The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-04-04

DENISON IOWA, March 81 1899.
The Bond Issue.
(Contributed)
The question of issuing the bonds of
the Independent School District of
Denison is one that should receive the
attention of every citizen.
For the purposes of the election to be
held on the 18th inst, women citizens
have equal rights with men.
1t is we'll that this is the case.
Women are directly interested both as
taxpayers in their own or in joint right,
and they too have the welfare of their
own and others children at heart pos
sibly even more than do the heads of
our families.
But any question should be under
stood before casting ballot for or
against it. a.
The novel experience should not cover
the main question. AS matter of fact
lit must be true that these bonds should
be voted or they should not. What
argument is there in favor? There is
but one answer to this question. Our
school population has out grown our
school room No one believes this to
be a calamity. No one but what ex-
poets this condition will arise every, few
years and but what is glad that we live
in growing city.
The present high school was built
ten years ago. twas ample at the time
and has suficed fully as long as then it
was planned to be sufficient. We are
ljust now in the condition that we were
when the series of bonds which were
issued to build that building, and which
are now wholly paid or provided for,
was voted upon. If it was wise, if it
has proven of benefit to our schools, to
our homes. to our city and to all con-
cerned, that these bonds were carried
and the high school built, then, since
the conditions are the same except that
the need is greater and the surplus of
scholars larger, the present bonds
should be issued.
But in one way the case is not paral-
lei. This is q material point Notice
it in particular. The increase of pop
ulation and the property valuation, in
Guiding further increase of taxable
property by the additional railroad i'm
provements will permit not only the
issue of these bonds but also decrease
of taxation at the same time. These
bonds may be voted, the high school
built, ample accommodations for the
education of our children be secured,
the town improved, and we be true to
the best interests of the young of aboth
rich and poor, and yetsno school, tax
II increased single cent. Rather, there
may be lower tax.
To us it seems that no further argu-
ment is required The alternative to
t voting the bonds is the forcing upon
the district the necessity of paying rent
4 for additional room, or the crowding
of pupils into inconveniently close quar-
ters where their advancement must
suffer; or what is still more, the saying
to new scholars I'VE have no more
r room and you cannot have admission
to our schools" In what sense can it
1 it be said that ours are free schools if
this must be done?
But there are arguments against the
bonds. The main one would be that
the town is growing too fast. Keep
the town down to the size that our
schoolhouses were built for. Let out
side towns in our county have the in
J, coming people.
That our citizens will listen to this
reasoning we do not expect, but we
have cited the very best argument that
is advanced against the new school
building A poor argument against
anything is virtually good one in it's
favor
e We believe there is growing interest
in this matter that will show itself at
the election.
The funds available for new site are
not as limited as would appear by the
+ fact that So, 600 only was voted for a
site centrally located" The only out
standing bond is for 81 600 This can be
. paid from the present receipts of this
springs taxes. The school district will
then be free from debt and have some
thing like $4,000 which may be used
j. for a location, instead of the $4,000
alone which was voted, leaving the
= whole of the proceeds of the bonds to
be put into the building itself.
What more is wanted? What less
j. can our growing and progressive city
do and be at all true to it's own inter