The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-02
LAMRNTABLR LACK OF SCHOOL FACIL.
ITIRS.

petent to judge that there are at present
In this city between 1000 and 5000 chill
dren of the school age who are by law
entitled to full days schooling, who
are deprived of that privilege by reason
of a lack of school facilities.
In 1890 the city built school houses
and provided facilities to barely supply
the present requirements. Since then
our population has probably increased
some 10000. with very little increase in
school rooms. Real estate agents COM
plain that they lose sales for the reas on
that people who contemplate buying
and building homes are induced to go
elsewhere, on account of lack of room
for their children in the public schools,
many going to Pasadena, Pomona, Santa
Barbara, Riverside, San Diego and other
places. People coming from the east
will not settle and establish homes
where they are deprived OF educational
facilities for their children.
In answer to an inquiry by a repre-
sentative of the HERALD, Prof. LIE Roy
Brown, superintendent of the city
schools. states that from inquiries at his
office, and statements made to him, he
is OF the opinion that fully three hum
bred families have been turned away
from Los Angeles by lack OF school facil-
tiles in the past ak months.
Under date of March IA, 1898, Mr..
W. NJ. Freisner, then superintendent OF
schools, reported that there were then
thirty halliday sessions, and that forty
additional rooms were required to open
the next term of school. Under date of
December IL, 1898. Prof. LIE Roy Brown,
present superintendent of schools, re-
ports to the board OF education that the
increase of registered attendance this
year over the corresponding month of
last year is 1899. This would require
fully twenty-eight additional school
rooms to accommodate the increase for
THE one year alone. On the 18th OF
November. in compliance with request
OF the board of education, Professor
Brown submitted statement OF addi-
tional ground and additional rooms
required, and an estimate of the cost OF
construction OF buildings, sggregating
sixty-four rooms, the cost footing up
| $174, 400.
Ground outside Of the business center,
such as is required for schools, can be
procured for about one.hslt of the
old 'boom" prices. Much of the lum-
Der can be bought now for SIS and $14
per M. that was selling for $2S and $50 per
M. six years ago. Carpenters are offer
ing to work for $3.50 per day who were
receiving $3.50 and "a per day six years
ago. 1t seems safe to assume that
| grounds and buildings can now be pro-
cured at about one-half of the cost of FIVE
years ago, or what they will be likely to
cost five years hence. In view of these
facts it might be the part of wisdom not
only to supply our present necessities,
but to make some provisions for the
future. Prominent capitalists and 6nsn-
| ciers recently arrived from Chicago state
! that money is plenty there at per cent
on gilt-edged security, and that Los An
| geles city bonds drawing 5 per cent in
| terest would bring par or over. The
authority under which bonds would be
issued is embraced in an act approved
March l. 1898. amending an act OF March
10, 1885, entitled, Fan act authorizing
the incurring of indebtedness by cities,
towns and municipal interpretations, F."
etc., which is as follows; "Section l.
Section six of the act the title of which
is rscited aforesaid in the title of this
act. il hereby amended to read as fol-
lows: ALI municipal bonds for public
improvement issued under this act shall
be OF the character of bonds known as
serials, and shall be payable in gold
coin or lawful money of the United
States, in the manner follow ing
one-fortieth part of the whole amount
of indebtedness shall be paid each and
every year on day and at place to be
fixed by the Legislative branch Of the
municipality issuing the bonds, to-
gether with the interest on all sums I'm,
paid at such date" 1t also provides
that ''no bonds shall be issued for less
than 500, or more than $1,000, at the
rate of interest specified in the bond,
which rate shall not be in excess of the
legal rate of the state of California, and
may be paid annually or semi-annually.
Such bonds shall not be sold at less
than their face value" Section s, as
amended, provides for tax levy to pay
interest and one-fortieth of the princi-
pal each year. 1t has been suggested
that the people would not repose sufi-
cient confidence in the present school
board to vote the bonds. but the mem
DRY of the oldest inhabitant does not
run back to the time when we had
school board that worked in per-
feet harmony aud enjoyed the entire
confidence of the community, and as
long as nominating conventions show
ouch indifference to the character OF
candidates nominated for members of
the school board the future gives no
great promise of remedying the evil.
The Devil is not always as black as he
ia painted. We have been informed
that the late grand jury spent some
seven or eight days investigating CHI argos
against members of the school board,
and failed to find proof that any OF them
had improperly appropriated single