The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-05
THE SCHOOL ELECTION.
Members OF the Board Of Educatio
Explain It's Objects.

AXpA11u AS OUJoCtos
To Ns Voters Of Seattle: A members Of the
board Of education We have put the city to the
expense of an election to decide whether or not
the board shall be authorised to purchase the
remaining portion of the block bounded by
thirteenth, Fourteenth, Seneca and University
streets, and to expend 3l25,0Oo for . high-grade
school building on the block Unless there had
seemed TO be good reasons why one or both of
these propositions should carry, we should not
have been warranted in submitting the PROPOSE
ton to the people
First 40 to the land. The district already
owns six lots in the block, but there 10 an alley
separating four of the lots from the other two.
BY the purchase Of the remaining two We can
have the alley vacated and 20 locate the build
ing In . way to make IL more attractive. besides
having the land necessary foI the additions that
will BE- sure to be needed In the years to come.
One lot has . house on 1t said to have cost be.
tween 1900 and $s,0o0 This house We do not
want, but must buy to complete the block. II
we are authorized to purchase these lots We
shall either ask for power 70 sell 1t or let
it to some good tenant, ~ It will
In no way intersere with the proposed school
building. The members OF the board have
sought diligently for . central site without i'm
provements on the block, but have been unable
to find one
Second, the building. The growth of the
higher grade schools has arrived at q point
where We nnd it impossible TO provide suitable
quarters for tho scholars. Some years ago the
assembly room OF the then new Central gram
mar school building was taken - temporary
quarters for the high grade school It was I'm.
suitable, as there we're no class rooms. and the
assembly room itself 10 badly ventilated. 1t has
been impossible to hoat II sufficiently.
The class rooms are small, with
insufficient light. and practically no VEN
tilstion. There 10 no place suitable for
inal Atra ali
ygether 1t is unworthy of our progressive city
In addition to being unfit for the purpose, It Is
insufficient to accommodate the rapidly In
creasing number Of scholarA There are now
$50 pupils. and this year about 200 will b pro.
NOTED from the middle grade, about ons-half OF
whom will apply for admission to the higher
grade. Each year the number will increase. and
in q very few years We shall have to provide for
from 600 to 700 pupils in the high grade school,
II the board Is authorized to build this school It
will be nearly year before 1t can be occupied
Third, the cost The consensus OF opinion
among experts in such matters 10 that . high
grade school building OF city OF $1,000 to l0o,.
coo people cannot be built to correspond with
the other features Of progressive place for less
than $l25,O00. Spokane spent $4,000 for such q
building Oakland, Cal. is erecting one at q
cost OF 1000. Los Angeles has one that cost
&l50.000. Denver erected one at cost OF $325 600
And so the list might be indefinitely extended.
We have expected II authorized to erect this
building. to expend from sil5.oo0 to $4,000 on
the building aud from IS, coo to $40 600 to equip
it from the best information obtatnable, We
do not think any less sum than the amount
asked for would erect . building that would
satisfy the people or answer the desired purpose.
The building il not merely for today, but to fill
the needs OF coming years
Fourth, how to pay for it-If authorized to ex-
pend the money we shall ask for authority to
issue bonds. As these can be placed ct per
cent the annual tax will be increased about
s. COO, provided both propositions carry At pres
ent assessment of S4s 600 that would make an
additional tax OF is 10 csuts On 500. The princi
pal would have to be paid In twenty or twenty
Eve years, aud q sinking fund would have to be
provided for after ten vears. We have felt such
faith in the future OF our city that va did not
believe 1t would be q burden TO the coming
generation.
With this explanation OF our reasons for pre-
senting these propositions for your decision, 1t
rests with you 70 instruct u - to your wis hes
(Signedl J. B. MACDoUoAIl,
D. A. SPKNcEE,
A. P. BURwELL
J. W. CoLKxTr,
School Director.