The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-03
BUILDING LOTS AND DESKS
Pointers for the County Attorney in
q School Board lnvesti-
cation.
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A Trustee Names Three Matters
Which Should Be In
quirsd Into.
The F,rs. and seventh Ward Lots and the
Two Year Contract for the Fur-
chase of Desks.

"There are three matters in connection
with the business affairs of tho Helena
school district that should be investigated
said one of the trustees Yesterday. 1.-The
first of these,'' he continued. lis the pur-
chase of the lot on which the Rodney street
school house in the First ward stands. The
second is the contract made by the old
school board for the purchase of school
desks. Tho old board made a Two year
contract just before their term expired. In
addition to making the contract
they placed orders for the delivery
of desks in the future. and long beyond
their terms. The worst feature Of the
contract is the fact that the price fixed on
the desks is $3.50 each. This is just 81
more than wo can buy as good. If not a bet
ter desk for. Under the orders given BY the
old board there have been something like
600 desks delivered to the district, and those
represent $500 which we have paid over
and above what w could buy then: Tor.
The third is the investigation of the pur-
chase of the Seventh ward school house lot.
This lot and the foundation cost $1,000, the
building complete costing somewhere near
$1,000. There are just rs many rooms III
it AZ there are in the First ward school
house, and the latter cost $4,000. Tn lat
ter, it is true. is a very handsome building
but it undoubtedly cost too much.
Now, as to the new high schoo building.
It will cost. / believe, when completed, at
least $40, 900. but I believe it will be worth
every dollar put into it. The trouble was
in the beginning, when the changes were
made in the plans and specifications. The
original design was to put up a S4O,OW
structure, but the changes required gave
opportunities to swell this amount, and it
has been done. It is as solid and substan-
tial q building az there is in tbs country,
and when completed, will be as fine as any
high school IN the northwest. Nevertheless,
there have been some useless expenditures.
The first floor is supported not by wooden
joists, but large and small iron ones, and
you can put on it as many locomotives as
could be crowded on the floor, without
affecting it. This | regard as a needless
will cost will be found in the building. and
/ do not think the contractors will make a
dollar out of i'll. @
II wish the trustee continued, "there
would be an investigation of the school
board. It would be better for the schools,
better for the trustees and better for the
city as q whole that the insinuations and
charges floating around should be proved
false or true, and have one with it. There
are undoubtedly some things the board
should be censured for, and IN investiga-
ton would clear the atmosphere. The res
olution of investigation introduced by Mr..
Jockey at a meeting of the board some
time ago, was not acted upon, simply be-
cause the committee that had it in charge
could not find any authority for using the
funds of the district for such investigation,
and could not make a contract with any ex-
pert accountants at a fixed sum. The grand
jury is the body to investigate"
Judging from the rumors afoat tho
special grand jury which will meet in ten
days, has been called for the purpose of
looking into school board matters.