The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-03-22

uutS uOJ contemplate lnc use OF Walls
and foundation as they still stand. II
the $4,000 bonds asked for by the
board of education are to be carried
at the coming election, the public
must first have assurance that these
walls and the foundation will be used
as they stand. Men in a position to
know, claim that the walls and founda-
ton can be used without first being
torn down. AS yet no definite action
has been taken by the board of educa-
ton as to the plans of the new build
ing which must be erected 1t was in
formally suggested, however, at the
meeting held after the fire, that a
smaller and differently planned struc-
ture, for the use of high school stu.
dents alone, would be more practical
just as it stood 1t was stated that
the interior arrangement of the old
building had been demonstrated to be
unsatisfactory in several respects and
that it is more satisfactory to have
the high school in building by itself
The plan, as then informally outlined
was to add to other buildings in the
city the rooms that would be required
to take acre of grades lower than the
high school which formerly occupied
rooms in that building.
1t (may be- pointed out in opposi-
ton to this theory, however, that the
walls and foundation as they stand
today are worth If the building is re-
placed with the same foundation and
walls. at least $4,000.
1t is urged further that to tear down
the walls will not only cost their value
as they now stand but will make ad-
ditional expense, since the pressed
brick would have to be carefully han
died and cleaned
There are several fundamental rea-
sons why the high school should be
rebuilt so as to use the walls and
foundation as they stand. In the first
place, the former high school struc-
ture in point of architecture was as
pretty shaped building as there was
in the state. 1t was well built and the
stone foundation is said to have cost
$1,000 or $4,000. Two of the walls
that are standing are in almost per-
feet condition, the pressed brick work
being of a superior quality.
1t would seem that If the property
belonged to a private individual and
these children were his wards and
these taxes his to pay, there would be
little question but that he would re-
build the high school exactly as it was
before, unless experience has shown
that interior arrangements are wrong,
in which case changes can be made
without changing the outside walls.
No doubt the new building should
have steam heat instead of the Smead
system and as the sewer system will
boon be near enough to this building
to connect with, there will be no ne
cessity of rebuilding the dry closet
system. This will give considerable
additional room in the basement which
can be used for manual training OF
for any other purpose that it would
be suitable for.
1t would be a very serious matter at
this time to have the school bonds
defeated as there is barely enough
time to complete the building for next
fall, but from public opinion expressed
about the city it seems doubtful if the
bonds carry unless the old walls and
foundation are to be used as they
stand.
1t is stated that to replace the build.
ing as it stood would cost $4,000
There is $4,000 insurance, the bonds
will mean $4,000 and the salvage in
the walls and foundation, If used as
now standing, will amount, it is
claimed, to $4,000. This would make
total Of $4,000. The loss on furni-
| IulS, DoOhS, SlC., dluOuHIcu W @o,uUU
To replace the building and the equip.
ment would therefore mean practical
ly all of these available funds of $49,.
900.
1t is safe to say that Norfolk will
much prefer to have the old walls and
foundation used as they stand, and to
have building similar to that which
burned instead of smaller and less
beautiful structure.
And there is one new feature which
ought to be considered. A bill has
been introduced in the legislature by
Senator Randall providing for a
county high school in each county. and
requiring a school district to contribute
toward its support in accordance with
the number of pupils sent to it from
that precinct. The Norfolk high