The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-08-07
The ELECTION MONDAY.
rhe Most Important TO be Held
In
Morgant0wn for Years-Prospects that
Bonds viii Receive a Large
MAJORITY.

OVx1NE w IA A4CSSANC - A<8z &c
Majority.
Next Monday, August ninth the
voters of the Morgantown Indepen-
dent school district will pass upon
the proposition submitted to them
as to the issuing of bonds to build |
a suitable building to take the
place of the old Academy and to
meet the demands of the tax payers
of the district. The plan is an east
ly understood one. 1t is proposed
to issue what is known as $40 bonds
bearing 5% interest. They are to
be $2400 each after the first five
which are for $500. The amount
which will be realized out of this
bond issue will erect a building
which will be credit 20 the town
and source of pride to every citi-
zen. 1t will provide adequate ae-
commodation to all the children and
afford facilities for their proper edu-
cation. A central High School is to
be built on the old academy grounds
and such subordinate schools as the
residents of the out lying districts
may desire. A building will be cree
ed ON Beechurst because the people
down there want one. The South
Morgantown folks are opposed to
having one up there and unless they
want it none will be built. 1t is to
be just as the people wish.
Now for the payment of the bonds.
They will not increase the rate of
taxation particle. The levyfor the
coming year will be As cents, Is of
which is to constitute sinking fund
for the payment OF the bonds as they
fall due. This levy is below what
has been the average in Morgantown
for number of years. Last year
the levy was forty cents through
clerical error when it should have
been fifty. Now it must be borne in
mind that this levy is the largest it
will ever be. In fact it will shortly
decrease and will be less each
year on account of the increase in
taxable property each year and the
total expense will not be any larger.
After April 1902 the rate will be
still further lowered as the real es-
tate is then revalued and the effect
of our boom will still further increase
the value of the taxable property.
Our taxable basis fol next year ag-
gregates nearly 81, 100000 And the
amount realized from this will be
still further augmented by the state
and railroad taxes.
The intention has been to build
the necessary buildings and not in
crease the rate of taxation one cent.
That intention will be carried out.
1t will put no burden on any one and
will allow those in the future who
reap the benefits to bear their share
of the cost. In no other way can we
have the schools. The issue is
clean cut one. Shall we have schools?
A comparison with the other dis
tricts in the county may be helpful.
In Union the levy will be so cents
and in Morgantown with bonds it
is not so large. In fact we shall not
[ have to pay higher rate than the
average district in the county and
have longer schools and better build
ings with better class of instruction.
The prospects are that we are to
have the best schools in the state at
the least rate of taxation. Other in
dependent districts pay from 40
cents to 81. We shall speedily be
lower than the lowest. But five 9th
er towns have as great privileges, as
the act creating the district gives
us. We are entirely independent
and can give the children the very
best possible education and take
them just as high as may be desira-
BILE. The other towns which have
similar advantages are Wheeling,
Parkersburg, Huntington, Mounds
vile and Weston. The provisions
governing us are the best in the
state having the advantages of all
and the drawbacks of none.
A few minutes consideration is all
that is required to make one favor
the project. We need the schools.
There is but one way to get them.
1t will not make it any harder than
it has been to maintain them. Ev-
cry possible advantage is ON the af-
firmative side of the question. No
objection which may be urged is
valid if properly examined. Many
of the objections which were raised
against the extension of the dis
trict lines are now acknowledged to
be without foundation by those
loudest in advancing them. May we
not infer from that similar result
will follow the trying of this plan.
We have nothing to lose and every
thing to gain. The sentiment of the
thinking part of our citizens is un-
doubtedly in favor of the plan and
it will carry by large majority.
Everyone who voted to extend the
district will vote for the bonds. This
vote will be augmented by many
who opposed the extension but who
now are for the completion of the
scheme. Then too the large adverse
vote will not be polled this time
which came from the part of the in
terested territory which lay out side
of the district lines. The required
majority is three-fifths of the total
vote cast. 1t will easily be obtained
but every one favoring the plan
should vote and work to make the
verdict as emphatic as possible.
The hours for holding the election
are those regularly obtaining, that
lis from sun rise to sun set. The
commissioners appointed are as fol-
lows:
No. l Morgan; DR.. j. j. Hall, Ewing
Martin and A. X. Smith.
No. 2 Morgan: W. J. White, G.
w. McVicker and John Alexander
No. 3 Morgan; John J. Brown.
Walter Mestrezat and Elisha Watts.
No. A West Morgantown and
Grant No. 8; II. L. Cox, A. Eismin-
ger and w. w. Keener