The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-24
SOUTH PORTLAND.
Ligonia's Deplorable
School House.
Discussed By School Board Last
Evening.
The Republican Club On
Annexation.
Uniyersalist Fair and Social
Items.

school torrd last evening presided over
by Mayor Reynolds, at which, after the
approval of few bills, the dsplorabie
canditioa of the Ligonia school house
was q subject of discussion.
Superintendent Kaler called the mat
ter up and very plainly said that the
building and grounds were disgrace to
the city aud a menace to the children.
He said that the school had been closed
for ten weeks and hesdetailed the action
OF the city authorities who after one
weeks session OF this school concluded to
move the building. This was done and
after 1t was landed on it's present site
nothing was done TO 1t for five weeks.
The building slipped from the skids In
the process Of moving. one side dropped
and a standard fell on one of the desks
The floor has settled and now bulges out
In tine center while there is debris, dirt,
etc to the depth OF is inches on the low
or floors while picks, shovels, etc., are to
be seen stored away In convenient places
A ditch was dug near the steps ana big
pile of clay, etc in front of the steps
would make walking around the grounds
unsafe when ice and snow came. lie had
been notified several times that the
building would BIS ready such and such q
day, and four times he had called the
teachers and pupils together only to find
the building untenantable. He spoke TO
Alderman Jordan about the grounds and
was informed THAT they would stay as
they were for time' or words to that
effect Plastering on the building was
not begun until this week though he had
repeatedly called Mr.. Craig's attention
to the matter. MIR. Craig having as he
understood the contract for the job. Mr..
Kaler said that now there was dirt
enough in the building to give employ
ment for at least three women for several
days. Sesing Mr.. James Taylor present,
Mr.. Kaler asked that he be invited to say
something as he had visited the premises.
Mr.. Taylor said that he could corrobor-
ate every statement made and go further.
Instead OF eighteen inches OF dirt in the
rooms, he showed there were at least two
feet of filth. That II you should put an
apple in the center Of the rooms 1t would
roll to one of the four corners, because OF
the ridges. He said that when the build
ing slipped in the moving, the chimney
came near going over, and was likely to
fall any time. Things could not be much
worse.
Mir. Tnton asked "whose fauls is this
In your opinionf' Mr.. Kaler replied.
"no one but those who have contracted
to put the building in shape" He went
on to say that he had called Alderman
Jordan's attention to the matter.
MIR. Tilton-''Who contracted TO do this
work."
Mr.. Kaler-"w Washington Libby con-
tractsd to nova the building and Mr..
Dunstan was to do some work. / saw
vouchers for the payment of their bills
and these bills must have been approved
by some one before they were paid by the
city. MIR. Craig said Mr.. Libby was to
give him $50 and $50 was coming to him
from the city and the plastering is a
mere skim coating >"
MIR. Tiiton thought 1t was strange that
the contractors should have been paid be-
fore the work was done and asked II the
Mayor could throw any light on the sub
cot.
Mayor Reynolds remembered when the
matter of taking money from the contin-
gent fund for this purpose came up and
said the order was passed the matter be-
Ing left as was customary In such cases
ito the gentleman from seven."
MIR. Delano thought It was unjust that
the blame should be put on the board
and thought something should be done to
show the people where the resp IN sibllity
rested, SO after a little more talk the sec
rotary was instructed to acquaint the
board of aldermen with the facts and re-
quest that action be at once taken to
make the Ligonia school house tenant
able. Similar action was taken in regard
TO the dirty windows In ward tive school
house, after which the board adjourned.
MEETING OF REPUBLICAN CLUB.
The Republican club met last ev ening
In their rooms at Knightviiie and after
Enjoying their usual clam supper inform
ally talked over the proposed annexation
Of the city to Portland.
Alderman Small set the ball agoing by
saying there were pre- sent representatives
of the best element in the city and
thought the subject of annexation might
be talked over to the advantage OF every
body. He said the press OF the city had
held out the IDEA that annexation was a
favored by Republicans save,
perhaps. some who We're office holders,
This, however, was an erroneous idea and
there was good chance TOR all present to
- -. -
Mr.. Hanna who said he expected others
to enlighten him, but he observed that
the same old CRY was..now being raised AS
when Deering was feeking annexation,
that every man who opposed 1t was an
office holder. He referred to the increased
rats OF taxation which must come and IL
saaaoEh and beg q REDUCTION. hnt would