Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-14
THE SCHOOL BOND QUESTION.
the Editor Of the EariA

| To the Editor Of the Eagle.
| Space is asked in your paper to submit
| some pertinent facts relating to the school
bond proposition 20 be submitted to the
voters of this city tomorrow.
From the standpoint of resident tax
payer who has nought at stake but the
| pure and simple question of dollars and
cents by the rise and fail, appreciation and
decline, OF real estate, and the final mot
| temporary effect on dividends and current
taxable, yearly charges, from speculative
or permanent investment In lands IN or
| near Wichita.
The cry of retrenchment and reform
| hath stolen in on US like thief in the
night 1t had no ''criers" from
| now it boldly comes 70 the
front TO down the corner stone of the
structure on which the state or Kansas
was founded; TO weaken the educational
arch that supports the keystone OF our
| temple; to tarnish the sun of ali our
glory, which has not only resplendently
| illumined the treeless, naked plain. but
whose luster has dimmed the efforts OF all
rivals aud radiated the entire west, Great
ing an ambition to equal but not out shine
Kansas in the establishment, maintenance
and permanency OF "a common school sys-
| tenn" Who had not heard of the Kansas
common school long before he came to
Kansas? Who of the kansans ever voted
against a school bond" and who now,
under the cry of retrenchment and reform,
can afford to vote against school bonds:"
Last year we said build, build publicly
and privately, build that idle men be EN-
ployed, build that money may be put in
the hands OF the ''bread-winner." Is there
any less reason this year than last to keep
everything moving! Are we going to rest
awhile or keep on growlngs This spasm
OF economy sounds like completed VIII
lage," like as though we were
intending to quit having emigration
We intend to grow 10, 900 within one year.
We will need more and more school build
ings every year, and believe that ii will
continue year after year until the youths
and maidens who now attend these schools
will fill our places. and vote bonds for
generations yet unborn. Bonds needed.
The amount of money to be voted now,
if all paid in one years assessment, would
be nlne-tenths OF one per cent; In ten
years II would be nine tenths of one-tenth
OF one per cent IN twenty years 1t will be
less than two-tifths of one-tenth of one per
cent 1t does seem that some people have
swallowed herd of camels, and are now
having "strangulatlons" over small
gnat.
l am aiming to talk to men who have
children who are now sent to Charms" for
education; to buildings said to be posi-
lively unsafe. 1t is a known fact that
some children have been kept at home, and
it is alleged that this occurred on Oak
street and at the car works. The owners
of such buildings rented by the board
naturally oppose the bonds for decent
school rooms. Store buildings are not
built for ventilation, but TO sell goods Ill.
Such buildings are not SO lighted that a
room will be conducive TO health or eye
sight, and ars built SO that they
are badly heated. Consider that
your Child is to go there before you vote.
Consider the comfort of your child before
you vote. Weigh your child's health. eye
sight and comfort against your taxes, on a
one-year, ten-year or twenty-year assess
ment, before you vote.
The mothers of this city are appealed to
not on the scare OF taxes, but health for
the children. The difficulty OF finding
suitable buildings where needed is an item
worthy Of consideration.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
The graded school system is no longer a
theory but is a practical fact, but this
store building for schools" idea assimi-
lates very close to the old fashioned coun-
try school. Instead OF grades We find the
board last year maintained schools from
four places In one room, at two places IN
two rooms and at another three rooms,
and as high as five grades IN one room:
also III the old Fourth ward buIliing the
board (pre, umabiy) moved the coal in the
same hole with the furnace and put the
ch .lLren in the cellar" along aside the
dusky diamonds underneath the ground"
This is progression, or rather as progress
sion is upward, this Is retrogression.
admit that this room Is lighted, admit
that it is Kept warm. This basement was
not built for school room but cellar, no
heed was paid its arrangement except for
coal and furnace room. Ia the spring and
in the fall it can not but be damp, I'M
healthy, ill-arranged, ilI-ventillated place
and unfit for children. There is too much
year. We need, demand large, COM
Portable, rightly healthful buildings. |
Last year children went half day, and at
at that rate taxpayers paid taxes for no
good results to child.
We ought not by false economy to take
chance of ever repeating this. This is
saving at the "spigot and wasting at
bunghole economy"
ASSESSED VALUE
The assessed valuation OF Wichita city
is almost Sll 900. Eleven millions Of
dollars-real value, thirty millions.
Time after time it is repeated that the
Irving building cost less than 81, 100. AS
a matter of fact the total cost and equip
ment of this building was e 900. The
general idea is that apparatus, heath,
and seating, is meant when a buiidiCE Is
spoken of. This is not true. IEls must
be added.
There are some debts TO be paid ~ least
1900 on Levy street school buIldiu-. --
RENTAL