The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-18
MORE SCHOOL ROOM
A Proposition TO Purchase the st.
Patrick's Parochial Building.
TO CONSIDER 1T AT ONCE
The Board of Education VIII Con-
fer With the Trustees of the
Institution-It Is a Mat
ter of Importance.

The school trustees at their meeting
tonight will probably consider a most
important proposition, which has been
submitted to them, for the purchase or
the 81. Patrick's parochial school build
ing. situated at the corner or Washing-
ton and Park streets, and turning II IN
TO a public school. The district is sadly
in need of new buildings, and the one
in question is located in district
where additional school room is espe-
cially needed and Il is understood that
the building can be purchased Tor $4o,-
600. Its original cost was $4,000 and IL
is one of the best constructed school
buildings in the city. The news that
such a proposition has been made ana
is being considered will doubtless cause
a great deal of surprise in certain quar-
tiers. The facts are. however that there
is an indebtedness of $36OoO on the pa
rochial school building which is secured
by a note signed by Il. A. Largey, VII
liam Gwin, John O'Rourke. Geon La
velle S. Merchesseau and about 10 other
prominent citizens. The indebtedness
represents an overdraft at bank, and
the sureties on the note are In no way
secured, and they see no. immediate
hope of having the note paid on
through the earnings OF the school, anu
II is from the sureties that the propo-
sition comes TO sell the building to the
public school district.
The question had been brought up by
the sureties at different times during
past years, but II never found favor
with the trustees of the parochial
school, but II is understood that less
opposition has been raised to the last
proposition, and IL the public school
trustees should consider the matter ia
vorably 1t is within the probabilities
the parochial school trustees would
.-gs-1,. - he,
ties on the note.
The parochial school property is a
portion of the corporate property of the
| St. Patricks church, but in the corpora
| ton the indebtedness on the school has
| always been recognized as a debt be-
| longing purely TO the school. For years
| the school had been running behind
| and was not self-supporting. Last year,
| however, Il is claimed, the attendance
| increased from about 400 to over 200 pu-
| pills. and general interest in the school
| seemed to increase, and for the year
| IL was more than self-sustaining. About
| $1,000 was paid on the Indebtedness
but as more than half of 1t went for In.
| terest, the principal sum was reduced
| very little The school was never In
better condition than II is at present
and IL is for this reason that the trus-
tees are not favorable TO a sale of tht
| property, but the sureties on the note
see that even at the present rate Il
would take a good many years to wip'
| out the Indebtedness. and some of then
| are, for various reasons, anxious to ge
| off the note.
The proposition will doubtless. o.
should anyway, receive the hearty en-
1 dorsement of a very strong element o
the public school board. which
strongly opposed to all sectariai
schools, and as the parochial schoo
building is in an excellent location ant
Il faI So. "a
asked, it would also be a good invest
ment in view OF the fact that the dis
trict will be compelled to acquire o
erect new buildings next year.