The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-31

the fire marshal warns us against
when he insists on a new heating and
ventilating plant bel lg put in the
present high school building.
ECONOMICAL IN CONSTRUCTION.
That the board has built economical
Iy though substantially in the con-
struction of its school buildings is
shown in the buildings themselves. Not
a dollar has been uselessly spent or
wasted in single school building in
Topeka and this we feel sure is known
to every patron. A visit to any of cur
recent school buildings will show plain
substantial eXteriors without useless
Ornamentation or frilIS and simple and
chaste interiors treated with a view 10
cleanliness and sanitation. The ba3e-
ments will be found to be clean in
stead of places in which to breed dis
ease germs. and where closets have
been placed therein they will be found
to be perfectly ventilated and absolute
ly sanitary. Should any patron have
the least doubt on any of these points
let him visit the buildings and he will
learn these facts for HIMSELF If any
criticism can hold against the board at
all it will be found to rest in the fact
that the board has often been forced
to economic where it should not have
been SO compelled as for an instance
in the new Lafayette building where
in order to reduce the bid within the
bond limit it was forced to use pine
the buildings in order to economic
it used a cheaper grade of hard
ware than it ought as is shown by the
test of the same in actual use.
NO EXTRAVAGANCES.
There has been no extravaganza
anywhere in the construction of school
buildings. For example the new Sum-
ner building with II rooms above the
basement, and with completed base
ment, was erected. completed and
equipped with furniture, heating plant
and separate 1avatOrieS at a total cost
of less than $45,0 Buildings of the
same size in other cities similarly con-
structed and equipped cost from $4,000
to $60000 Comment has been made On
the contract price on the new Quincy
building in North Topeka which was
let at $44,1 ISL. This building is also
II room building, (the same size as the
Sumner). 1t is to be furnished and
equipped similar to the Sumner, bit
will cost when completed about $4,000
more than the Sumner. Why does it
cost more? Here is the reason:
First-Both labor and material are
much higher than when the Sumner
building was constructed.
Second-The Sumner is 13-inch wall
in superstructure, the new Quincy
is a 17-inch wall with a high stone
foundation with the first floor placed
above the high water mark of last
spring.
being made stronger and deeper thaa
the Sumner foundation-it is laid in
Portland cement and of necessity is
more expensive than the Sumner. The
building is to be strong, substantial
building without frills or useless orna-
mentation-one built to withstand
possible flood. With the old Quincy
building already condemned by the fire
marshal and with the experience of the
recent flood in mind it would certainly
haN haor J1nwiSa To build a less SUBJ
stantial structure that the board are
erecting. But even then this building
will cost less than similar or even less
substantial buildings in many cities
of the country.
INCREASE IN TAXES SLIGHT.
The total amount called for in the
bond proposition is Small-$7S, 500.
These bonds when issued can be f1oated
at Az per cent. interest which would
mean that the interest thereon would
amount to but little over SO, 500 per an
mum. On our present assessed valua-
ton this would mean but the small
increase of about three-tenths of one
mill on our present tax levy. That is
to say, a man whose assessed valuation
is 800 would have about cents add
tional to pay on his taxes: one whose
assessed valuation is $500 would have
his taxes increased Is cents; one whose
assessed valuation is 81, 900 would have
his taxes increased 30 cents; one whose
assessed valuation is $1,000 would have
his taxes increased 81 cents. one whose
assessed valuation is $4,000 would have
his taxes increased $1.20; and one whose
assessed valuation is $4,000 would have
his taxes increased by but $3.50. Any
one who knows his assessed valuation
can easily ascertain what his increased
taxes would be by counting 3 cents in
taxes for each 500 of his assessed val
uation. 1t will be seen from this
statement that the. increase in taxes is
so small that no one can think of it as
a burden when measured in contrast
with the pressing and immediate neces-
| sity OF our schools.
9 This statement is submitted to the
voters of the city by the undersigned
for the board OF education, who BY a
unanimous resolution directed it's prep
aration and publication.
| In conclusion, I should like to say
| that the largest single public enterprise