The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-02-05
VOTE FOR THE BONDS

To the Editor of The Tribune:
AS many of the voters of the
Lynden School District have asked
HE questions in regard TO the real
conditions existing in the school,
and its financial condition. l take
this opportunity to give u few
comparisons and figures.
The Town of Lynden is past the
experimental stage. This is shown
by the fact that all its new business
houses are now built in modern
fire-proof manner; its sidewalks are
laid of cement; the paving Of its
streets is being contemplated; IT
has had steady growth for the
past ten years, and one of the rich
est dairy districts in the West has
been developed i'll the surrounding
territory, while fruit raising is
solving the problem of what 10 do
with its logged-off high land. These
conditions existing, is it unreason-
able to assume that its school
population, which has increased 400
per cent. in the past ten years. will
at least double in the next Ten
years.
think all will agree with me
that this is q fair estimate. The
schools now have an enrolment OF
442, If our estimate is correct, there
will be at least 900 pupils enrolled
ten years from now. The crowded
condition at the present time in
nearly all Of the rooms means that
We must more than double our pre-
sent floor space to take care of the
increased attendance. This extra
floor space means that vast a.
mount of building must be done. ei-
ther of temporary construction as
In the past, of buildings hat must
soon be discarded as worthless; or,
buildings modern, and fire-proof,
that can be used for hundred
years or more. Again, / think all
will agree that for school buildings
nothing but fire-proof materials
should be used and n permanent
building constructed.
The voting on this bond ques--
tion has been delayed so that the
district might pay off the bonds
that We're levied in 1903 and 1907
and which were levied to construct
buildings that are practically worth
less now. Would it not be policy 10
vote a sufficinet amount 10 build
something permanent?
Some objection has been made to
the small amount of the bond is
sue by those who think a building
should be constructed to accommo-
date the whole school. Many how
ever think the building on Eighth
street will answer the purpose for
some of the grades for some time
to come, and that a permanent
building can be constructed then 20
accommodate a portion of the school
and thus have the smaller pupils
separated from the larger ones.
The vital question now is: Shall
the Board be empowered TO borrow
a sufficient amount to construct
buildings that will relieve the
crowded conditions for several years
to come. at a very low rate of in
terest, proba bly, not more than 4 y
per cent? or. shall they spend $10,-
600 in the next few years, IS will
be absolutely necessary if The bonds
are not voted, in building wooden
shacks and pay per cent. inter-
est for the amount that has TO be
carried rs warrant Indebtedness? A.
gain, ! know you will agree with
me if You understand the situation,
in assuming that our taxes Will be
lowered by voting this bond Issue.
During the past ten years $1O,-
900 has been spent by the district
in building wooden shscks, and has
paid $4,000 Of S-per cent. warrant
interest, and all they have to show
for it is a bunch OF unsightly fire
traps.
Personally, / am in favor of this
bond issue, because it is boost
for education. which is the most i'm
portant question that confronts us
today, and also the most economic
al way of relieving the present
crowded condition of the schools.
Come and vote on this question
Saturday. You do not have to be
registered.