The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-01
HOW ABOUT NEW sCHoOLHoUsEs.
A Correspondent Wants the Voters
to Go Slow.

Seattle, Oct. 81, 1885,
To the Editor: The Seattle school board
has submitted TO the electors number of
questions concerning proposed new school
grounds and buildings These questions
are to be answered at the polls on Satur-
day next. They involve tie erection of
three new email schooihousee. additions To
TOUR Old sehooihouses. the purchase OF two
tracts or ground and the sale Of one tract
purchases heretofore. The new grounds
and houses call for $ai. Gao. the ground to be
sold Is TO bring NS,o0o. If al the questions
are answered affirmativeiy. II means asa. 900
more taxation or debt to the district,
No one seems 10 take interest IN these
questions. The questions Issues and can
didafes OF HE general election OF Tuesday
next overshadow the school election so
completely that little ia heard OK the lat
ter. The difference In feeling between the
two elections is evidenced by the fac, that
400 men have registered for the school
election. while U."ce have registered for the
general election. II in also a little aston
sshsng that OF ttie Ia 600 and more women in
the city entitled 10 vote al the school cleo
ton, 10 per cent only have registered.
The directors want 20 know whether the
people will Justify them in selling six lots
In block 1T. OF A. A. Denny's Broadway ad-
diison for siS.aA These lots were bought
six years ago for sete0. Warrants bearing
~ per cent. interest were issued In psy-
mens for them. The interest rate has since
been reduced by an exchange OF the war
rants for bonds How much interest money
tas since been paid on account OF this pur-
chase cannot now he stated. bat II has
probably been about So esl Assuming tina;
figure 10 be correct these SIX iots have
cost the people SSs.Qn or just twice over
what the directors propose 10 sci. them for
The district paid too much for these Fots
and the purchase at the time was an un-
necessary and ~asSeful one arbstra r;iy
made by majority OF the board ana os
doubtful legality. However frat may he
the fots were paid for. ana they are very
handsome lots. They ara eligihiy located
for srhooihouse. and just about where a
q house should be constructed. They are
In area ample for the erection OF larger
Building than :fle Central. South Or Pacific
schools. Or shssr 30 feet ~ front can be
placed twc-story and basement house 90
sixteen or twenty rooms capable OF ae-
conmoiatins s.a CT i.ssa pupils The Only
objection heretofore offered 80 these lots
for schooi purposes has been that they dsd
not include ths whole block. This Is ar OBJ
lection that viii have To be s.iSregarfeSs
mere and more In The future Il WI b. I'M
possible fer oar schoehouses 10 be AL TO-
Gated hereafter upon great opan tracts. 3ssst
As IL IL impossible Ia large cities elsewhere.
As the population becomes aerSser down
town school si:ss viii he required ana
when wanted they viii Re harder 70 get
aaa cost rspre noEey than row. Under
fhe cireunassa .sctss. the policy o. selling
shs=.s lots at this tire for half the Yrson@y
they have eoxs. 10 ore Of grave and con-
siderable doubt.
A. - shs sshsr grounds suggested foe