The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-11-25

lighting plant, and supplies the Whole
town at a moderate cost. demonstrating
that a we'll governed community can sup
nIv its own needs better than they can
be supplied by private corporations
Supplied with pure and health-giving
water, ard with Illumination for homes
and business houses. the next most i'm
| portant step that Monroe took was 10
| declare that it was also necessary for
| the municipality TO give education 10
all its children. Monroe had nearly al
WAYS enjoyed a good school that reached
a portion Of the people, but under the
| broader Interpretation of the new Monroe
doctrine it was determined To also make
public education as universal and whole
| some as water. The vote in favor Of it
was large and within the past few years
it has erected a handsome brick graded
school building, with all 8 modern i'm
provements and equipment, worth
something Ike thirty thousand dollars.
The progressive school committee was
fortunate in securing Prof. T.. G. Brooks
as the first superintendent. He had
graduated with honor at Trinity College,
and had demonstrated his capacity as
a teacher and an organizer. He has at
once put the Monroe graded school in
the front rank of the best schools in the
best towns and cities of the State. His
teaching force is as good as the best
and every equipment and facility are up
to date. 1t was my pleasure to visit this
school and to look into the happy faces
Of scores of bright-eyed boys and girls
in the class rooms, being led into the
paths Of knowledge by an uncommonly
capable and attractive corps of teachers.
In establishing its public school system,
Monroe did not stop short of making a
perfect system. 1t did not say: "Thc
municipality will educate the little boys
and girls, but Will require the parents to
send off to some other town the larger
children who wish to prepare for college"
Instead, they provided instruction all
the way from a-b-c's TO entrance into the
University and all other colleges III the
State. Happy the fathers and mothers
who can keep their children in the home
nest during preparation for college. That
is the period for most anxiety about
boys, and the town that provides thorough
preparation for college in its own public
schools is wise in its day and generation.
When the new Monroe doctrine, that
Union county ought to have a magnificent
court house on its eligible public square,
was promulgated by former State Senator
Adams, there We're those h shook their
heads and QUILTED the wisdom of spend
ing SO much money for a court house.
Today there is not a citizen of Union
county who is not proud of that commo-
dious and beautiful temple of justice. If
some pu~blic-spirited man, or some com
b~ination of generous men, would give the
county a splendid public library upon
condition that the portion of the court
house now rented to attorneys should be
converted into a county public and cir
culating library it could be arranged
ioh oi "a "Io 1tStIIS+
room. Already steps have been taken
to provide a public library in connection
With the graded school and many volumes
have been obtained, but one of the first
essentials to the largest usefulness of a
public library is that it shall be cen
trally located. If the county should be
unwilling to devote a portion of the court
house to a public library-and there are
to such use-the next step in the local
Monroe doctrine" of Progress is to build
a public library OF one Of the corners
fronting the public square. The day is
provide a public library just as it pro- !
vides public schools, lights the streets.
furnishes water and maintains a fire com
pany. All are necessary public utilities
of this progressive educational era
The churches in Monroe are in keeping
with the court house and the public
school. This is specially true of the
Presbyterian and Methodist churches.
me o1e niodtlS VI HlOdern church build T
lngs' each costing il the neighborhood of
twenty thousand dollars. The Methodist
church has been completed during the
present year. If there is a moro beauff.
ful or convenient church in the State |
nave not seen it, though there are several
that cost more money. The wisdom and
generosity manifested in the construction
Of such church edifices speaks strongly
fer the religious character of Monroe.
The architect has been here. The newer
homes Quilt here are Of the most APPROX
ed architectural designs and brick busi-
ne7s houses have largely taken the place
OIL the earlier wooden buildings.
monroe mas grown into a town of nO.