The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1908-12-23
Bemidji Citizens, at Public Meeting,
Unanimously in Favor Of Pushing
Bemidji's Claims.
PROPOSITION FOR BONDING
SCHOOL DISTRICT DISCUSSED
Motion Adopted Fayoring the Issuing
of Bonds to Be Voted on
This Evening.

At well-attended meeting of the
citizens of Bemidji held at the City
Hall last evening, the proposition of
securing the proposed sixth normal
school for Beminji and outlining the
plan of the furthering the PROPOSE
ton was discussed at considerable
length, and action taken looking to
the pushing of the claims ofsBemidji
as the most desirable site for
school to be located in northern
Minnesota. -.
Before the meeting adjourned,
there was discussion on the merits
of the proposition which will be
voted upon this evening, the bond
ing of the school district in the sum
of $4,000 for the erection of high
school building on the site which
was recently secured by the board
and which was authorized by vote.
E. S. Lycan, president of the
commercial club, presided and
stated the object of the meeting
to be the furthering of Bemidji's
interests in the contest for the
normal school and a discussion of
the best methods to be pursued.
-A.-P. Ritchie, superintendent of
Bemidji schools, and who is secre-'
tary of the Bemidji normal committee
was called on for statement of the
conditions relative to another nor
NAL school.
Prof. Ritchie fully demonstrated
the need of another school and gave
some very interesting information
concerning the present schools, their
overcrowded condition, and the
desirability of securing more teachers
who have graduated from normal
schools, and which can only be done
by having more normal schools.
Prof. Ritchie demonstrated in a
few words the desirability of Bemidji
as better point for the location of
the school than any of the towns
that have entered as contestants for
the normal, and also suggested
some plans which he thought ought
te be pursued.
w. B. Stewart, superintendent of
Beltrami county schools, also a
member of the normal committee,
gave some remarks along the same
line as Prof. Ritchie. Mr.. Stewart
told of the work which was done
two years ago in the legislature.
Several other parties made timely
remarks and it, was the unanimous
sentiment of~the meeting that Be-
midi should put forth every effort
to secure the school.
The chair was authorized to ap-
point four additional members to
act with the present normal COM
mittee of five, making nine in numbers
and this committee was authorized
to draft bill and to lobby for the
passage of the same in conjunction
with Representative ]. ]. Opsahl
who is already member of the
committee.
The meeting was a very harmoni-
Gus and enthusiastic one, and the
sentiment was general that every aid
should be given to the committee in
working for Bemidji as the point for
the proposed normal school.
When the normal matter had been
disposed of, it was proposed that the
merits of the proposition submitted
to the voters of the Independent
School District of Bemidji-the vot-
ing of bonds for the erection of a
new high school building should be
taken up and thoroughly discussed
in order that full information could
be possessed by every voter before
voting on the proposition this even
ing.
Several members Of the school
board were present and the propo-
sition was gone into very thoroughly.
G. N. Torrance, secretary Of the
school board, addressed the meeting