The Arizona sentinel., 1905-03-22
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Yuma and Her Public Schools.

HIsEsA ana s1CI EtaDsfC SCHOOLS.
 Yuma is now on the verge of a healthy commercial boom-soIid and substan. ial. sure and certain. grand and permanent. During the past year more than $75, ,O00 worth of buildings have been constructed, and cur great dam and canal, an absolute certainty, will pour three or four million dollars into the avenues of Yuma's prosperity. During the next three years the vol ume of Yuna's business and her popu- latiOn will be increased in three-fold proportion.
 Go with me and let us ascend the dizzy heights of one of those lofty peaks south of the Southern Pacific round house, and from that natural ob- servatOry survey one of the most beau- tiful, pleasing, picturesque and en- chanting landscapes that God has etched upon Mother Elrth's canvas. The varied outline of this scene is truly inspiring. Mountain ranges and peaks rise far above the comrhOfi undulatfng ihesas and valleys, and their blue cut lines, grand and gorgeous, solitary and stupendous, glitter in the sunny: fars off and shadowy distance. The beauti= ful chocolate Colorado, puiling fts winding way among hills; peaks and mountains; on down past our little disy that bathes her feet in in it's murky gnd rollicking tide, while the stream, d. most conscious. fingers as 1t were, lis tening to the music of saw and hammer, the busy whirl and hum of factory, the whistles of steamers, engines and ratl- way locomotives, then hastening on it's lonely way pours it's rushing and silica mixed waters into the Gulf of Lower California-thence into "Old Ocean's'' seething and sounding vortet. Lovely, joyous, entrancing, and beautiful scene to all who have soul within to compfe- bend it all!
 But something else besides beautiful scenery and glorious climate is essen tial to make Yuma the dearest place on earth, the home of ourselves and our loved ones.
 If you are & Methodist or Catholic your religious advantages are provided for and you are happy. If you are a member of the Episcopal, Presbyteriany Baptist or Christian church you have my sympathy. for yoh have no religious home, of yOnr own sacred faith, that you can call your own. What, then, are you going to about it?
 we are now in the seventh month of our public school session of eight or nine months. Several pupils will fin- ish the present course of study. consist ing of only eight grades. Yuma s edu- cational advantages must keep pace and expand along with her commercial growth and prosperity. Our put1ic school course, then, must be heightened so as to include the high school branch es. It will cost $l200 for the parents of the present eighth grade boys and girls to send their children away to school next year. We gre now begin ming work on our first annual com mencement exercises for fhe close of the present session. Class colors, safu- tatory, graduating themes and dresses valedictory, annual address, the pre- sentatiOn of diplomas, music, sorgS, commencement programmes and diplo- mas rolled in blue ribbons are making the Gelkin ring with the' joyous vol ,es of the ''sweet girl and noble boy gradu- ate.' At commencement exercises in Elks' hall our annual address man. will enlarge on the needs of your pub lie schools in the way of q high school course and equipments. Until com nkncement remember historic Rome, the "Imperial City of the Seven Hills. '' In her eagerness for military glory and to grasp both land and sea in her greedy hands she neglected the culture Of her youths at home, and now the last lingering ray of her by-goHe grandeur enables the travellers to wrile upon her moulderfng and crumbling pedestal, "Here was a republic. ;'
 W.