Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-07-06
The Griggs Courier
2. r. TRUBSHAW. EDITOR.
HANNAFORD.

Local news are scarce this week
and as we have been asked so many
questions about the schoolhouse at-
fair, We will give short history of it,
being principally desirous of correct
ing the impression that some, includ-
ing the judge have-that Mr.. H.
Knapp was trying to beat the tcwn
out Of the shoolhouse. AS testified,
Mr.. Knapp did call privately on
members of the board 70 ask permis-
ton to use the schoolhouse. He al
SO attended meeting of the board
and was given permission to use it
until sold. For proof Of this see
later on. Mr.. Knapp then made two
offers for the building. One Of S25o
OF he would pay the market price of
as many thousand feet as there was
in the building. Letting the deterior-
alton Offset the labor. AT a special
meeting Of the voters called over a
year ago, Mr.. Knapp's offer of $25o
was renewed. 1t was argued for
over two hours that $3.50 for the
building and S1oo for moving made
it stand the district $3.50, that new
schoolhouse could be built for much
less than that and put it where it was
wanted. But the motion to sell was
not carried, and to show why and to
show much OF the animous behind
this thing, we quote one of the voters
who said after the meeting: "1'he
proposition was all right and
was undoubtedly the wav out
of it. but we voted against
1t to help Tom Knapp out. Just
think of it. Not taking the right or
interests of the district into question,
but to help crafty petty enmity and
personal spite, was the right of suf-
trage thus subverted. Could the
women do worse? At the next meet.
ing the board were instructed to sell,
they advertised for bids, Mr.. Knapp
submitted one OF $3.50. It was re-
jected. In FEBRUARY Mr.. Knapp went
to the board, said he wanted it
settled that he would pick one man,
the board another, the two pick a
third and whatever they said the
building was worth he would pay.
His proposition was not accepted d.
Now what more could Mr.. Knapp
dol I'VE can not see but what he
has done all that he could do under
the circumstances and that the fault
does not lie with him Now as to
the testimony, ]. S. Byington says:
Gin looking the matter up remem-
Der that Mr.. Knap did attend a meet
ing of the board and asked permis-
sion to use the schoolhouse and that
one of them said: s'Why certainly
you might as we'll use it as to have it
stand empty" Miss Eimon was a
member of the board and corrober-
ates the above. As to the value of
it we understand that Mr.. P. Craig
has said that he would buy it if the
town wanted to sell it but that he
would not pay over s1oo for it.
Ben. Thorsgard, who built the school
house says he can take $I5o and
build more comfortable dwelling
house than it makes, and that just as
good schoolhouse in his neighbor-
hood sold for $50. While we testi-
fed that under the circumstances it
was not worth over $3.50, yet we
would not give that for it and move
it. The proof of the pudding is the
eating thereof. To those who value
it at $500 we would suggest that they
can easily buy it for $3.50 or less. To
do so will establish their security in
the matter and also be- a quick, sure
and easy way of clearing $3.50 if they
are right. x.