Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-02

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There Vas > large abundance = TIE
school meeting last evening, thequestiou
for consideration being how TO provide
tor The need Of more ample and bester
schooihouse accommodation on Grove
street. While . few seemed dis
posed 10 deny that any such need
existed. yet We think b WAS admit
Ted 10 be by an overwhelming
majority Of those present It the meet
ing. The point Of division WAS on the
method 70 be employed in meeting this
need. Upon this there is an honest diff
ference ofopinion. Aposfien Of the meet
ing believed that that the old building is
substantial one and thst Is can be en-
larged TO fully meet the needs Of the
school. Architect Lewis Of Gardiner
was present and submitted plans for the
addition Of a front and wings which
would farnish accommodations for one
hundred more pupils He estimated that
the cost Of these improvements would
be in the neighborhood Of $1,000.
A msjority'of the meeting were Of the
opinion that a new building WAS needed.
Architect Lewis estimated that such 4
building could be constructed upon the
Grove street lot for about ei0,0 600. Those
who advocated this plan were Of the
opinion that the difference between new
building and the enlargement Of the old
was not large enough to make it an oh
jeet for the district to pursue the latter
course They believed that the IL
creased advantages which would be
secured by new building would more
than make up for the increase Of cost.
and that the old one, il enlarged would
NOT be what the district wanted. The
opponents Of new building cited the
fact that the district is already s1e, 600 In
debt, that the city taxes had been in
creased by the State board Of valuation,
and the assumption Of the expense of a
new building would add more Of bur-
den than the tax payers could well af
ford TO carry. The advocates Of the new
building believed the increased cost of
10 over the sum that would be required
TO enlarge the Old one was not sufficient
to materially increase the burdens of
taxation and that IL could well be paid
for the better advantages which they be
Iieyed new building would afford. The
discussion was vigorous one. 1t is TO
be regretted that personalities entered
in anyway into it. The proposition was
purely business on Men differed
honestly and personal asperity should
not have come into the
consideration Of the matter. IL is true
that new school houses are not very
often built without stirring up some
animosities OF this character, but they
are to be deprecated. The proposition
to borrow money to build new school
house was defeated. A majority Of the
meeting favored it, but two-thirds vote
was necessary TO carry it, Upon
the announcement OF this vote the
meeting adjourned without any action.
This is to be regretted. The district
certainly needs better schoolhouse ac-
oommodatlons. Upon this point there
is little difference of opinion. The en-
largemens Of the old building upon the
plans suggested by Mr.. Lewis, or SINH
lar ones. ia certainly to be desired rather
than no improvements at all, and we
think vote to do this could
have been carried. One thing is
certain the matter ought not to
be allowed to rest where it Is.
Let US have better facilities. Even If
both sides are inclined to hold out, for
the good OF the district they should be
willing to make some concessions. We
believe that the advocates of the enlarge
ment Of the old building would rather see
new building than to continue with
the present one as 1t is, and rather
have the present state Of affairs, we
believe those who favor new building
would prefer to see the old one enlarged.
Let us drop personalities and all hard
feelings, gentlemen, and get together"