The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-02-26
SCOTLAND NECK 0MOVE FORWARD.
A Majority in Favor of Graded Schools and
Electric Lights.

Two years ago there was considerable
agitation here on the subject OF graded
schools for the town. An agree
ment was reached to drop the matter
then and that if, two years from that
time, majority of the people in mass
Getting should favor it the
opposition would take no steps against
legislative bill providing for an cleo
ton on the question.
That macs meeting was held in Flu
trell's opera house Monday night OF
this week. The matter had been much
agitated for the past ten days and each
faction was we'll lined up for the con-
test. The interest was keen from the
start and large crowd of citizens as
sembied, > DIR. J. E. Shields, Mayor OF
the town, called the meeting to order,
and was made permanent chairman.
Mr.. c.. L.. Mcdowell was made secre-
tary.
It was agreed on the motion OF MIRA.
Mcdowell that the debate on the ques-
ton of bonds be limited to one hour,
those favorlng bonds to occupy one
half the time and those opposing to &C.
cupy the other bali.
Mess. T. F. Whitley and G. H. Her
ring were chosen tellers for the bond
side and DR.. r. NJ. johnson and DR.. A.
C. Llyermon for the opposition. Later
Mr.. Herring was called from the hall
and Mr.. j. E. Bowers was selected In
his place.
It was agreed that any one who had
lived in the State two years, had lived
in the county since the fifth of last
| November and in Scotland Neck since
the fifth of January, should have the
right to vote.
DIR. johnson and DR.. Livermon for
the opposition, and Mess. J. S. Bowers
and J. A. Kitchin for the bond advo-
Gates, were chosen as board OF arbitra-
ton to settle the question on any chal-
+, lenge that might arise.
/ ARGUMENTS PRO AND CON.
Mr.. A. Mcdowell as advocate O!
bonds opened the discussion. He said
that when he comes to swollen
stream the safety in crossing OF which
seems doubtful, he will not attempt to
cross without some knowledge OF its
depths or condition. But when he
meets friends who haye just crossed it
and who tell him it is safe and that
there is no danger, if it is desirable to
cross it. he takes their word and crosses
So in the matter of graded schools
Scotland Neck has not tried the exper-
iment, but be HAD secured satisfactory
data from many who have been inter-
ested in graded schools-haye tried
them and found them successful and 8
good thing. This being true OF Other
towns he saw 1t safe and desirable
thing for Scotland Neck.
Mr.. Mcdowell then gave figures
showing what the income and the ex
penditures for the graded school would
be and declared he felt sure that il
was safe calculation.
He said so tar as he knew no graded
school which had been carefully man
aged had ever failed. He stated tina
increase in property tax for the towr
could not be more than 40 cents on th'
500 worth of property for the next twt
wears. He said that the opposition
had declared that with higher take
rents in town would be much highe
and the poor people who rent will hav'
to pay the tax, after all. He offered t
give bond that rents will not be in
creased.
}, Mr.. S. B. Kitchin followed for the
opposition to bonds. He said that MI
McDowell's figures for income to tn
/ graded school were based on valua
ton of the towns property at $4,000
: against present valuation OF 1856, Ot
: He said Mr.Mc Dowell could not guarar
! tee that the property Of the town woul
make that Increase In value any tim
? soon.
He estimated that with bonds iC
0 graded school and electric lights, tn
rate OF tax on the 500 worth Of prov
erty will be $3.50. Mr.. Kitchin sal
the town needs industries to give en-
ployment to men SO that they ca
send their children to school. 1t
a had graded schools, he said, there woul
q bs no more children in them than al
il in the free schools now. AS long as "
have free schools as cheap as they al
n now we do not need graded school
Il Mr.. Kitchin referred to some other II
"a dustries in the town which have n
! proved successful. Said he: III
graded schools and electric lights ma