Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1892-04-12
THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.
An Ormsby Taxpayer Expresses
His Views.

The old scheme of two years ago is
being started up again by some OF
our most enterprising and goahead
citizens, but neither producing nor
taxpaying element This question
should be settled IS soon rs fully
understood by those most interested
We had an Investigation by expert
carpenters and builders of the school
house over two years ago, and Of late
a Grand Jury report, but all that
report and newspaper comment on
the new building is a one-sided
opinion. [ would like to express an
opposite opinion; an opinion based
on honest conviction of actual facts,
free from any motive of personal
interest whatever. The public in
terest and universal good is my
motive. 1t Is as easy to e1aggerate
as to underestimate, therefore don t
take the report of expert builders or
tho report of the Grand Jury as true
when you consider the personal IN
terest at the bottom of it. I ask my
readers to give my proposition con-
sideration and understand my opin-
ION is based on prudence and policy,
and | am not in favor Of negleeting
our school house; on the contrary, |
say promote every opportunity to
educate children, Every other pub
lie improvement, theaters, the fair
grounds and buildings, even churches
should stand back and give the
school house the preference when
OCCASION requires it. In the article
in your morning contemporary, the
writer says there is no other way
than forthwith to build new struc-
ture; the cost should not figure in the
matter at all, and no matter how
high taxes may be, too much money
can't be spent on a school house.
Such a view, considering the present
condition OF orr city government, IS
simply wild. It cannot come from
any eitiZou with view 10 tic future
prosperity Of cur taxpaying popula-
lation, financially considered, nor
have any Of the agitAtors from the
start given tho least consideration to
the present embarrassing, condition of
orr city finances. Our business mon
can scarcely msintain themselves
Expenses have to be cut down on
every hand, and any of them would
sell ont at a sacrifice. Dat ne ono
wants to settls down in this city or
State with such prospects ahead
This position is not oyerdrawn,
but is fact, and the new school
house asitators would, in the fac of
this, run the city with $50, 900, per-
haps $50, 900, still further in debt.
The argument made by them, that |
to build fine public buildings will
draw outside capital to settle down
with us, is folly. New enterprises
will keep away. This making blind
show of nice buildings In city with
borrowed money is bad policy, as is
fully shown by tho entsrprising
citizens of Reno, who took this way
Of attracting settlers. They now can
scarcely raise the interest due on
and | am told that over
half OF its real estate is mortgaged.
Therefore your citizens and taxpay-
srs would like to see public improve
nents most carefully considered, and
I it could be done, be considered
md acted upon only by the taxpayer
Who is responsible for the public
lebt. If an investigation of the pres
mt school house could be made by a
of taxpaylng citizens with
he advice and recommendation of
ONE of our practical carpenters and
fair and impartial investi
alton would, in my opinion, result
n different report to those inno
snt followers, who now favor the
dea that nothing else can be done to
sheve the present condition Of tho
chool house but to spend 100000 or
nore, and who also are made to be-
eve that such amount will give
verybody employment. Past ex
erience has taught us differently.
such project should go through,
rchitects with costly plans and
oecifcstions, Superintendent Of
obstruction, someone from San