St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-07
The PUBLIC SCHOOL.
President Ankeny Tenders
the Board Of Education
His Annual Report.
Frank Davis Exceeded His
Authority in the Ames
Case.
The Mayor Suddenly Adolf
ishes the Dog Catchers'
Department
A Serious Explosion Of a Gas
oline Stove - Other
City News.

DioNlNS. DUN tllc lVpOltS NClC uuOpI-
ed, and a general feeling of peace and
sloners. President Ankeny's report was
an extensive che. and showed the condi-
ton Of the boards finances 70 be as fol-
lows:
Balance on hand July I, 1891. $500. 81, ST. 20
The receipts for the year were:
from IRON taxes: .:-.-.--.o 54d 46l VI
From sundries.. Observation-Disclosures. 1860 81
The expenditures for the year were 5S7.S55 ii
Leaving balance on hand 800. S10..0a1 %
The report then continues: This is
the largest balance shown for many
wears. In my report last year l urged
the starting on newyear with a strong
er balance than was shown, and stated
that the board could then lay out its
work more Judiciously. The result is
gratifying. BY a decision of the dis
trict court there was restored to the
board the sum of S3S,5SO for interest
charged on certain pOudS. twas, how
ever, determined by the court that the
board was liable for certain bonds of
the old east and west divisions, amount
ing to s3i 600. OF this $4,000 has been
paid during the past year, and $4,000
will mature during the present year. In
addition, this board will hereafter be
relieved from annual payments of in
terest of about $4,000 for more than
twenty years 10 come. lt is matter of
pride that the construction of the char
ter, so long and so Strenuously insisted
upon by this beard, has at last been APP
proved by the courts.
On the strength of these occurrences
the board was enabled to carry out its
long-cherlshed design of providing a
suitable building for the South side
high school. An eligible site was Sc
cured at the low price Of $4,000, and a
building is now in process of erection,
to cost when completed and furnished
not to exceed 5000. Considering the
character Of the structure, it will be not
only the most suitable, but the cheapest
school building yet erected in the city.
This balance will more than pay what
yet remains to be paid on the building,
and also the $4,000 of maturing bonds
above referred to, leaving the entire
new tax levy for the current expenses
of the schools.
No other school buildings have been
erected during the year. Necessary I'M
provements and repairs, however. on
the Old buildings have been made to the
amount of 10000, as appears by the de-
tailed report of of the building commit
tee. These buildings are now in fairly
good condition. except that few need
better sanitary arrangements, extern
sionS Of sewers should be made, and sew
eral are still deficient in proper means
of ventilation. BY degrees it is expected
that all such necessary Improvements
can he made.
From the report of the superintendent
1T appears that the enrolment for the
year has been:
In day schools Or 7Q7
This Is an increase over 1891 for:
Day schools. .... 1S31
Evening schools. .............. 1I9
The increase in the regular schools
for 1891 was 1874, making a gain for
1892 of 457. This increase for 1892 is the
largest ever shown, except for 1887. To
accommodate this great increase with
out the erection of a single new build
ing severely taxed the powers of the
board. Thirteen rooms were rented
and other anneXes were provided.
Fortunately, few of the school build
ings in remote districts had never been
fully completed. and by finishing these
together with vigorous Encouragement
OF boundary lines, all applicants were
fairly we'll provided for. In some dis
tricts, however, only single sessions
could be given. A partial relief Will be
given to the East side by the reopening
OF the Winthrop building. A new build
ing, or at least an addition, is required
to relieve the Prescott, Webster and
Holland districts. On the North side
there should be .four-room additions to
each of the Hawthorn and Harrison
buildings. The Lincoln building is old,
and the site of las feet on Washing
ion avenue is quite valuable. Steps
should at once be taken to secure site
further pack and to have new Bold
ing erected as soon as the site of the
Lincoln can be sold. The Douglas
building is poor structure, and as no
part of the city is filling up more rap
idly, fine large building should be
placed upon that very commanding
site. This would also relieve the En-
erson, Whittier and Calhoun districts.
Still other portions of the city call for
better accommodations. 1t is estimated
by the building committee that Sl50, 600
JudiciOusly expended will meet the
present and near future demands for
buildings and sites.
sit is more than likely that the legis-
lature at its next session will consider
the subject of establishing a free text
book system, inasmuch as the Merrill
law will expire with the present year.
Free schools can never be so in fact,
with free buildings and free teachers.
but without free books. Such a law, if
passed, should authorize and require
boards of education and trustees to pro-
vide text books. The uniformity of
text books should be confined to dis
tricts, since the requirements of
each district necessarily vary.
Changes should not be allowed
in any district oftener than once in
five years. More than S250,OOO are now
expended annually by the parents of
this state for text hoods. By buying
from first hands at least quarter of
this amount could be saved. BY reduc-
ing the number purchased to the lowest
necessary limit another great saving
would be effected. For the average
district of common schools the expense
would not exceed 80 cents per pupil per
year. In system like ours, having the
best and most advanced methods, the
expense would not exceed 81 per pupil
per year, and this sum would include
many things which are now furnished. !"
DIR. Bradley'S report contained figures
showing the number of schools and en-
rollment as contained in President An
keny's report. He stated that the in
crease in enrolment over the preceding
year showed remarkable progress. The
interest of parents had been increas-
in9ly manifested and In the same re-
spect he was sure the Minneapolis
teachers and public had not fallen be-
hind in the rapid progress prevailing
throughout the country in educational
| affairs. DIR. Bradley Endorsed the kim
dergarten idea and said that children
from kindergartenS made more rapid
progress than children who have not
had the training.
EXCEEDED HIS AUTHORITY,