Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-11-25
TALENT IMPROVEMENTS
WaterwOrks and Electric Street
Lights Being InstalIed-SchOOI
Building Fine.

which was erected in the summer
and fall of 1911, is a model of COM
pleteness for a town of its size. A
representative of the Tidings had the
pleasure to inspect it. throughout one
day last week, through the courtesy
of Professor F. C. Smith. The build
ing is of red pressed brick, hand
somely trimmed with white brick,
and will eventually have eight school
rooms. At present only four teach
ers are employed, the lower floor
only being finished off. There is a
convenient office for the principal
on the first floor and also a large
assembly room with a gallery, well
seated with opera chairs in the main
floor and with folding chairs in the
gallery. The seating capacity is
about $50 people and the room is
fitted with a small stage with dress
ing rooms on each side, so that the
school can use it for putting on en-
tertainments.
The school, by the way, is now
planning to put on a play for the
securing of funds for additional
equipment, etc., for the school.
The building is heated by steam
throughout and has it's own water
and sewer system, though it will be
probably connected with the city
water plant when the latter is com
| pleted. The building has the latest
and most sanitary toilets and sani-
tary drinking fountains. There is
good gymnasium, well equipped, with
shower bath and dressing rooms for
both boys and girls. There is also
play room for the Riddles" in ad-
dition to the regular gymnasium.
One feature rather uncommon, but
highly appreciated, is the lunch
rooms. There are two rooms in the
basement, one for the boys and one
for the girls, fitted with long tables
and seats for the benefit of those
who have to carry lunches.
There is not e school in the valley
better equipped for grade work than
Talent, and the special Communication
rate to Ashland with the excellent
motor service, permits the high
school pupils to attend the city
schools at a cost of only 81 per
week for transportation charges
They arrive in Ashland at 9:2O. and
leave for home at 4:25. Talent GER
tainly has every reason to be proud
of her schools.
But its schools is not the only de-
partment of Talent civic life which
is going forward. Some time ago
$4,000 in bonds was voted for a
municipal waterworks system A
we'll has been put down and cement
ed and the work of laying the mains
and putting up the standpipe is now
in progress. The city is buying the
material for the mains and the con-
tract for furnishing the labor and
tools for putting in the pipes has
been let to Messrs. E. E. Pnipps and
T. H. Simpson of Ashland, who have
a large crew OF men at work Steel
pipe is being used, the largest being
eight inches in diameter. There has
been the usual delay in getting ma
terial on the ground, which has de-
layed the work, and the contractors
will probably be compelled to lay off
their crew for some time.
The standpipe is 35 feet high and
is feet in diameter and has a storage
capacity of 10000 gallons. The
elevation of the standpipe is such
that there will be a pressure of SO
pounds to the square inch in the bus
mess section of the city. 1t is
planned that should the erection OF
larger buildings demand it a booster
pump can be put in and the pressure
: raised to any reasonable amount.
The village is also putting in a
street-lighting system. They have
contracted with the Oregon-C -Califor-
mia Power Company for the installa
tion of 16 40-candlepower series
Tungsten lamps. There is trans
former capacity for 60 lamps ant
the system will be increased as fas
as the growth of the village war
! rants.
The pupils of the Talent school.
have been taking up contribution.
for the orphans home at Portland
They have contributed larg,
amount of canned and fresh fruit
vegetables and groceries. TIL,
Southern Pacific Railway Compan,
has agreed to transport the dona
tions free of charge.