Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-19
FOR THE SCHOOL BONDS.

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
With your permission 1 desire to say a
few words concerning the proposed school
bonds. As citizen interested in the wei
fare of the city, and especially OF the
schools, quite as much as in any personal
success, feel like doing what | can to
help carry the bonds. | take the liberty
of speaking as a citizen, for | have come to
stay. Let come what may, expect to re
main a resident of Wichita and to have a
home among the good people of this city.
This is my excuse, then, if need one, for
being interested in the school bonds, and
in all matters that effect the good name
and we'll being of our city.
What | say is only my opinion. and no
one else need adopt it I'M
less it suits him. If any one else
thinks differently let him be
free to express himself. and if he give bet
ter reasons Tor different opinion l may
change mine and adopt his.
l. am in favor of voting the bonds.
We now rent - rooms and for them pay
about $1,000 per year. At least half OF
them are unsuitable for school purposes
and some Of them A disgrace to the name
of schoolroom. Besides this, at least five
of the rooms owned by the board are unit
for children to stay in. Take, for instance,
the old frame hulk commonly known as
tie Third ward school house with neither
li,-ht, ventilation comfort nor convent
ence Pupils are crowded into dark, dingy
rooms like so many cattle awaiting
slaughter, and there midst the gloom, des-
olation and bad air surrounding them to
spend their time-learning to hate school
and everything connected with 1t.
Take the two rooms in the cellar at the
Fourth ward. Were l to tell the number
of small children who have passed from
these two rooms to the city on the hill
some would stand appalled,. Dark, damp
and cherries, receptacle for poisonous
carnations from mouIdy surroundings,
and generators of sickness and disease,
they should be abandoned for school pur-
poses at once and forever. Were it neces-
sary to demonstrate the need of better
school facilities it could be done to the
satisfaction of the most obtuse, but /
think this point is conceded. The only
question now before Us, is how best TO
secure these facilities. There is no better
way that know of than TO build. And in
order to build Il will be necessary to vote
the bonds.
am in favor of voting $4,000 of bonds.
In the language of Mrs Means; Git a
plenty while you're gitten-" There seems
to be misapprehension with some about
the issuance of the bonds in case they are
voted. They think that il the people vote
500, 900 the board must issue and sell
them at once. This is not the case OF
once if it deems it advisable. but l do not
think that such is the intention IL fact
am almost sure that il is not the intention
to issue them any faster than they are
used in the construction OF necessary
school buildings. II so, go or $4,000 are
found sufficient 20 provide for the present
year the remainder need not be issued I'm :
til next year. or some future time when
il is needed. The bonds viii draw
no interest until they are issued and sold,
so that voting S100 900 bonds simply means
that the people authorize the board 10 issue
bonds 70 that extent If and when IL Is
found necessary. 1t costs no more-not a
cent more-to authorize the board 20 issue
slOD. 600 than it would TO authorize 1t 10
issue S,5,0o0, and if SIS, 200 should be ali
that is demanded for immediate use, that
is all that the board will issue. But there
are reasons why it is better 10 vote slo0.es0
and these will be given in point No . to-
morrow. Very respectfully,
II. CEIDESTER