Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-23
Votes $4,000 For Ad-
dition to High School.
Decision Reached Monday Eve
Ming practically Unanimous.
Plans For Addition Provide For
All the Requirements.


minority reports Of the committee had
been submitted, and all who cared had
had the opportunity of expressing
themselves for or against the move
ment for raising a sufficient amount to
furnish the required addition to the
Cony High school building, it was vot-
ed to raise an amount of money not
exceeding $4,000 in order that the
work might be done, and further pro-
visions We're also made for carrying
on the work And it might be said
further that there was nothing unde-
cided about the vote. as it was carried
by the no means narrow margin OF
oOJ to 50. The vote on the remaining
sections of the question was unani-
nous.
The meeting was called to order at
about O'Clock by the moderator. Hon.
f. w Plaisted, and at his request
Chairman Brooks of the special com
mittee read the following report. ex-
planning that it was a majority re-
port, and that two members of the
committee, Hon. G. A. Mlliken and
w. G.. Boothby. had not signed it.
Augusta, Me, June %, 1908.
To the Citizens of Augusta
A majority of your committee, APP
pointed to procure and present def
mite plan which should provide ade-
uuate room and working facilities for
Cony High school, beg to report as
follows:
But three plans which seem worthy
of any consideration have been pre-
sented. The first plan contemplates an
abandonment of the present building
and building site, the removal of the
Cony High school to the west side OF
the river and the purchase of sulta-
BILE plot of ground for it's location. The
division of the school, providing in
struction for the two divisions on OPP
posite sides of the city, has found no
favor with those who are familiar
with matters of school administration,
and VINO have given the problem care
full thought. While such a plan can
be operated with fair success in larg-
er cities, it is entirely untitled for a
city of this size, as it cannot be oper-
atcd satisfactorily without an eXpen-
sive duplication of courses. Moreover,
it is directly opposed to the modern
educational tendency, which favors
complete unification of the High school
department, rather than the division of
it in any way.
If the entire High school should be
removed to the west side, you could,
by expanding sufficient amount of
money, provide an ideal building. But
the site proposed. namely, the two lots
wi m ,,1n n a
Grammar school, would furnish little
more than room for the building itself,
with practically no grounds surround
ing. At present. nearly 400 Primary
and Grammar school pupils assemble
there To collect at the same point no
less than 200 or 800 High school pupils,
with no play ground, would, in our
Judgment be unwise. The school would
be separated some distance from its
athletic field and we should be COM
PEELED to abandon the present building.
Furthermore, this plan is rendered
impossible by two very practical con-
sitierations. % 1t cannot be carried
out without exceeding the city debt
limit, as fixed by our State Constitu-
ton; FOR the purchase of a suitable site
and the erection of an entirely new
building would neceSSitate an eXpen-
diture of from 100000 upward. accord
ing to the elaborateness of the struc-
turc and the amount expended for
ground, removal of buildings, etc. ca
The city has already accepted the
present site and agreed to maintain
thereon free High school. To break
faith with court of equity and with
the trustees of the Cony High school,
who generously and unanimously con-
scented to the conveyance of this prop
erty. without expense, to the city,
would be TO compromise our honor as
city. and should not be thought of.
For these reasons, we do not recon-
mend the adoption of the plan just
outlined.
In the judgment of your committee,
whatever building is done should be
done On the lot now held in permanent
control by the city, and in such way
as to avoid sacrificing the building
now in use. A similar field. and one
equally desirable to the school, could
probably not be obtained elsewhere in
this city for less than from $4,000 to
s25. 600, and the building now stand
ing is no doubt worth at least $4,000.
making total value of some $4,000
to $4,000, which must be sacrificed if
the present site is abandoned.
The second plan considered is quite
the opposite of the first in two re-
spects, namely, the amount to be ex-
pended, and the facilities to be pro-
vitled. 1t would provide, by means of
an addition, for present necessities on
", leaving future similar additions to
be made when needed, and with such
architectural effect as it might be
possible to secure in this way. 1t has
been suggested that the Commercial
course be given in the afternoon, using
the same rooms as are occupied in the
by the Academic department.
While this might answer as tempo
rary expedient, it is not at all desir-
able as a permanent arrangement,
since the majority of the students who
take the commercial work will be en-
rolled in academic classes also. This
means that the school session will be.
for them, intolerably long: it also
means that pupils who come from a
distance must travel that distance
twice over or else bear additional eX-
pense.
The plan of attaching small tenn
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