Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-05-05
STATEMENT TO VOTERS.

We. the trustees of LaCreole Acad-
emic Institute, desire to make state
ment of facts in which we believe the
public will, at this time, be very much
interested.
LaCreole Academic Institute is one
OF the older educational Institutions of
the State of oregon, having been char
tered by the territorial government
more than half century ago. 1t has
grown up with our city, and in it's
maintenance and prosperity our citi-
zens have taken peculiar delight. Many
of our people have received instruc-
ton in the old Academy and would be
10th to see its work discontinued or
even hampered.
But the time has come when, in the
presence of public high schools in our
state, it would be impracticable If not
impossible to maintain the Academy
in our community except as a prepara-
tory school in connection with some
higher institution of learning. Such
an institution we now have in Dallas
College, with whose authorities we,
eleven years ago, entered into an
agreement, whereby we gave them the
use of our equipment and the income
from our endowment on condition
that they maintain the academic
course. This agreement has been sat
isfactorily kept.
The College has now begun to work
out her plans for enlargement, which
will be impossible on the limited
grounds now occupied by that institu-
ton. For this reason we desire to sell
our present property, continue our
agreement with the College, and thus
continue the existence and work OF
the Academy This proposition has
raised some questions with reference
to which we wish to be frank with the
people of this community, of whose
interests I'm the Academy we are now
the conservators.
The IaCreole Academic Institute
will continue to maintain its own in
dependent organization; and all its
funds and properties will continue to
be held, controlled. and dlsbursed by
its own separate undenominational
board of trustees. This sale of prop
erty will In nowise change our present
relation either TO the holdings of the
Academy or to Dallas College. The
moneys secured from the sale OF the
property would become a permanent
endowment for the maintenance OF
IaCreole Academic Institute. Our on
IL purpose I'm the change is to CO.
operate with Dallas College and thus
secure more effectual work as well as
the assured permanenee of the Aoad-
emy. II we cannot by means of this
sale cooperate with the College. their
present plans for enlargement will be
defeated and their ultimate removal
from our city will become a proba-
bIity. ~ not certainty. In this
event we would be called upon TO
maintain the Academy against almost
impossible odds. or permit the bene-
factions OF three OF our noble pioneers,
together with the work Of decades, to
be lost In the closing Of this historic
institution.
BY order OF the Trustees OF Ia
Creole Academic Institute.
DAN p. STOUFFER, Secretary.
II will be noted that the foregoing
statement OF the academy trustees
confirms the statement recently made
by the Observer that the funds aris-
ing from a sale OF the academy build
ing and grounds would be held by the
trustees of that institution as an ad-
dition TO the academy endowment
fund. and that only the interest aris-
Ing from such fund would be turned
over 10 the college authorities to as
sist In the perpetuation OF the acad-
emic course OF study. The academy
trustees see no way OF perpetuating
tho academy without the cooperation
of the college. and the college regents
find their Institution badly handicap
ped. not only by lack Of funds with
which 20 employ needed instructors.
but By insufficient ground upon which
to erect additional buildings. The
authorities OF the two Institutions sec
IN the proposed plan the only possible
means Of preserving and Increasing
the urefuiucss OF the two schools
The trustees of the two schools de-
Sire 10 take the people Of Dallas into
their confidence 70 the fullest extent
IN the propoard plans for enlarge
nent % that each voter may Be able
% cast his ballot inteiliEgntly a. the
arhoci district election % b. held on
nav %. The college management IL
nov preparing ~ statement 81 the
situation. and this statement the OBJ
server hopes 70 present 10 ~ readers
IN next Tuesdays paper.