The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-04
MORE BUILDINGS NEEDED
Present Room Inadequate to Meet De-
mands-New Site Bought on
North Side.

"ASA oPPOu 'CulS year 10 ldll Oh
April 2, the electors of district No. 2
Will be asked to voice their wishes
and desires as regards an increase in
the school facilities of the district.
Wednesday evening the trustees
held a meeting and it was decided
to submit the proposition of an addi-
tlonal bond issue of $4,000, the
money, should the bonds carry, to be
used in the purchase of sites and the
erection of buildings.
1t was not until after much debate
and discussion tha. !, was finally de-
cided to allow the matter to go to a
vote. Some of the trustees were of
the opinion that the majority Of the
people were against an increase in
the districts indebtedness and would
vote against the proposed issue. 9th
ers inclined to the opposite belief,
while all acknowledged the absolute
necessity for more school buildings.
Room Needed Right Now.
Right at the present time, the trus-
tees say, there is need for at least
three more rooms than are available.
By next fall the need will have in.
creased to the extent Of another five
rooms, accepting past increases in the
school population of the district as
likely to continue at the same ratio
for the present year. The increase
in the past has been at the rate of
from 10 to IA per cent, the average
being IL per cent. In some years it
has run as high as Is and 16 per cent.
AS the board sees no reason for
believing that the future will show a
decrease, rather than an increase, it
believes itself to be confronted by one
Of two alternatives-to provide more
room or shut out some of the chill
dren. 1t cannot bring itself to think
of the latter, and in this position is
satisfied that it has the support of
the people, consequently it feels com
PEELED to accept the other and endeav-
or to furnish the additional room re-
quired.
In a recent issue The Gazette pub
lished a summary of the enrolment
of the district and assignment of
pupils to each room. 1t will be re-
called that in some rooms the mum
Der was as high as 81. This, educators
say, is too large, and in this opinion
many parents join. To remedy the
existing condition and make provision
for the future is the wish of the trus-
tees and they have concluded to go
before the people and ask their de-
cisiOn.
New Site Bought.
Anticipatory of the future, the board
bought a parcel of land in the north
western part of the city, concluding
purchase of block 20 in Fosters addi-
ton to Billings. The block is a full
one, bounded by Eighth and Ninth
second streets. 1t was bought from
the North Town Land company for
50, 500.
The trustees are also considering
the advisability of buying another
piece of land in the eastern end of
the north side, on which to place a
building as soon as possible. If built,
the latter will be a small one, of about
four rooms, as a structure of that
size, the board thinks, will be ample
for present needs and those of the i'm
mediate future. Should the call arise
for more room the building could be
enlarged.
Consideration is also giving to the
feasibility of buying another parcel of
land in the south side, toward the
western end. This is with a view to
accommodating the growing demand
for more room on that side of the
track. The west end is favored be-
cause of the fact that the city's growth
seemingly has set in permanently in
that direction.
Judges Appointed.
Arrangements we're made for hold
ing the election, at which two trus-
tees are to be elected, to fill vacancies
that will arise because of expirations
of terms. HI. G. Williams, Austin
North and ]. D. Matheson were named
as judges.
The election will be held on the
north side, in the new building.
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