Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-29
THE SCHOOL HOUSE COST.
THOSE WITH SCHEMES SHOULD BE ABLE
TO GIVE DEFINITE ESTIMATES.

Editor Democrat:
| have been much interested in read
ING the articles Published in the Demo-
crat in regard to the best method OF OBJ
tanning more school room for the high
school and the scholars attending sc hooi
at the brick school house, and wish TO
add few suggestions which have oc-
Cured to me about the matter.
notice at least two OF the writers al
vocate building new building on a
different lot for the use of the High
school and leaving the brick school
bouse for the use of the lower grades.
The cost of this building, as they claim,
will not exceed $1,000. Now l think
that the people of this town are all
willing to have and wish to have the
scholars at South Paris and all over
town amply accommodated in comfort
able school buildings, and II the neces-
sity has arisen for more school room at
Sonth Paris or elsewhere in town let us
meet it in spirit of wise liberality, and
not treat it as a sectional matter. l adj
vacated that view of it in former con-
tribution and have not in the least
changed my mind.
But before voting for more school
room at South Paris, the voters OF Paris
need first to be convinced of the absolute
need of more room, and, second, as TO
the best method of securing the same,
whether by new building on the iot
now occupied by the brick school mousse
as voted at the March meeting, and
tearing away the old brick house; oy a
new building on some other lot; or by
an addition to the brick school house.
Now think that instead of giving
their opinion of the probable cost of the
different methods, the advocates OF each
should endeavor to find some responsible
architect and builder who will name the
lowest price for which he will agree to
build a new building or make an addi'
ton to the old one and furnish the re-
nuired room; then the voters of the
town will know where they stand and
can vote intelligently on the matter and
not be in the dark as to the ultimate
cost.
II seems to me as if the advocates OF
the different systems could easily Obtain
contract prices from responsible builders
nv giving them the dimensions OF the
required building or annex. II this is
NOT done voters will be afraid If Ger.
tain amount, we will say $4,000, be voted
for a new building, or less sum for an
annex, that later on another approprla
ton will be needed on either the separate
building or the annex to complete then
something as our county buildings
which were not to exceed in cost some
$50, 900 or $4,000 have now exceeded
twice that sum.
So if you can, gentlemen, please give
Ms the certain cost of those buildings
and not your opinion of what will be the
cost OF them and which will almost Ger
tainly require much larger amount. Al
| understand the matter now, l am II
favor of Mr.. Maxim's plan OF an addition
which will probably cost much less thar
new and separate building. The OBJ
lection of which Mr.. Fletcher speaks II
one of his articles, of having to tear GU
and move nearly all of the partitions
as we'll rs one outside wall, bears nc
weight in my mind, as this is done ever!
day in building over or renovating OH
buildings, and they are made in no wa.
weaker thereby; but of the exact cost o
the two or three different ways 1t Is wei
for the voters to be informed.
4. E. FIELD.