The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-08
S46,286 LOANED FOR
SCHOOL HOUSES.
Thirty one Counties Included
and Ninety-fve Districts
in the List.

AT a meeting OF the State Board OF Ed
ucation in this city Thursday, Aug. 9Th,
loans from the Loan Fund for building
and improving public school houses, es-
tablished by the General Assembly of 1903,
were made to thirty-one counties for
ninetyfive districts to build, improve
equip and buy ninety-five public school
houses. The loans aggregate SAG, ,2S6. The
total cost of the buildings $104 ,3l5. Fifty
two o. the houses will be built according
to plans adopted by the State Board OF
Education contained in pamphlet sent out
by State Superintendent. Fourteen are
now in course of construction in accordance
with other but approved plans. Nine will
be repaired and enlarged, eight are private
academies bought for public school pur-
poses. Twenty-three of the districts are
local tax districts. In fifty three of the
districts asking loans consultations have
been made, and, in several, the prospects
of local taxation are good. In other dis
tricts consolidation viii be made. The
State by lending $4,000 in these thirty
one counties secures Ttblic school houses
costing more than twice that amount, add
ing more than a hundred thousand dol
lars to the public school properly of the
State and about hundred excellent pub
lie school houses. constructed i'll accord
ance with principles of modern school
architecture that will be a stimulus for
better school houses and will make pos
sible better schools and arouse more in
terest and pride in the schools, and will
be an example and stimulus to all the
surrounding districts, and in some in
stances to the entire county.
OF the ninety-five districts to which
loans for houses have been made thirty
one have no houses and thirty-four have
houses valued at less than fifty dollars,
ranging in value from $4.00 to $4,000, in
cluding "log houses" "shanties' and
tenant houses" (The quotations are
from applications.)
Under the rules and regulations adopted
by the State Board, it will be sought
through the use of this Loan Fund to
build and improve public school houses
in the needy districts first, and then, so
far as possible, to stimulate reasonable
consultations of small districts, and self
help by private subscription and local tax
alton. The above facts in regard to the
first loans indicate a reasonable degree of
success i'll the accomplishment of these
purposes
Other counties are sending in applica-
tons for loans that will have due con-
slderation at the proper time. Some ap-
plications now in hand are held up for
further information and investigation
Every application is carefully scrutinized
and every protection possible will be
thrown around this fund. No better use
of this money arising from the sale of
swamp lands could possibly be made
Through its wise use it is confidently be-
heved that the total value of school prop
erty in North Carolina will be increased
far more than double the amount of loans
made each year, and that In the not dis
tant future it will be possible to place
good, comfortable school house in every
proper district in the State, and to great
ly improve the character of the public
school house all over the State