Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-05-06
NO NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.
TWO HOURS AND A HALF OF TOWN
MEETINGs.-TorAL RESULTS: VOTED
TO SELL THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE ON
sTEARNs HILL.

TWO HOURS AND A HALF OF TOW
MEETINGs.-ToTAL RESULTS: VOTE
TO SELL THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE o
sTEARNs HILL.
For two hours and half Saturda
afternoon the battle ragged, first in til
adjourned annual town meeting an
then in the special meeting which wa
called at o'clock, and which imm,
diately followed the other, though it wa
about o'clock when 1t was called I
order.
And as the total result of the tw
hours and a half of work, with NOR
than three hundred voters present an
six separate articles to act on, we vote
to authorize the selectmen to sell the oil
school house on Stearns Hill-which
is understood they have already bargain
ed away, for consideration of $500. Ii
every other respect We are just wher
we started.
The new school house was definitel
voted down, twice-once in the adjourn
ed meeting and again in the special; ant
action on the scheme to enlarge thu
brick house was ruled out of order, a
the plans had not been approved by thu
experimenting school committee. Tn,
law makes such approval necessary be
fore any vote to build or remodel can be
taken. As for the other matters which
came up for action, there seemed to be &
general disposition to do nothing.
The attendance was the largest seen al
anything except the regular "Marcl
meeting" in a number of years. The
north end of the town had fair repre-.
sentation out.
Capt. II. n. Bolster, moderator, called
read the articles in the warrant on
which action was not completed, and
Town Clerk Wheeler read from the rec.
ords the action taken at the March meet.
ing on each.
The meeting voted to hear the report
of the special joint committee on new
school house at South Paris, and George
NJ. Atwood, chairman of the committee,
read the report. This report recon-
mended the erection of high school
building on a lot on the east side of
Pine Street, containing three acres; cost
of the building to be not over $1,000, and
of the lot and foundation not over $1,000.
S. p. Maxim moved a recess of twenty
minutes to enable the voters to inspect
the brick school house. This was lost
by large vote on show of hands.
The report of the committee was then
II was then moved by Judge Wilson to
reconsider the vote passed at the March
meeting.
This opened the discussion of the main
question, which was opened by Mr..
Wright. He objected to the plan pro-
posed by the committee on several
grounds, showing the additional cost of
the high school in separate
building.
1t was then voted to reconsider the
vote passed at the March meeting.
S. P. Maxim, being called upon to
give an estimate of the cost of building
IN addition to the brick house, took the
stand and stated bis estimate of an addi-
ton of twenty-eight feet to the south
end of the brick building at 5000. He
thought an addition of that size would
be sufficient.
n. d. Bolster called attention to the
fact that in the past ten years, with an
increase of population of ten per cent,
the attendance at the high school has in
creased so per cent.
Judge Wilson said there was some
thing to consider besides money, and
objected to ''cobbling up the old house."
George NJ. Atwood presented motion
20 build school house in accordance
With the report of the special committee,
rs follows: THAT the town erect a new
school house for the use of the High
school on the new lot on Pine Street in
south Paris village, as selected and
,taked out by the experimenting school
according to the plans here
With presented to the town and approx
ID by the experimenting school CON-
nittee."
The description of the lot selected by
he committee was read by Mr.. Maxim
If the selectmen.
S. p. Maxim favored waiting for the 3
''clock meeting, when we should have
nance to vote for an addition to the
Prick house. Two or three moved to
Idjourn, but the motion was not put.
The plans for the school house were
presented by Mr.. Atwood. They were
made by Mr.. Miller of Lewiston.
Ethan Willis, asked by the committee
egarding the cost, stated that the plans
( carried out in full, would cost more
han $4,000, but that with certain modi-
ications, the building could be erected
or that sum-not including heating
liant or plumbing.
Mr.. Wright contended that the building
IS shown could not be built for $1,000.
lie thought $1,000 would be nearer the
mark.
n. d. Bolster thought the judgment
If builder on the cost of building was
better than the judgment of lawyer.
lie favored separate high school as an
advance in educational methods, and
discussed the question of expenses.
Mr.. Willis suggested giving the COM
nittee more time to bring the plans
within a cost of $1,000 definitely.
Judge Wilson said settle the question
low.
The question was then put. A show
If hands was made, but the vote could
lot be counted with certainty, and the
house was polled.
The vote resulted 1872 in favor and 1T
opposed. The announcement was re-
,eived with much applause.
The article regarding the drainage of
Western Avenue was then taken up.
Walter l.. Gray, the surveyor employed
BY the selectmen, reported the results of
The survey, showing that any method Of
drainage would be expensive.
Mr.. Maxim of the selectmen moved
hat the town appropriate $3.50 toward
taking care of the surface water on
Western Avenue, it being understood
hat a number of citizens desired to
build a sewer into which this water
might be turned. There was consider
able informal discussion, and the motion
was finally lost on show of hands, A to
10.
Article rs relating to the appropriation
for public libraries was passed over
without discussion.
The meeting then adjourned.
The second town meeting was called
. - o.lo~ h., Tnwp Clark Wheelar i'm