Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-06-25

The City of Woodbury. has reached a
stage in its development where its needs
are, to the conservative citizen, out of pro-
portion to its ability to conveniently pay;
in plain English, there should be an
accounting before further debt is incurred.
Yet the needs accumulate, and will prob
ably continue to accumulate till the end
of time.
The important problem Of water supply
is happily rightly solved, and what few
years ago seemed like big load Of debt
has now become source of revenue, and
with,each year that revenue will be increased
by enlarged income, and every five years the
interest expense will be lessened by the pay
ment of S1O 900 of bonds.
The second debt monument, that for
sewers, is yet to be computed, but will
probably be not far from 100000. If the
system, when put in use, proves what it is
designed to be, perfect avenue of Kidding
the city of all filth, the people can afford
this expense, because, next to wholesome
water, no public utility is so necessary as
that which makes for cleanliness.
In the near future two objects of public
need will become more and more pressing
additional school facilities and improved
streets. City Council has taken the first
step in the direction of creating debt for
street improvement, and the Board of Edu-
cation is casting about for suitable site
on which to erect a new school house
Hence the questions of streets and school
house are now the ones most pressing. AS
we view the situation, the former public
improvement is desirable, the latter neces-
sary.
The first sure penalty of increased popu-
lation is crowded school houses, then the
necessity for more school room. For three
years past the tide of school attendance has
been swelling First one room outside our
former buildings was taken, then another,
and we may expect the need Of another the
next school year. The best rooms the
Board is able to procure outside the school
buildings, while suitable in themselves, are
not desirably located for school purposes,
because both buildings and grounds
should be under the control of the Board Of
Education and the teachers. Experience
of the past two years prove this. Hence,
we are of the opinion that the next most
pressing public need is an adequate school
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rounded by ample grounds, and be at once
complete in all its appointments and
monument to the educational spirit of
Woodbury.
The first step to secure such is to procure
site, and several have been suggested to
the Board. Among the ideas advanced for
new building are the purchase of addi-
tional space and the erection of an addi-
ton to the Academy; the purchase of the
lot at the North East corner of Curtis
avenue and Hendry's Court; the old L.
Brown & Co. lumber yard, and last, the
field known as the ''Manley" lot between
Broad and Jackson streets II there are
other desirable sites we have not heard Of
them.
1t is not unlikely that this subject will
ere long be presented to the citizens fol
public expression, and they will be pre-
pared to meet it intelligently, and settle il
right only through discussion. We hope
the taxpayers will both write and talk on
the next great public need, NEW SCHOOL
HOUSE.