Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1903-10-19

dies man Mr.. Preston says the St
Paul is doing a nice business out OF
Denver.
Many express wonder at the low
purchase price of the May Day-s50,-
900. II that is the correct figure, 1t
is certainly low price for the show
ing. The average prospector. with
such a showing as the May Day has
would ask all the way from 100000
to 100000. If the ore hsould hold
out for little while as rich as it is
now. the mine will pay for itself in
little while. II the owners had kept
to $1,000.000. II the ore should hold
would soon make a proiit of $4,000
and still have the mine. But the or
iginal owners may have preferred to
let the other fellow" take the
CHI noes
Another fire at Pagosa Junction did
considerable damage Tuesday. de-
stroying the Sullenberger planning mill
along with six cars of moulding ready
to load and about six cars OF clear
lumber. The fire took place about
O'Clock in the afternoon. 1t was first
discovered in the mill above the boil
er and inside of two or three minutes
flames had enveloped the entire build
ing and some OF the men had diff
equity in getting out. The total loss
is not stated, but it will run into the
thousands with partial insurance.
The planning mill was located some
distance from the saw mill and the lire
Der above mentioned.
The enrolloment of the city schools
for this year numbers $50 pupils. AS
to how this compares with the enroll
ment of last year no information is
obtainable, but 1t is believed to be
fair increase.
A reporter for the Herald looked in
at the various rooms of the High
school building this morning and was
impressed by the general good spirit
with which the pupils were doing their
work in all the departments.
The system OF work was changed
this year, last year what was known
as the department plan being in
vogue. under that system n teacher
went from one room to another, teach
ing certain studies, while under the
| old plan. which has just been restored,
| teacher stays in one room and
| teaches all the studies, with the ex-
ception OF course, OF the teacher OF
music and drawing, who makes the
al hA IN,
| schools.
Prof. Gould, the superintendent.
| states that the Durango schools nave
| an excellent corps of teachers who Will
10 all possible 10 raise the already
aigh standard attained by the schools.
The elective system is in vogue here
that is, pupil may lake the studies
desired and skip the rest. This some-
times necessitates a careful guidance
on the part oil the teacher. in order
that pupil may elect to take certain
studies that would be helpful COM
bined with certain others. To this
Prot, Gould and the teachers give
| special attention.
| In these days when SO much is heard
| about the benefit to be derived from
practical studies, and the uselessness
III those in the opposite class. it may
| be interesting to note that there are
only eighteen pupils taking physics
and eighteen take chemistry. Prof.
Gould declares physics and chemistry
10 be two Of the most practical and
useful studies given by the High
school, yet 1t is evident they are not
considered as of great Importance by
the majority VI pupils or their par
ents
Sixty are studying ancient history.
This large number is undoubtedly due
to the fact that ancient history Is one
of the most Interesting subjects, and
once interested. the pupil. like the
novel reader, is anxious to know how
1t ends"
The class in medieval history num-
bers twenty.
Latin. in which the common, every
day people can see no good, is taken
by seventy or seventy all OF their
own free will.
German, which is undoubtedly
good thing, but not necessity any
WHeTe III lHe Oultou OlutcS 6ACSpl III
Milwaukee or st. Louis or in
some isolated colony where the Ian
guage IL spoken, is taken by thirty
five or forty
Spanish, which is really useful in
this part of the state, has only TWEEN;
ty students.
Greek is not taught here, neither is
French.
Prof. Gould lays particular stress on
the commercial course. He holds to
the theory that thorough course in
any line better fits man for business,
and cites rhe college man as an Ga
ample, claiming the great majority
Of the successful business men of the
country are college men, and that
their success lies IN the fact of their
thorough education. He claims that
the High school commercial course is
superior to the course OF business col
leges because the latter pay too little
attention to language and reading.
and many Of them go upon the pre-
sumption that the student knows ali
he needs to know OF grammar. Mr.