The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-14
rpE NEWS AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. AUGUST a. 1901
THE SCHOOL SITE WAR
Mass Meeting Against the
Trustees Selection.
Declaration Made TO Defeat If Possible Purchase
Of Site Settled On. Kinston Much
Wrought Up.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Kinston, n. c., August 13.-Another
chapter was added to the Graded School
site, situation last night when a huge
mass meeting was held in the court
house to consider what action should be
taken by the people in the matter. IN
spite of very inclement weather the
court room was half full of ladies who
are taking very unusual interest in
this matter so vital to them and their
children.
The following resolutions passed unani-
mously are self-explanatory:
Whereas, majority of the trustees or
the Kinston Graded Schools have per-
sistently ignored the plainly expressed
will of the people in regard to a site
for the new school building; and
j Whereas, it is now brought to the
knowledge of the people that they have
settled on a site contrary to that will;
and
Whereas, the site selected is totally
unsuited to such use by reason of it's
surroundings and the enormous price
asked for it, and the difficulty in perfect
ing a title by reason of the fact that the
board is not legally constituted at pres
ent; and
Whereas, we believe that the site was
selected solely to balk the will of the
people and to promote other ends than
the public good and
Whereas, we believe this purchase is
a waste of public money and a breach OF
their trust; now, therefore, be it
Resolved That we use all honorable
means to defeat such sale and purchase
and that a committee of citizens be Sc
lected to carry out the purpose of this
resolution, and that the powers of the
courts be invoked, if necessary, to the ex-
tent of protecting the rights and inter-
ests of the people.
(Signed) T. C. WOOTEN,
H. e. MOSELEY,
C. T. RANDOLPH,
LOVIT HINES.
]. A. MCDANIEL.
Committee.
After passage of the resolution a COM
mittee was appointed composed equally
of men and women to carry out its pro-
visions The committee is as follows: r.
c. Wooten, II. E. Moseley, c. T. Ran
dolph, Lovit Hines, j. A. Mcdaniel, Mrs.
A. Oettinger, Mrs. w. T. Hines, Mrs. H.
Archbell Mrs. Laura Miller, and Mrs.
Lillian Perry.
Never has Kinston been so wrought up
over any public measure as over this,
and feeling is running high.
At a previous mass meeting held on
Friday night, July 10Th, at which the
board of trustees were present and in ses-
sion, the people collected in large num-
bers voted unanimously to ask the board
to purchase the vacant block owned by
Miss Tiffany West, and which she had
offered to them for $500. This is the
most centrally located lot available and
the people, almost as unit, want the
school building placed thereon. 1t APP
pears that the trustees are determined
not to build on that lot for reasons
known only to themselves.
At that meeting the board of trustees
announced that they would take action
in the matter on the following Tuesday
night, July Goth.
No action was taken SO far as the pub
lie could learn and the matter has been
postponed from time to time.
AS to the legality of the board as now
constituted the situation was APPLY stated
ny an anonymous correspondent Oh tne
Free Press, few days ago; that four
members of the board are holding two
public offices and that such holding is
plainly illegal.
The matter is in a very complicated
condition and meanwhile the 500 600 bonds
have been sold and the interest began
running on them on August 1st inst.
The money is not yet in the Treasurer's
hands, however, but is daily expected.