Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-07-23
THE OLD COURT HOUSE
LIT THR PUBLIC RETAIN POSSESSION OF
THB BUILDING,
And Utilize it for an Industrial and Technical
SchOOl-A Growing Sentiment in This
Direction.

There is a very pronounced feeling
among large and growing element Of our
citizens, that the City Council ought to
move very slowly in the matter of dispos-
ing of the old Court House property, and
especially that part wherein stands the
building.
The building is admirably adapted for
some such public purpose as an indus
trial school, the need of which all thinking
and progressive citizens must concede, and
which ought to be at once established.
It is urged that Wheeling is a great in
dustrial city, and is the centre of district
in which manufacturing pursuits are the
mainstay of the people, and that in such q
centre there ought to be facilities for
acquiring some sort of technical educa-
ton. Instead of this, the young man
with an ambition to become something
more than mere mechanic, or who de-
sires to earn something in addition to or
binary wages, must go away before he can
acquire the practical education he covets.
Often he fails to return to his native city,
and the community is the loser.
The suggestion from the REGISTER, that
the old Court House is admirably suited
for a school of this sort, has struck many
intelligent and progressive citizens as be-
ing sound, and it would be well for COun-
Gil, instead of rushing through, tonight,
the report of the committee, recommend
ing that the property be advertised for
sale, to reserve the portion upon which the
main building stands, until the wishes OF
the people can be we'll understood.
The property belongs to the public, and
the public ought to be fully consulted be-
fore it is relinquished into private hands.
The following expressions of opinion on
the subject were picked up last evening:
@. II. CollieT-So far as my experience
goes, which 1 acknowledge is limited, in
dustrial schools have proven great bless
ings where established. That there is an
element of bOyhood in every community
that needs therestraining influence OF such
a school cannot be denied. To learn the
outlines of a good trade ought to be the
ambition of every boy, but such will not
be the case until parents teach their chill
dren that honest labor is not disgrace,
but that which adds dignity to gentle
man. What are text books worth without
the application of the principle taught to
the practical affairs of life? / never knew
q boy who made a shoe until he sat upon
the bench or a girl to make loaf OF bread
until she put her hands in the dough and
learned from experience, although she
may have read library OF books upon
the subject Every parent in the city
should lend his influence to establish
school of this kind here.
DR.. Jepson-I think an industrial
school, or, more speaking, school for
manual training, would be good thing,
but do not think the time ia ripe for II
yet. While 1 am not in favor of high
school, and the msjority of the members of
the Board of Education are not, still l find
the sentiment tending that way, and when
we have high school think We ought to
have in connection with il school of man
ual training, one that will teach the pupils
how to handle tools properly and give
them an insight into various trades"
DR.. J. l.. Dickey-I have really thought
nothing about the question, and am there
fore unprepared to give an Ineligible
view on the subject. Still it is my
opinion that the scheme is not feasible
at this time. The old Court House prop
erty would undoubtedly be just the place
for such a school and the city should hold
off from selling it.
DR.. ]. II. Pipes-I am heart and soul in
favor of an industrial school. think it is
an institution that such city as Wheel
ing is heartily in favor Of and one that
would be credit as well as benefit to
the city and her citizens. We should
have one by all means, and the old Court
House property Sould be the place to have
it."