Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-03-18
1us NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.

THE NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.
Editor Democrat:
After reading carefully the different
opinions expressed by prominent citi-
zens of South Paris at the town meeting
as to the need of having a new and
larger school building to accommodate
the high school scholars and the scholars
of the village who attend school at the
brick school house, cannot help think
ing that the need of having such school
building is at least very doubtful. When
gentlemen like S. P. Maxim and A. G. T.
King, both of them carpenters and men
of experience in such matters, say the
present building is all right and practi.
cally as good as it was number OF
years ago, feel convinced that the hue
and cry for new school house is merely
for the sake of having more orna-
mental structure, one which will appeal
more strongly to the local pride of South
Paris people, and not dire necessity.
Now l would not lay straw in the
way of having such school building If
it is needed, for am strongly in favor OF
giving our scholars substantial, well
ventilated, we'll lighted buildings, not
only at South Paris but all over town,
and also large and commodious enough
to accommodate the largest number
which will attend; but if those in use
to-day are large enough why then let us
be content with what we have and not
run the town more in debt by building
more or larger ones simply because they
are more ornamental and flatter our
pride. The town debt now is nearly
$40, 700, not including the school and
Bray funds, which together amount to
some $4,000 more, $4,000 all told; now
if we build a new school house at prob
able cost of from twelve to fifteen thou
sand dollars, then we shall have debt
of at least $4,000 which will increase
our taxes to a considerable extent for
many years to come; now If we can
avoid this increase in the debt OF the
town ought we not to do it and keep the
taxes down to a normal rate?
If this larger and better building is
really needed l will not raise a hand
against it, but when gentlemen like
those have named say that need does
not exist, as the old one is strong and all
right, fair minded people must acknowl-
edge that the gentlemen who ale press
ing this matter do not have the good of
their towns interest at heart. The
South Paris people have larger share
of taxation than people outside, because
they have town and corporation taxes to
pay, and they ought to satisfy themselves
as TO whether another building is needed
or not before voting.
Now if this building is all right, as
Messrs. King and Maxim say, and it is
not large enough to accommodate the
large number of scholars attending there,
why not build an annex or addition,
which could be done at quarter of the
expense, and not tear down the present
building, which is a nice looking build
ing and an ornament to the village to-
day; as heard one gentleman remark,
| it is a noble building, and he thought
amply adequate for the real need OF the
scholars.
notice the claim has been made that
the present structure is poorly lighted
and ventilated. Now this to my mind is
the merest nonsense and absurdity, and
shows the weakness of the claim for a
new building, as in those respects it is of
course the same as it has always been
and no complaint has been made before
to nv knowledge, so of course in those
respects at least it is all right.
The town meeting was adjourned to
the first Saturday in May to act on that
and the articles following it in the war
rant, thus giving every one ample time
to think the matter over and vote intel
ligently. We hope that every one will
take into consideration how much the
cost of building new school house will
enhance the town debt and increase their
taxes, and not vote for it unless thor
oughiy convinced that there is strong
need of it; the meeting has been adj
journed to very busy time for farmers,
but the reason for it is we'll understood
by all and need not make any com
ments upon it. We need to remember
that it is easier to keep out of debt thar
to get out after we get in, so do not lei
us increase the town debt unless we have
to.
Now, I wish to say just word about
article 2S in the warrant, namely, to see
if the town will raise any money for the
support of libraries in the villages o.
South and West Paris and Paris Hill.
sincerely think that our libraries neet
no aid more than they get from wealthy
resident or nonresident natives OF thu
town who have as elsewhere the habit O.
giving some of their superfluous cash t.
aid them; our libraries l think have al
ways been self-supporting, and to-day
when reading matter, both books ano
periodicals, are so plenty and cheap
surely they do not need aid from TIT
town 80 much as they did when books
and papers were much higher; so sa!
let our libraries take care of themselve
and save the money for the town. | an
in favor of having libraries, more ant
larger the better, but / do not thinl
they need aid from the town. l notice
in the papers that South Paris library il
to have a donation of books. l am yer!
glad as l have good friends at Soutl
Paris and rejoice in their good luck.
E. Z. FIELD.
Our correspondent seems to have
misconception of some of the things tina
were said in town meeting. Mr.. KIM
and Mr.. Maxim testified simply as to thu
construction and present condition o
the brick house. They did not testify
nor argue, that no new accommodation
are necessary. Nobody who knows any
thing about the conditions argues that
More room is needed-must be had. Al
to the best and most economical way o
furnishing that room, and at the SAM
time providing for the increase that ma.
naturally be expected, there may be ant
is difference Of opinion.
The argument for tearing down ant
building new is based on the need o
more room, in connection with certain
defects of more or less magnitude in TIT
brick building. Whether these defects
are such as to make the tearing down O
the building the best thing to do, o.
whether there il some better solution O
the problem, looking at the question il
all its bearings, is for the voters to de
eide.
| Undoubtedly large number of thu
voters had not had time before town
meeting to satisfy themselves as to thu
best solution of the question; but before
the adjourned meeting in May they will
have time to consider the matter fully
and nrenare Themselves to vote intelli