Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-08-14
SHALL EXTRA BUILD
A new SCHOOL HOUSE

Two weeks from next Monday !
(September ~ the people OF the In
dependent District of Extra, will
hold an election to decide wheoh-
ar the district shall issue bonds in
the sum of ss2S,oOO for the pur-
pose of erecting a new school
building.
AS on all like occasions, voters
will doubtless disagree. This, OF
course, is altogether proper since
1t insures hearing for all sides of
the proposition, which is plainly
one of vital Importance to the peo-
ple of Extra at this time. However
fairness demands that every mans
choice be based upon facts rather
than preconceived notions or preJu-
dice.
At the Journals request, a COM
mittee of the Commercial CLUB was
recently appointed to investigate
the bonding proposition, not with
the idea of deciding whether 1T
should or should not be approved
nv the voters of the district, but
rather with the purpose of getting
at the facts which taxpayers ought
to know before registering a decls-
ion in the matter. This commlttee'
which consisted of H. P. Petersen,
f. H. Cotton and j. M. Dimick mada
a thorough examination of the pre-
sent building and met with the
school board in special session, at
which time the business side Of
the proposition was gone over most
carefully. The statement of flcts
which follows is thus authorized by
this committee and the school board
Jointly and there can be NO question
that it is substantially correct. 1t is
given below:
"a In calling an election to de-
eide as to whether new building
elaeu1a ha erected. the board was
moved by three-felds consideration,
That is. there were three distinct
reasons why such a step seemed
no longer avoidable. The first is
that the old building has reached
such a state of decay that further
repairs represent a waste of public
money. The second is that 1t is
overorowded and unsanitary-a con-
ddtion which no amount of repairing
can correct or relieve, and which
is gradually growing worse. The
third is that under the new law
three new departments, domes-
tic economy, manual training, and
agriculture must be established by
january l, 1915, which is only
about sixteen months away.
(2) The condition of the old
building is as follows:
The roof leaks in many places
in spite of much repairing. Tht
trouble from this source is SO
great that new roof must be put
on very soon-in fact the sooner
the better.
Leaks in the root have resulted il
loosening the plaster from the
rooms below. There are four OF
five which must be replastered
soon, az, owing to much repairing
paper can no longer tie kept or
them; and there are several 9th.
ers which will have to be replas
tered within the next two or three
years.
The cornice is breaking away bad
ly, in some places threatening te
fall off. Much of this can not be
repaired, as the timber into which
nails must be driven has rottat
and will not hold them. 1t is pro
bable that most of it will have tt
be renewed, which will be quite ex
pensive
The "new" part OF the building
which is really thirty years ole
or more, is practically without four
dation, the stills and joists being
almost completely Nrotted away Th'
support of the floor is weakening
Replacing the sills ;,nd joists unde.
this part, which is the larger one
will be another expensive job, whic
must tie attended to soon.
CD Regarding the oyercrowde'
condition of the school in the pre-
sent quarters, 1t may be said tha
this condition prevails in ever.
room but one. Rooms. which, &C
cordine to the state inspection bur
eau are large enough for only thir
ty to thirty-five pupils at the mos
are in some cases holding fifty o
more No ventilation can be provid
G for this increased number il
tn, Inter time except dangerous
direct drafts.
4