The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-06
BARNETT PLEADS FOR
SCHOOLS AND PLAY GROUNDS


keeping the tax rate at a reasonable
| ngur.. BY this i mean that. taking
into consideration all the requests be-
are most necessary TO the city ut the
present time, and which OF these can
be most reasonably granted from the
resources In sight. The problem Is all
pie to increase the bond limit while
they had an opportunity to do so.
thereby postponing the building or
| schools and the construction OF sewers
and hospitals and other permanent
public improvements.
| 1 believe that there Is a pressing
need Tor more schools, especially IN I'm, tne
| i understand that there are halliday
sessions In 81 rooms, and that many
| or these rooms are In the districts
OF the utmost importance TO the chill
dren. since for many OF them IL Is
| their only preparation for the battle
OF life. These children should be given
schooling which they need. and should
not be forced to put UP with crowded
conditions and the loss OF the teach
er's attention which a halliday session
makes necessary. Many OF these chill
| dren have to stop attending school at
the age OF IS and II TO go to work
to help support themselves and their
younger brothers and sisters, who In
their turn must receive some little
education before beginning to work.
and 4 Is the duty q the city to see see
best schooling IT is in the. city's power
| to provide.
| In the matter of high schools, the
| records OF this board show that in the
past IL has been generous In this re-
spect. 1t has allowed large addition
to the Central high school, an add
tion to the Eastern high school. large
Gently very important feature In the
building OF the Cass high school. =
wish that II were in the power OF this
crease the high school facilities OF
| Detroit. and 20 build every school,
| high or common. that has been asked
the budget 81 the s Saa9S attention
| TO the condition OF the surroundings
of the Washington normal school The
district In which this school Is located
| IL a disgrace to Detroit. II is occu-
pied by novels of the lowest possible
character. and the entire district is
rendered unsishtly and .upclean. To
ers In the public schools, to come to
| such a district day after day, TO en-
dure sights which they are forced to
see, Ard to come In contact Win , s1 zen
| building Is something which the pride
of the city OF Detroit should no longer
endure. The city should do one OF two
/ things, either IL should appropriate the
$50. 900 the school board has asked. and
should buy the property adjoining the
school and remove the unsightly build
ings. or IL should abandon the school
and seek quarters in some more pleas
ant and commodious section OF the city.
PlayEro6nds Important.
One of the most Important ques-
lions In connection with the public
not think that school site should be
| purchased unless IL contains n plot OF
| land at least 100 feet on each side
Which can be USED by ths as OF
playground. This will take care OF
future schools. But there are now sew
eral districts OF the city where schools
| already exist. but where there Is no
trace of Fairgrounds. Recently the
mayor appointed committee of 40
merpbers. representing the. Board OF
cHaritSes, the Federation OF Women's
| Societies and the city AT large, TO take
up the playground problem This com
mittee Is asking $4,000 Tor a play
| Bishop school. which is situated In
the most congested district I'm the city
Land Ia very valuable In that crowded
the school board. when IL bought the
property for the addition to the Bishop
school, found that II did not have
ground. Hence the 100 children who
| attend that school hnd that they have
Sass to ss1 ss ths str plsg
down while playing IL. the street, be-
1 fore he had time to get out OF the
| way. .Phis Is a condition that must be
remedied and l would advise that the
! $4,000 for which the committee is ask
ing be granted.
Police Commissioners, Crours work In
the past two Yeats has been Of such a
notice It's good results; He has estab-
lished a flying squadron which has
been found very efficient; He has put
OF the city TO regulate traffic. And he
has done this With d very slight In
crease In the number OF men under
his orders This has made an increase
tricts The commissioners IL asking for
more patrolmen for duty in the outly-
ing sections The board OF estimates
feels that the size OF the budget viii
| IL q a. Important Tor the welfare of
ps F sass 10 sg Ssvs ss shem nsr S.
/ policed. The public lighting commits
tsioh has asked this year for moro
lights. in the downtown district es-
pecially on Woodward and Michigan
4 sves Detroit's immense growth Is
gradually pushing the high-class bust
ness district out along these avenues.
| them better than they have been light
J ed in the past. 81
/ Health Budget Reasonable.
| The requests OF 1.-The ihealth depart
! ment and the poor commission are. In
the main. very reasonable. These are
two of the most important depart
ments In the city. The poor commits
sion has always kept its estimates
! within the bounds OF reason: it's ex-
| penditures are for the purpose OF re-
! 1ieviDg suffering among the poor. and
it's work II very worthy. The health
| departments activities have increased
\ greatly within the past few years both
| on account of the growth Of the city
| and becsuse or the new duties which
lhave cc.ne under It's charge.
i have always been In favor OF bet
| ter hospital facilities. ~ The health
| board In doing an important hospital
work that no other hospital In the
| city can, Ind means OF doing. i would
4 therefore. recommend that DIR. Kiefer
be given the encouragefnent I'm this line
' TO which he In entitled.
4 The question OF sewers IL connect ed
| With the question OF bond issues. II
4 has been the practice OF this board IN
the past 10 regard sewers az perman-
ent public improvements. 60 be pro-
vfdcd for nv bond issues which would
stretch payment for the sewers over
a considerable period. This has beer
found TO be a wise custom for 10 has
relieved the annual budget OF con.
siderable burden anc lsept the tax rate
fairly statfonary
II lust now, a problem whether Oh.
'tnift TIE matter n up TO the legis.
lat IRE " the Legislature refuses per.