The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-09-29

one to go in debt. In ordinary bust
ness affairs we believe it best to pay
as you go; still we are not afraid of
debt for legitimate business purposes.
If the floating of these bonds would
raise the tax rate we would be EN-
opposed to them.
Let us look at the situation: No
one questions the need of new school
houses. In some districts more than
one-half of them are worthless-dis-
tricts Nos. >, 8 and 70, for example.
If the State Board of Health should
inspect them all there is no doubt
whatever but more than a score would
be Immediately condemned and or
dered abandoned. The Examiner has
carefully inspected every schOolprop
erty in the county and reports thirty
nine new ones needed. 1t is impossi-
BILE to build more than five a year
on an average with funds usually
available. That many are becoming
unfit for use each year; hence our ed
vocational plant is not improving and
never can under present circum-
stances.
This act provides for the erectj>n,
repairing and furnishing of one and
two-room frame buildings. Under
these provisions three-fourths of the
school house districts in the county
would be directly benefited. Scarcely
a house in the county among those
which are suitable which does not
need SIS to $50 in the way of black
boards, desks, etc.
The credit of Garrett county is SUI
perior to either Allegany or Washing
ton, both of which have just sold large
blocks of 4 per cent. bonds at pre-
MUM. We can do the same.
We are paying very high rates of
interest in rent and never get suitable
buildings either. For example: $3.50
last year for German, or per cent.
on $6SS. 80; $44 for the Oakland col
Ored school, or 4 per cent. on $1100;
Sal, 25 for Loeb Lynn, or 4 per cent.
on $1031.20, etc.
Last years school houses, exclusive
of furniture, blackboards and lots
cost us 1910 each and they were first
class in every particular and good for
thirty years service.
The financial statements of the
School Board as published in theState
reports show that for the past ten
years the average amount expended
each year for rent, houses, repairs,
furniture and blackboards, after de-
Quoting $4,000, the cost of the Oak
land building was $3.50. 1t is rea-
sonable to suppose that the expense
during the next ten years will be
fully as great. This money has come
out of the tax payers in the past; it
must come out of the tax payers in
the future.
The question for each tax payer and
voter to decide is whether we will get
better results educationally from this
50. $50 if bonds are issued than we are
getting now. Let us see: All will adj
nit that the results now accomplished
are about as satisfactory as possible.
Suppose we sell 100000 of bonds at 4
per cent, build 40 new school houses,
repair % more, furnish 25 more and
stop the rent of the dozen we do not
own. All will admit that our educa-
tional plant will then be first-class.
The interests ON the bonds the first
year will be $500 and we will pay
$4,000 of the bonds, making $4,000.
There will still be left of the $3.50 for
other purposes $3.50. The second year
the interest on the outstanding bonds
will be $720. We will pay $4,000 of
the bonds, making 50, 720 and leaving
more than 5000 of the SO, $50 for other
purposes.
Some of the houses that are now in
quite good condition will need to be
replaced with new ones in few years
and we may need new school districts
in parts of the county now unsettled.
Very well; we can pay the interest on
the bonds and can pay the bonds in
ten years and after the third year
build one new school house year and
keep up all necessary repairs, etc.; if
they do not exceed the average an
nual amount now expended for these
purposes, and not require a dollar
more for the annual school levy than
is now being expended for these
things
Summary: In ten years we will
have bonds and interest all paid, the
use of these good houses during that
time and they will be good for twenty
years more service and not a dollar
added to our taxes. This is the situa-
ton and these are the facts.
The responsibility is on you-the
voters and tax payers of Garrett
county.
j. w. LAUGHLIN, President.
q. w. LEGGE,
VIM. A. SMITH,
Board OF School Commissioners for