occupied, while the per-
manent building has only eight rooms, the
other eight rooms being frame annexes and
rented rooms in the neighborhood.
Any citizens not posted can easily
learn whether this building is necessary
by making inquiry of those persons who live
in that neighborhood.
2. For an eght.room building, and the
Franklin school site, $4,000. This building
is one that the writer thought could be de-
ferred until next year, not that the building
is not necessary, but for the purpose of keep
| ing the amount of bonds down to a lower
amount. There is a great growth out in that
direction, and the prospects are that at least
six rooms will be occupied as soon as the
building is completed.
3. For an eight-room building at West
Omaha, $4,000 If any one will take the
trouble to go out on the Farnam and Thirty
sixth horse car line, and then walk south be-
| yond Leavenworth, and notice the number
| Of houses that are up and occupied, he will
l am sure, become convinced that If he lived
there he would think a school necessity.
4. For twelve-room building on the Hick-
school Sitp BOG 600 Six
occupied here, some Of them poorly venti-
lated and not suited for school purposes.
5. For a sixteen-room building on the
Hartman site, $4,000. There are now four
teen rooms occupied at the Hartman school,
six of which are rented at an expense of
81, 200 annually. This place presents a very
Jar example of the policy of erecting cheap
small buildings, and making additions to
them For several years, rooms have been
| used for schools that are not suitable,
and as last resort the board has
arrived at the conclusion that it is necessary
to remove the wooden buildings and tear
down the brick and erect a large building.
Then there is the addition to the high
school. There is no doubt about the neces-
sity of this il the high school is to be main.
tanned at its present scale. The writer IA
vored an additional building on the high
school grounds, but not being able TO get
this proposition through the board accepted
with the other membors, this addition pro.
vided IL was made separate from the general
pr0pOSlJlOn. ~ remains lot tn6 people 10 say
| whether they desire this Improvement.
But we have Sl2,50O, for retaining walls,
etc. The present condition of many of the
school grounds are, nothing short OF dis
| grace to the city. IT is proposed to use the
money received for these bonds in fixing up
| the grounds, walks, walls. etc.
Very few people in Omaha realize the
| growth OF the city. They seem to forget
| that about two years ago the limits were ex-
| tended from two square milea TO twenty -fYe
| square miles; that previous to the extension
| of the limits the city chad far outgrown its
boundaries; that nearly all the suburbs are
demanding school facilities, apd that
| it is no more IS than just that
| their demands should be granted ;
| that by reason of the vast territory now In
| control of the board OF education the schools
| are rendered more expensive than they
| would otherwise be.
In conclusion, would say that there are
none Of the sites of the proposed buildings
| that personality am not in favor Of. | do
| not believe the board had sufficient data TO
| go on; that believe the board Of education
| should have in its possession a census or re.
| port showing the residence OF the school
| the schools aud build only where 1t is neces-
| sary. No Information of this kind could be
| had. Under the circumstances the proposi-
| ton Is probably as near right as IL could be
made, aud for one. feel that the board has
| done its duty IN submitting the proposition;
| being perfectly willing TO abide by the de-
cision OF the people, whether for or against
| the bonds.
| Pardon me for occupying so much OF your
| space, but believing the importance OF the
subject demands this much, am respect