The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-03
The HIGH SCHOOL.
Shall it Be Centrally Located, where il
Would be Accessible to the Majority ?

Editor Press and Banner:
The Legislature having passed an act au-
thoriz ng the city of Abbevlle 10 issue twen-
ty thousand dollars of bonds for the purpose
OF establishing q High School in this place,
the question as to whether we are TO have
such a school is practically settled. The next
most important matter TO DE settled Is the It
cation OF the school building.
In determining this question there are sew
eral matters which should be taken into con-
sideratiOn.
In my opinion this building should be To-
Gated when IL would be accessible TO the great.
est mum ber of those who would likely attend
II with the least inconVenlence-n other
words, in The most populous section OF the
city. w
Then, as the amount of money that will be
available for the purpose OF erectlhg the
school building will be such as should provlds :
structure that would be an ornament TO the
city, 1t should, undoubtedly, be located on h
commanding site, where IT could be seen oy
persons visiting the city, and not stuck away
IN an out-o!-the-way place, as Is being adVo.
Gated by some OF our people, where not Que OF
thousand persons who might come TO our
city would even see 1t, or know OF lis ex-
istence.
The two sites most prominently 10 entiOned,
when the matter of the location OF The build
ing Is being discussed. are the old base-oa !
grounds on Magazine Hi!i and the lot owned
by Miss Dick, on upper Main Street.
In comparing these two sites In respect to
thelr accessibility by the greatest number OF
pupils who would likely attend the scnoo,.
lot.
By drawing line from the Seaboard Depot
through the Public Square to the Southern
Depot, 1t will be found hat there are. at least,
ten times as many white families living
north west of that line, or on that side Oh
which the Dick lot Is situated. as there are on
the other side-the side Oh which Is aituated
the baseball lot.
Besides, in order TO reach the school, II 10
Gated on the Dick lot, II would not be neces-
sary for the great majority OF those attend
Ing the school, TO pass through street, the
residents along which being largely COM
posed of colored persons, as would be the
case, should the school be located on the
other lot.
Then again, as has already been intimated,
the building should occup a conspicuous
site, where II could be seen, and In TINS re-
spect there can be no comparison between the
two lots.
The Dick lot occupies quite an elevated
plateau, atfOrding a com manding view OF the
Surrounding country for miles around In
every direction, which OF itself could not fail
OF having mosI wholesome and eievating
effect upon The mind of the pupils in attend
ance upon the school, whereas the other place
is totally devoid of all OF these advantages.
Now IN conclusion, Mr.. Editor, permit me
to say that, /! the matter of the selection OF
the size for The schoo building is to be lett 10 a
com mtiee of our cit Zens, then by all means
let there be DO one on that committee rho
has. or may be interested inl lands adjacent
to the competitive sites.
Anti.Combine.