St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-05
ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS.
Reports From Board Of Eduea-
ton Officers Read and
Approved.
Mayor Winston and DR.. Chase
Have a Tropical Sort Of
Seanee.
Colored Gentlemen and La
dies at Minnetonka Get a
Trifle 'Strep'rous.
No Money for Continuing
No Money for Continuing
Work on the Big, New
Court House.


at the annual meeting on July % on ac-
count of the failure of County Treas
urer Peterson to return his financial
statement to the city.
The report of the president is long
and exhaustive and covers great
many interesting points. He dwells
with great stress upon the crowded con-
ditiOn of the school buildings which has
rendered it necessary to rent rooms and
private buildings outside for the ac-
commodauon of pupils. Although
there are no funds on hand and the
board has decided to spend no money
for building during the coming season,
President Aukeny questions the wis
dom of delay in providing the necessary
school Accommodations. The principal
Features of the Report
are as follows:
From the report of the superintendent
of public schools, the general condition
of the schools is shown to be very salts
factory. In addition to the statistics
the report gives a comprehensive re-
view of the work done during the past
year, together with many valuable sug-
gestiOns net only of public interest, but
of great value to the board. Schools
were maintained in fOrty-siX school
buildings, under the direction of $40
teachers. The enrOllmentS for the year
were 2l.966; for evening schools. 1878;
total, %, 944 For 1890 the enrOllmentS
were 0,592; for evening schools. 1,750;
total, %, 342, making a gain for regular
schools of 1874, and for evening schools
22S-a total gain OF 1.602. The federal
census of the city for 1890 was 164, 73S.
This. by singular coincidence. was
precise ratio of one regular enrolment
to every eight persons. Using the same
ratio the population of the city would
now be 175, 728. or a gain for the year of
10,99O.
Considering the fact that the year
lust passed has been one of unusual
general depression, it is significant that
the school enrOllments have increased
to the number of 1874. For 1886 they
were ,149; 1887, 1000; 1888, 1903; 1889,
!, 499, and 1890, 1,096, or an average of
about 1,500 for the five years. The board
Is therefore confronted by the grave
fact that further school accommodations
of at least four or five new eight-roOm
buildings are absolutely necessary. For
the coming year the increase is likely to
be greater. The full and explicit re-
port of the secretary further confirms
these demands, and shows that while
the enrOllmentS Increase with their &C
custOmed severity, the resources of the
board have corresponding decreased,
reversing the rule of good business con-
duct. This is owing, however, to causes
entirely beyond the control of the board.
While the charter provides for tax
levy of four mills. the rate allowed by
the board of tax levy for the past year
was only two and eighth-tenths mills.
When a similar curtailment has been
made in former years, the city council
has generously donated the proceeds of
a portion of its bond issue. This year
we are without any such aid. So far
therefore in the present season the
board has not seen its way clear to pro-
vide a single new school building. nor
even an addition-sOmething without
precedent in our history. The
increase can only be pro-
Vided for by renting stores,
and churches, always both expensive
| and unsatisfactory. The important
question then presents itself: Can the
! city of Minneapolis afford to invite i'm
migration, and then close the doors of
| the public school against it when it
comes? 1t will be the imperative duty
of this board to demand of the board of
| tax levy in October next a rate of taxa
ton for school purposes of at least 81
to mills. A considerable sum of money
belonging to this board, namely $685.
| 04250, has been applied enormously, as
we think, to the payment of interest on
certain bonds issued and payable by
the city. The adjustment of the matter
| is still pending in the courts.
By the secretary'S report the balance on
| hand June 80, 1890, including proceeds
of $50, 900 in bonds, was 500, 1888; re-
ceipts for the year Qess temporary
| loans were: from Faxes, $3.50, l7l.74,
| from other sources, S.. 1897. Total,
| S649, 1888. The expenditures were
| 5000, 6SS24 Balance, $50, 701.29. The
amount in deposit as interest, SOS, 042.50,
reduces for the time this balance by
| that amount.
During the past year the board has
| been obliged to secure temporary adj
4 vancementS. now paid, amounting to
| 1899, 900. In my Judgment this amount
| is too large, and should never exceed %
| to 40 per cent of the gross receipts. The
| board would start on the new year with
a stronger balance. and be able to lay
| out its work more judiciOuSly.
! The president calls attention to the
| excellent work done in the high school
department, which he terms the "pOoI
mans college," and recommends that
the board give its earliest possible at
tention to a new high school building
for the South side, as that school now
| occupies unsuitable quarters in the
Adams school. As to the
Present Status oftIle ROard.
President Ankeny speaks as follows:
considerable discussion was had
| during the session of the late legislature
| in regard to a radical change in the
charter Of the board of education. 1t IS
now an independent corporation-that
| is, independent of the city council; but
it is still mere agent of the city to dc
| the special work of caring for its
schools. 1t makes its own contracts OF
| employment. buys its own school Sites
erects and takes care of its own build
! ings. 1t has no power, however, tC
| issue bonds or to create any liabilities
which it may not be able to meet out OF
| its revenues for the current year
With powers so vast but all so carefully
restricted, and involving an annual
outlay of over half-milliOn dollars, il
stands to-day without dollar of in
debtedness against il, while it owns
and controls real and personal
property of the value of over
two millions. All the aid it has
ever received by donation from
the city is less than half a million, a
sum far less than that donated fol
either parks, water works, bridges, OIL
even city hall. With clear record
for integrity and economy, it might be
well to pause before we exchange it fol
some other system unsuited to the needs
of a peculiarly constituted people. II
would be well, 1 think, that the mayor
should be eX-OfficiO a member of the
board. His knowledge of its working;
would aid him in maintaining the whole
system of municipal affairs in equilibri
UNI. and prevent one department get
ting an undue advantage of another
Another change would be to give to the
board the power of filling vacancy
when caused by death, resignation or re
mOval. At present it can only be done
at biennial election. Upon the whole
however. the charter of the board of ed
ucation of the city of Minneapolis, pro
viding as it does for management Of
seven directors elected by. and respon
sible to, the people, is without a supe
| r.ior I'm INV aitV in the country and If ie