The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-07
TO ISSUE SCHOOL BONDS

The Board of Education of this c;, !
at Its meeting on Tuesday evening r,,
in form its project for bond Ella.
ton, The purpose is to issue ss5o
600 for purchasing sites and cor.
structing new schoolhouses. This :.
matter that must be submitted 70 IN.
property taxpayers in this city who az.
otherwise qualified to vote. The dav
for this voting is fixed on April 2Otb
and there will be FIVE polling places
one IN each ward-not "preclnct. as
the board S resolution puts il.
The time given for the considerat;or
of this matter is rather short. Th;.|
is especially so in view of tine iset
that the Board has made no de6nit<
statement to the public showing tba|
need Of new school buildings. nor wher>|
they are required. To be sure. the|
superintendent Of Schools wrote II
vague sort Of n letter 10 the Boar5|
some time ago, in which there weyd|
suggestions on this point, some o1|
which can hardly be taken verdi
seriously, as the one that n new school
building down near the Grant school
in the southwestern part Of the city|
would relieve the pressure on thd|
Hamilton school. in the southeastern
part of the city
The Board should issue an addrcss|
to the public, showing the pressure of
school attendance, indicating where III
needs relief, and pointing out how Ill
intends to provide that relief Thid|
statement should show the number oil
legal pupils unprovided for, and whal|
is needed for their school care.
1t might be, in spite of the increased
taxes voted by the late LegislaturA|
and the heavy rates the taxpayers ard
compelled 30 meet, that these would
vote the bonds if the proper show'|
ing was made of the necessity for|
the schools. But that this necessity|
should be shown, there is not the|
least doubt; and it should he shown|
that the need is indeed urgent. 0thor|
wise the taxpayers may not see their|
way clear to vote the bonds.
We think, also, that the Board would
strengthen its case with the practical
men who will have the deciding OF thie|
issue, whether the bonds are to bel
voted or not, if it would assure the|
public that competent persons-namnk
them, If possible-would have the|
passing upon the plans and speciht|
cations for the proposed new strue1|
tures. We suggest this for the rcasou
that the Board does not seem able tr|
self. nor 10 have in its employ per-
sons capable, TO pass upon the planf
and specifications of school build
ing; and because ii appears 10 be unf
able TO pass fairly upon bids that con'
tractors submit We dcduce these
conclusions from the work Of the
Board in its planning and letting the
contract for the new school buildine
in the northwestern part of the city.
the walls of which, as approved, wero
too thin to be safe or to meet the re'
quiremcnts of the city ordinance, ana
luc CpHiid't lpl lut 'ouSlih''''"
which was let at figure $4,000 aoove
the lowest responsible bid.
The sites for the new buildinT
should be determined by the showinR
above suggested. Of pressure of az
tendance of pupils, The size OF tne
buildings should be determined by tn
probable attendance, present and IN
reasonable future, and their actu"s
building should be in eompetep
hands, from the passing on the pam
and specifications TO the finished stru4
turc 1t is necessary 10 reassure 'm
public on these points, for, even thoue1
the new school buildings be needed y"
public may prefer to wait mon
favorable opportunity rather tna
have their money misapplied, wronk
fully given to favorites, or waste
by want of skill or care. III
If the public can be properly co~
vincod on the points that are eesem
tial, the bonds should be voted; any
we trust that the Board viii be ap3
to make such a showing as VIZ
convince all that The proposed buiV
ing programme is necessary; that
is well planned, and that due iaIf
ness and skill will be exercised IN w
details and the letting of the COY Il
struction contracts. With this don9
we believe that the good people I"
Salt Lake Will heartily support wns.
ever is found needful for lher pupi''ts|
schools. E