Williams news., 1906-01-27
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
Letters Received in Opposition to
 Proposed Annex

discussion of the proposed plan to build an addition to the local pub lie school. Below we give one letter on the subject and next week there will probably be others: To the Editor of the WILLIAMS
 NEWS and all Taxpayers Who
 Have an Interest in the Public
 Schools:
 The issue of your paper of Jan. 20, 1906, contains letter from Jacob Salzman, clerk of the school board, advocating the erection of an addition to the present school building, and asking those who do not think as he does in the matter to come out and declare themselves. i He also says that if a majority of the board is willing that he will call an election to determine wheth- CT the taxpayers are in favor of the measure or not.
 As one of the taxpayers I wish to state that am opposed to the erec- tion of an addition to the present building at this time.
 I wish to say further that will always be opposed to the building of an addition on the east side of the present structure; to do so would spoil the contour of the present building and make it look lop- sided, as it would put the greater portion of the building on one side of the lot and make it look out of proportion.
 AS it is now we have one of the incest public school buildings in the territory, and if an addition is to be built, my opinion is that it should be placed to the rear of the present building, and not allow it to spoil our present structure.
 Another reason, in my opinion, is that they have no more use for the addition at this time than they have for a "white elephant" as there are not enough children at- tending school at this time to half fill the rooms they have, and Ido not feel that it is incumbent on the school board to build place to put a private gymnasium.
 It is quite true that the district has large surplus at the present time. How many of the taxpayers know where this surplus comes from? Not all of them I am sure.
 It was gained largely from the taxing of the government lands which were turned back to the gov ernment on the establishing of the forest reserve. These lands have now all been turned back (with a few minor exceptions), and the county will never derive another cent from them. Is it good policy just because there does happen to be surplus to spend it for some thing which the district does not need at the present time, when in two or three years we will need a portion of this surplus to keep the district on a cash basis for the run ming expenses? do not think so
 Every one knows that it is almost an utter impossibility to erect building for the estimated cost, and if they now estimate the cost of the addition at $7,5OO, how much of the $1O,OOO will be left by the time the building is completed and fur nished?
 Then where will be the surplus to carry on the school if the taxes are not sufficient to give us the re- quired money?
 How many of the teachers want to have to cash their salary war rants at discount?
 Last year when this same ques- tion was agitated some of those in favor of the measure made the statement that if the surplus was not used that it would revert to the county and be reapportioned be- tween the different districts. Such is not the case; the money belongs