The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27
FIRST WARD TROUBLES.
The Residents Thereof in q Storm
Of Indignation at the Board Of
School Trustees.
They Object to tho Site Purchased
for the New School Build
Ing.
Interviews with Some Of the Prominent
Residents-A Good Site Rejected-In-
dignation Meeting Probable.

Ke01Qent4-A &10O0 S1t0 hejeCto0-10s |
dignation Meeting Probable.
There is storm Of indignation brewing
to q cyclone, the force of which will all
come down upon the school trustees. The
trouble is all about the ground purchase
by the school board for the proposed First
Ward school building. The residents Of
that ward claim that too much money was
paid for the ground; that there. is not
enough of it and that it is lin no way sui
table for the purpose. The west siders are
loud in their protests and say they will not
send their children to school if they shall
be compelled to climb a mountain, which
in winter will prove dangerous and they
strenuously object to the site selected. The
taxpayers are also angry because the
ground offered by Mrs. Capt. Howard,
that could be received was not taken. The
general sentiment as heard in the ward
threatens to result in calling an indignation
meeting for the purpose of taking measures
Cor putting an injunction on the trustees
restraining them from building on the
ground which was purchased.
1t will be remembered that last week in
an interview with an INDEPENDENT reporter, |
Il. II. Howey, of the school board, stated
that site had been selected, but at the
last moment flaw was discovered in the
title and that the board would buy another
piece of ground in a few days. The other
piece was purchased, and it proved to be
the property of w. II. Guthrie, one of the
school board, and s., 500 was paid for it,
K. Wells residence on the east side of Rod
ney and three full blocks above Cutler
street, which takes it nearly to the end of
Rodney street.
DR.. Atchison said that the people in his
ward were indignant an, and much preferred
Judge Clements-The price paid for that
ground was exorbitant. Our people are hot
under the COLLAR and do not propose send
ing their children away up the hill every
day, and particularly during the winter.
chase. I understand that six weeks ago
Mr. Stewart, of West Main street, was of
fered the Guthrie ground at $40 foot and
/ hear he sold it to the school board for $65
per foot.
| board, said he was not in the CITY when the
First ward ground WAS purchased, and had
! no connection VT atever with any of the
4 transactions thereto. He knew, however.
what had been done. and could only say
that he was not in favor of the site and ex-
pected howl Of Indignation would be
the result, but as far as he knew, the
other trustees, Messrs. Howey and Guthrie,
did the best thing possible under the cir
cumstances. He knew Mrs. Howard offered
her land for $500, but in examining the
abstract it was found that Chas. Dewitt
1 (deceased) and wife, who sold the land to
Mrs. Howard, decided her the northeast
half of the lot when it should have been
the southeast half; Arrangements were
!. n m,
gage in any law suit. The transaction with
Mrs. Howard and her husband were next
sought. Learning the reporters mission,
Probably six weeks ago." she began. "Mr:
Guthrie met me near the postofdce and
said. Mrs. Howard, you have fine piece
of property on Rodney street, and
} would like to get it for the new
school building and he wanted me to name
other sites which which were the Dan
Henry property, $4,000; Mrs. DR.. Billiards
property about $l5 600; JAS. Halford's $685.
600. think, and I told him 1 would let
school. That was cheaper than l would
, have sold it to any body else. l didn't
, need the money, but expected to at once
improve my property on Cutler street. The
land I offered contains nine lots. 1t fronts
/ on Rodney, Pine and Spencer streets, and
IL
= four weeks ago Mr.. Guthrie said mine was
J. the most desirable land he could find and
to make the deal secure asked me for q
bond until June 8. when he would pay
81 900 down, balance in 30 days. just three
weeks ago tomorrow, Sunday Mr.. Howey
came to my house to talk business. My
husband had gone to church and was of
course astonished to see a church member
call to do business on Sunday.
!. AFTER a brief conversation and apollo
su.~ F,uk koI ~lo~, To Ao11 1nos
, ness, Mr.. Howey asked me what Twas goin@
= to do. l. of course didn't understand hi
meaning, and he repeated the query
What are you going to do?' I didn't pro
r pose to comprehend his meaning, but tolt
{ him if he would start homo for inebri
ates and fallen women would give 800 i
his family would do the same. That endet
: our interview.
Next thing, WAS asked what I woul,
8 give for the old school property. / ex
Q amined it and offered $4,000 for it, and
d was not worth a cent more. few day
: to get an abstract of title. l asked hin
9 where would get it and he replied, 'th
z z same place where l got mine at the sam
y time pulling out an abstract OF his ow1
property. ! wondered what he was doin
e abstract and afterwards Mr. Guthri
t1e t1.a ttie there and was that it would RoT
q necessary to take it into court to quie
y title. / called on the governor and my al
d Etorney and was told that the little techni
ls cality could easily be remedied by Mrs. ID
Witt. She is good. honest woman, an
q the last thing I would think of would b
4 bringing lawsuit against her. I had th
property and for six years had paid taxet
q and the little mistake in the deed, being
7 mere clerical error, could be easily rectifiei
Subsequently Mr.. Guthrie came to me an
u said that if would 20 down to Massen
!; Billiards. / could sign the deed for tn
q the property and he would pay me 81 OK
q down. went, but instead Of deed an a,
s tion against Mrs. Dewitt was pushed
q front of me. 1t only required glance I
as see what it was and said I didn't come I
8 60 into the courts. / came to sign a deet
I. and after considerable bother got my al
10 stract back and had a new deed made OF
q by Mrs. Dewitt, correcting the mistake i
= the old deed, and it is now on file. though
~ at once there was Niger
= the wood pile You see if I signed tn,
~ action for suit and deed would only ha,
my 81, 000 and it would probably be yea
before the title was quieted by that pr,
cess. After got my new deed / went
a my bankers, the Hershfelds, and explaine
Of the situation. It happened the school tru
= tees we're to meet that day and Mr.. Hers
heid told me to GO and renew my offer
O. them, guaranteeing them an ironclad wa
to ranty deed and to say that the Hershfeli
lrt would be my security. This l did. II
ed achool b0nr0 ~aa IN aoGRio0 and Wheu