Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-29
RIVER FALLS IS HAPPY.
JOY Over the News that Normal
School is to be Rebuilt in
that City.

| River Falls, Wis, Dec. 23.-[Special.1
AT Z o'clock last night the blowing of
whistles and ringing of bells carried the
| tidings to River Falls citizens that the
! board of normal regents in session at
Madison had taken official action to re-
| build the fourth normal school at River
Falls.
| In a few moments Main street was
| crowded with the normal students, who
| to a person had Loyalty stood by the in
stitution, and with the citizens, and
general jollifcation with bonfires and fire.
| works and normal yells elSued, terminal
| ing with an impromptu hop at Opera hall.
| On heir arrival home this forenoon,
Regent Lord and President Parker were
| met 1T the depot by an immense throng,
including the faculty and students Of the
| normal and public schools, and, headed
by a brass band, were escorted to Opera
! hall, where a mass meeting was held.
Tho greatest enthusiasm prevailed and
the normal red and white was displayed
on banners and in the form Of badges.
Madison, Wis, Dec. 23.-[Special.]-
The board of normal school regents de-
cided yesterday afternoon to rebuild the
normal school at River Falls.
The merits of the case were fully dis
cussed before a decision was arrived at,
and the claims of the Eau Claire delega
ton were given a careful hearing. 1t
was decided by the board to settle the
question at once instead of letting it go
over to the February meeting, and so pro-
long the fight.
The River Falls delega ton was greatly
pleased with this decision.
II. a. Taylor of Madison and President
Parker of the normal school made the
principal arguments in behalf of River
Falls.
President Parker emphasized the fact
that River Falls had an equity in the
case by virtue of the So, 900 bonus given
to the state when the school was located
there.
Regents Ostrander and Brown favored
Eau Claire and wanted to delay action.
Regent Lord introduced the following
resolution, which was adopted by a vote
of 8 to 2:
Resolved that it is the judgment Of this
Doard that the Fourth normal school should
pc rebuilt at River Falls soon as prac-
ticable.
Resolved. that the questions of the time
OF rebuilding and the amount to be ex-
pended be deferred to the sem-annual meet
ing in February next.
Resolved, that the executive committee
be hereby instructed to report at the semi
annual meeting the condition of the funds
and present estimates and preliminary
plans for q building which they may judge
VIII be suited to the needs of said school.
1t was stated this morning by E. D.
Coe, president of the board of normal re-
gents. that the majority of the members
of the board felt that River Falls was
entitled to the school for several reasons.
When the original sum of $50, ZOO was
raised for the school buildings, the cit
liens of River Falls and vicinity raised
about $4,000 of that amount. Another
fact in connection with the school,
which has been in operation there for the
past twenty-four years, is that it has
furnished more good teachers for public
schools throughout the state, in country
districts and outside the larger cities,
than any one of the other normals. The
state also owns valuable grounds at Riv-
er Falls, and all things being carefully
considered, the majority of the members
We're of the belief that the school should
be rebuilt on the old site. The insurance
carried on the property was about 500
900, and adjusters are now at work on
the loss. The insurance money will be
used in the rpbuiIdi0U