Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-03-26

lnsesvenents to Sehssl BsIl1iaSs.
The Howe building has been
equipped with new and modern
heating system. The fan system Of
ventilation has been installed. City
water has been brought to the build
ing. The old dry closet system which
was very unsanitary, has been taken
out and modern plumbing has been
added. The old Howe High school
assembly room has been divided up
into class rooms. The former recita-
tion rooms have been thrown together
in one grade room. The building has
been painted, the walls have been
kalsomined and put in sanitary con-
dition for the first time in many years.
The Lowell building has undergone
similar Improvements. A new heat
ing plant with the fan system of
ventilation has been installed. The
building has been provided with city
water and with modern plumbing.
The old assembly room of this build
ing, which was formerly the west side
high school, has been divided into two
grade rooms. The recitation rooms
have been united into another grade
room. A hall and stairway at the
rear of the building has been added.
Some new sidewalk has been built.
The building has been painted and
kalSomined throughout.
The Emerson building has been
painted and kalsomined. Modern
plumbing has been installed. The
building itself has been repaired. The
Emerson kindergarten building has
been repaired and painted. New
sidewalk has also been added at this
building.
The Irving school has also been
painted and kalSomined. The dry
closest system there had become a
menace to the health OF the children.
1t has been removed and city water
and plumbing have been provided this
year.
A sidewalk has been built leading
up to the Lincoln building, and part
of the interior of the building has been
kalsomined. The boilers in the Lin
coin building have been removed from
the basement of the building. A new
boiler house has been erected between
the Lincoln and Witter buildings.
An additional boiler has been added
and all the boilers have been put in
first class condition. We now have a
central heating plant for both build
ings. This will be much safer and
more economical
IL is necessary to make other minor
repairs on the different school build
ings each year, fof example, in order
to keep the school buildings in Sani-
tary conditions it is necessary that
the walls be kalSomined at frequent
intervals, possibly each summer.
The Howe and Podaville properties
have been bought ana added to the
grounds of the Irving school.
Grand Rapids now has modern
school buildings throughout, build
ingS in which the health of the chill
dren of this city is as safe as it can
be in any place where a large num-
Der of children work together. The
city of Grand Rapids has made wise
investment, While the physical is
not all there is to education, yet
health is OF first Importance. No one
will dispute that good ventilation,
proper heating, modern plumbing are
things to which every child of school
age in this city is entitled. This is
true not only for the sake of health
but in order that effective mental
work in school may be done. 1t is
not necessary to prove this, but In the
face of heavy expenditures for school
purposes we sometimes forget that in
the past five years this city has not
only paid the regular running eX-
penseS of the school, but 1T has spent
several thousand dollars for the re-
pairing and improvement of its
school buildings.
In the past five years this city has
spent about fifteen thousand dollars
for repairs of permanent nature, to
the various school buildings. In adj
dition to this the Howe and POda-
vile properties cost little over two
thousand dollars.
The city of Grand Rapids has not
felt able to provide the funds neces-
sary for these improvements as rap
idly as it was imperative that the i'm
provements be made. The result is
that the school district has been
obliged to pay interest on overdrafts.
The amount paid in interest on over
drafts in the past five years is S360S. Is.
The city of Grand Rapids has gener-
ously supported those who have had
charge Of the improvements. The re-
suit is that this work has been we'll
done, and has been done as cheaply as
is consistent with good work. These
are improvements which will last for
many years.
Growth Of Grand Rapids School System.
One Of the most STRIKING facts in the