Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-19

ing Before Paving.
rs announced yesterday, the columns
of TIE INDEPENDENT are open for any
one to discuss to a proper extent, the
question of school building on the
South side. The following is from the
pen of one of our prominent citizens:
1t appears from the report of the pro
ceedlngs of the common council that
the project for a new school building on
the South side OF this city has been kill
ed, and yet at the present time the
council IN committee Is considering the
adyisabllity OF paving certain streets OF
the city, and outside of the committee
the same question of paving is agltatlng
the minds OF the city fathers.
W neither 1t IS more necessary to pro
vide sufficient school room Tor the
children Of school age, or whether a few
of the business blocks Of the city shall
be paved and a number of unimpOrt-
ant sewer and drainage connection be
made is a question that from all appear
anceS is to be decided in favor of the
two latter projects. At the last meet
log in January of the council it was
voted to give the sewer committee pow
er TO eXpend from the general fund d
sum OF money for an eXtentiOn Of the
North side sewer, or a connection for
sewer purposes that Is not of public
benefit but nearly all of private benefit;
and If current report is true the wishes
OF nlnety-iiye per cent. Of those directly
interested IN paving is TO be relegated
as the expression OF lot OF "Old fOgieS
by the same body The wisdom of such
decisions may well be questioned by
any citiZers who feels a deep interest in
the city and its future.
That it would be most important
step in advance and such an indication
of progress as to make the heart of
every citizen who loves his city swell
with pride ii all of the business blocks
of the city could be paved with the most
substantial and artistic street pave
ments in vogue in this nineteenth cen
/ tury age cannot be doubted; but II such
public work cannot be had without en-
dangerlng the hope Of such new school
/ buildings as may now be necessary,
or as may become necessary
in the near future we would ask,
Who is there that will say that
/ the life, education and comfort. while
/ in school, of our children OF school age
should be postponed to a position where
any project of less Importance than
these takes precedence of themy
1t matters not SO much at what point
in city school building is located eX-
cept that by common consent that 10
cality which best answers the purpose
of furnishing easy access and close
proximity To the largest number OF
children of school age IN city is con
ceded to be the proper place for
school.
At the present time. taking Jan. |.
1896, when there was in attendance at
school in this city fair average, there
were present 636 pupils; counting the
desks in the two buildings on the North
side and those in the ward building on
the South side there were at that time
and now are $50 desks for pupils, So
that on an average at the present time
we have 100 more pupils IN attendance
at school than we have desks To proper
ly seat them at. Now, If new school
building were constructed on the SOuth
side, and the present rooms IN the ward
building were vacated, and the pupils
now in that building transferred to the
new building, there are enough pupils
In attendance daily at our schools To
use four and one-half new school
rooms. This calculation beng based
upon the proposition of forty desks To
one room, and forty pupils are IN our
opinion as many as one teacher III q
graded school can teach well.
We know not upon what theory the
common council wit holds its consent
/
build the necessary school room that the
board has shown 70 be needed. although
we are informed that some members o.
the council proposed To put more desks
IN the present school rooms. OF course,
more desks could be put in the present
rooms, but if il be true that forty pupils
are Il sufficient number TO be taught by
one teacher. then this proposition would
tend to unduly crowd the rooms. at the
risk of the health of the children. and
at greater risk to the very object of
their attendance to learn. Pupils IN
pleasant weather might be taught I'm "A
shaded grove. or they might be taught
III tent, but the question is: Shall the
city of Plymouth go back To the prim
Tive style of teaching In the LOG hut or
shall it keep i'll line with its sister cities
in furnishing safe, well ventilated and
properly appointed school rooms.
But while we are not advised with
certainty, possibly the real reason for
refusing TO give its consent and author
ize contract for new building on
the South side by the council was the
fear that In doing so,and carrying II out
the city would exceed the constitutional
| limitation of Indebtedness fixed at :
per centum of the taxable valuation OF
the property withia Its limits: if that
be the case would not the fact that the
= common council Is now advised of the
necessity for new school rooms be q
= good reason for curtailing any unneces
: sary expenditure, such as sewers bene
fetal only To private individuals. and
the costs that would be necessary to b,
paid by the city for street and allie,
/ crossings in case of paving, and allow
ances made To contractors, where such
contractors had wholly violated thei
rv.r>