Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-07-27
NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
Will Be Built on Site Donated by Mrs. Miller
An Interesting Meeting.

WIZ ~ odit vi DIG OOudttu ny I'hSs FtiiSt-
An Interesting Meeting.
Monday evening at the Superior
Court room meeting of number Of
our citizens was held pursuant to the
request of the School Board OF District
No. l. Byron Millett was chosen as
chairman and Fred Schomber was
elected Secretary OF the NEE ting.
The chairman remarked it is to be
regretted there were so few OF our
citizens in attendance upon an occa.
sion fraught with SO much interest to
our community, but he expected the
audience to make up In quality what
it lacked in quantity, Tor all is well
that ends well.
At the request OF the chairman Mr..
SchOmber stated the object for which
the meeting was called, who said it
was generally understood the School
Board had been offered as free gift
magnificent site for high school
structure by Mrs. Mary NJ. Miller, in
the southern part of the city known as
block Sc IN Sylvester plat, provided
the district erected a permanent struc-
ture of stone or brick on this site, or
At least partly of such material; that
the district was only expected in the
first instance to use the ten mill levy
voted on and the proceeds of the sales
Of the lots on Union street, all of
which will amount to about $4,000,
the estimated cost being 5000 that
there were other funds available with
in the | per cent. limit, which the
board might use for this purpose,
making the total of $37 900, which
may be used in case of an emergency,
and the meeting was called for the
purpose of getting an expression from
our citizens as to whether the board
will be justified in making this addi-
tional expenditure OF $4,000.
Mr.. G. H. Springer moved that it is
the sense OF the meeting this extra
indebtedness be incurred and the
structure be built of stone in order to
secure this munificent donation from
Mrs. Miller. This motion was second
ed by DR.. J. w. NOVEL;. Rev. X. NJ.
Hayes spoke for few minutes saying
he did not attend the meeting expect.
ing to take an active part in it's pro.
ceeding, as he had incurred consider
able adverse criticism regarding the
position he had assumed at the late
school election with respect to the
construction of high school building,
in order to advance the best interests
of our community; he believed the
board should 60 ahead aud secure the
site offered by Mrs. Miller.
Mr.. Springer said he considered it
advisable to erect a stone structure,
especially in view of the site rendered
the district which is easily worth
$1,000; he thought there will be no
graft or charges for extras to amount
to anything above the contract price
$35 900, as the school district officers
had the matter we'll in hand, would
do their best TO avoid all needless
expenditures.
Mr.. c. B. Mann made a forcible
plea against the proposition and said
he was in favor of economy in matters
of public concern; our community
had suffered much from the burdens OF
taxation from which We are now slowly
recovering, and he was not anxious
to see the good work 60 ahead till we
got out OF debt. We have two brick
school buildings which are none too
safe in the event of a severe earth.
quake shock; that there is no par.
ticular advantage in having a brick
or stone structure in this country, over
frame one; one will last about as
long az the other. He said further
that il he we're a member of a school
board, he would not employ a physi.
cally deformed teacher any sooner
than he would consent to engage one
mentally deficient; that children are
very susceptible and initiative. If the
new structure were erected on the site
proposed, it will be in close proximity
with the hospital grounds where the
school children will see continually
sick and crippled persons, which will
afford unpleasant reflections for young
minds to absorb; school grounds should
be attractive and the surroundings
healthful; the o. C. I. building can be
procured for reasonable sum, it being
all fitted for the purposes of q high
school; the location was attractive and
inspiring, overlooking the bay; is Just
as near the central part of the CITY as
the site offered by Mrs. Miller. When
the new building shall have been
completed. it will take an additional
expenditure OF about $1,000 to furnish
the school building. which under the
contract would not be completed till
next Spring, while if the o. c. I.
building was purchased it might be
used for school purposes this fall.
Mr.. Schomber replied that he did
not think the present school buildings
are dangerous to the lives and limbs
of the school children and teachers.
They are carefully inspected twice a
year, and everything done by the
board to insure the safety and well
fare Of the children. That before the
present proposition of a high school
building was considered, the board
tried to deal with the parties owning
the o. c. l. buildings but was unable
to get definite proposition; that
there is nearly en- rough furniture on
hand slowed away in the school build
ings to equip the new structure, and
Mr.. Mann is mistaken in claiming
that largo expenditure will become
necessary in that behalf.
Messrs. P. M. Troy, L. B. Faulkner
and others spoke in favor of the mo-
ton, which was practically adopted by
a unanimous vote, and then the meet.
ing adjourned.
Messrs. Schomber and Lemon, two
members of the board, were present,
and the other member, McClarty, was
absent.
AS now understood the board will
60 ahead and let the contract for the
erection of the structure on the Miller
block. which will be pushed towards
ia