Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-07

These little things are educational,
factors of vast Importance. They FASH !;
ion character.
And the good work once begun goes |
on. We were shown school buildings |
that have been erected these last few
years in rural townships, substantially |
built, in pleasing architectural design, !
furnished with every appliance that
can promote the comfort or safeguard
the health of the children, equipped
with every needed educational appar-
atus, presided over by competent in
structors, planted in spacious cam
pus," with ample Fairgrounds and
plenty of shade, we'll kept lawns and
flower gardens, where in such pleas
ant surroundings the farmers boys and
girls may qualify themselves for the
duties of American citizenship, or if
they so desire, to enter the state uni
versity where learning spreads out be-
fore them. all her choicest treasures.
We were shown the covered wagons
in which the children are conveyed to
and from school safe from sun, rain
or cold. Thus in the shelter of their
own homes. and amid the beauty, the
joy, the purity of country life is
solved the problem of rural education.
This is no fancy sketch. 1t was all
revealed direct to our eyes by the
faithful camera.
There remains the everlasting ques-
ton of the dollar Our lecturer did
not assume, as some do while speaking
on this subject. that such schools can
be established and maintained at
about the same expense as the present
inferior or worthless ones. But he did
say, in substance, that the farmers of
Illinois produce every year an almost
fabulous amount of wealth. and if they
want such schools they can have them.
| The question of cost need never be
considered
The writer has done little figuring
I on his own account. He finds that
an advance of one dollar an acre in
the selling value of the land in a town.
ship will build and equip the school,
and leave a broad margin for emer
gencies; that an advance of S. per
acre in the price will furnish a sinking
fund whose interest at per cent will
livery nearly cover the running ex-
tpenses That such an advance will
come when once the school is estab-
lished is safe prediction.
We were shown two school rooms
Equipped with a heating and ventilat
ling device so simple, SO easy to install
that we must attempt description
1t can be placed in any room and used
with any old stove that has sufficient
|capacity to furnish the heat. The
heater is placed at one end or corner
of the room, and enclosed by a screen
lmade perhaps of zinc, and supported
by a frame of iron rods extending from
the floor at least feet high. The OBJ
lject is to prevent the radiation Of heat
ldirect from the heater to the extreme
discomfort of the children who are
II near it, An intake, or cold air duct
lis provided, pipe extending through
the wall from out of doors and nea!
the heater. 1t should have a revolv
ling slide in the cover, to control the
Inflow. The ventilating pipe stands
NEAR the center or towards the oppo
lsite end of the room. 1t may be made
of stove pipe or. built by the tinsmitf
and should start about one foot from
the floor, and be carried into the chin
Iney which will furnish the draft The
horizontal portion of this pipe should
have an upward slant, and common
[stovepipe damper may be placed in it
The cold air entering through the in
take is quickly heated, and rises ant
loverflows the screen and out into thu
room. The impure air is heavier an,
Icolder and falls to the floor and il
drawn out through the ventilator int,
the chimney. Thus constant circula
I ton, pure air, and uniform heat ar
obtained. Mr. Kern affirmed from pei
sonal inspection with a thermomete
, that this system gives perfectly salts
factory results. School boards shoul
lconsider this simple arrangement, TO
IweH ventilated school rooms in tn
country are practically unknown.
JOHN G. OSBORN.