Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

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slightly location and to erect new
building thereon, and for this pur-
pose bonds to the value OF $3.50
were voted. Acting upon these
instructions the board of trustees
purchased slightly block of ground
overlooking the town and con-
tracted for the present commodious
building of two stories, containing
eight rooms, all OF which are now
full to the utmost capacity. In
1900 new building was erected
for the use of the primary depart
ment, which is also full, aud in
the near future additional accommo-
dations will have to be provided
for the rapidly increasing number
Of school children. The system is
maintained by per capita APP
portionment of the general school
funds of the county, by 90 per
cent. of the license revenues in
the town, and by special tax
levied upon the property Of the
district.
This is the only Independent
school district in the county, there
being state law to the effect that
all districts requiring a nine
months term Of school each year
may maintain the same by special
tax levied by the board Of school
trustees, without taking vote of
the people thereon, as is required
by the common school districts
governed by the general school
law.
Eight years ago the present pub
lie school building was erecsed at
cost of $1,000. When first occu-
pied, in 1894, there were but $50
pupils in attendance, and three
teachers We're employed. The
numbers have steadily increased
year by year, until at the present
time there is an enrolment of
nearly 400, and "A teaching force
OF eight. This consists ofSuperin-
tendent P. M. Granville principal
of the High school, G. f. Nc
earthly, Mrs. Sarah Spedden, and
the Misses Bloom, Taylor, Maxey,
Ray, Wagner and Helen Fray.
During the four years of his super
vision Mr.. Granville has been I'M
firing in his efforts to raise the
standard of the school. One grade
has been added making eleven in
all, and an excellent course of
study prepared, which places the
Grangeville High school upon the
approved lists of the University of
Idaho, Washington Agricultural
College, and the Lewiston State
Normal school. Each of these in
situations receives our graduates
without examination. A well-se-
lected library of 800 volumes, be-
sides 200 supplementary readers,
is an important factor in the life of
the school, aud the laboratory con-
tains sufficient apparatus for all
simple experiments in the sciences.
The High school numbers 60 stu
urutSs cCNClat vi WhOul
other parts of the county.
While growing Grangeville is
not yet railroad town, yet we
have reasonable and well-founded
expectations that before the publ
cation of the next annual special
edition of the FREE PRESS, the
iron horse will be an established
fixture here. Both the Northern
Pacific and the Oregon Railroad
Il Navigation companies have COM
pleted their surveys and acquired
their rights of way into the town.
Grangeville is the objective point
and terminus of both these systems
as for some time to come. The
presidents of both roads have Wis
tied the town and assured its peo-
pie of their intention to connect
them with the outside world.
The construction of both these
roads has been delayed by the
Community Of Interest" idea,
which is certainly not to the sin
terest of the community" in this
section. The o. r. & N. people
have 90 acres of land in the city
limits which they have acquired for
depot purposes. 1t is a settled
fact that both roads will occupy
this fertile field, and when that
long-looked-for day comes, it will
mean the opening OF simple
and easy road to the markets oil
the older world, and the yellow
wheat and fat cattle will cover the
idle Prairie land which for cen
turtles has husbanded its latent
wealth against the coming of the
pillow. But our isolation, however
long-deferred, cannot rob our sol
of it's marvellous productiveness
nor our climate of it's delightful
summers and mild winters
Grangeville is located in the agri
cultural garden. of the west, ant
it's commercial greatness is SUR
to follow in the progressive orde1
of things. Her citizens are aliv'
to the interest involved in the stu
pendous natural advantages o
Idaho county. 1t is a bank of sc
cure deposits for capital and energ,
and will yield an immense prof
upon the investment. Ere Ion,