The Republican journal., 1915-01-21
The Schoolhouse Situation.
Report Of Special committeeon Existing
Conditions, etc.


Report Of Special Committeeon Existing
Conditions, etc.
To THE HOME AND SCHOOL AssoCIA-
TON OF BELFAST, The Committee ap-
pointed to consider the schoolhouse sit
uation and suggest ways and means for
adjusting existing conditions, financing
and obtaining new building, have
given the matter careful study and
thought and make the following report:
/. We believe it to be the unanimous
opinion that the purchase of the McLel-
Ian property was most wise and the first
step toward solving the school problem
correctly, practically determining that
there ought to be. and should be, three
buildings, North and South Grade and
High.
2. BY the recent report to the City
Government of Mr.. Charles w. Fred
erick, trustee of the Pierce fund, it is
plain that he does not wish to merge the
Pierce fund with the city moneys in the
erection of building, but desires, rath-
er, to erect a suitable South Grade
building, which plan, we believe, on the
whole is more practical and desirable,
SIOulu De dCCGplGu, encouraged ana
speedily brought about.
| 3. With the North Grade problem
solved and the South Grade problem pro-
for the city: To bring into existence
High school building for the housing of
the High school and such lower grades
as the school committee may determine
and recommend.
AS to the location, financing, and
methods of obtaining such building,
we make the following suggestions:
l. Location-In studying this fea-
ture from all its angles, and talking with
various citizens, we have come to the
conclusion that the base ball ground, So
called, by far, presents the location most
generally accepted as best adapted for
the site of the new building.
Some of the conditions leading up TO
this decision are: elevation, natural
drainage and sanitation, accessible extra
play space for ball ground, tennis courts,
etc., in the Morey field, at small addi-
tional cost; removal of pupils from our
streets-much to be desired thereby
concentrating their minds more deter
minedly on their work; and the COM
handing view of the bay which can
never be obstructed, making the rooms
always pleasant, attractive and enjoy
able.
-. Cost of building-We believe that
a new building, entirely sufficient to
cover the city's present necessity, can be
erected at a cost not to exceed $40, 900
for the building itself, and should be so
built intellectually as to admit OF addi-
tional wings whenever the growth of the
city so demands. Before deciding on
the size or divisioning of the same, we
recommend that a. committee of two or
three, one OF whom should be the Super
intendent of Schools, shall visit several
cities il our State and perhaps out of the
State, to examine school buildings re-
Gently erected. This done, and at small
expense, there would remain for the
architect only to submit structural plans,
specifications, and embellishments, which
could be obtained at a comparatively
small expense, thereby effecting consid-
cradle savings, and with perhaps more
satisfactory results. Or, it might be,
plans could be requisitioned which have
already been used in some other city, en-
tlrely suited to our requirements.
3. Financing-There are two legal
methods:
A. Through the offices of the present
Public Building Association; or, a Com
mittee appointed by the City Govern
ment.
B. To first dispose of the city's rail-
road interests at price sufficient to
llquldate the citY's present indebted
ness, and then create new loan for the
schoolhouse.
The latter seems at present hardly
feasible within the time desired, but
certainly should be worked on and could
possibly be accomplished so as to hqui-
date the schoolhouse expense at not
distant date. But the need of new
schoolhouse seems imperative, and the
sale Of the railroad interests, should not
be waited for.
We submit for the immediate financing
the following:
Sell to the Public Building Association,
or Building Committee referred to, the |
ball ground, park and common, accept
ing in payment therefor four year notes |
of said Association or Committee, said |
notes to be secured by second mort
gage on all the property, subject only to
first mortgage to secure the bonds to
be issued for building purposes; the Pub
lie Building Association, or Committee,
to erect a schoolhouse under the general
supervision of the City Government, the
city taking an option to purchase the
building, together with the other prop
erty, purchasing certain undivided por-
ton of the new building each year until
the whole is acquired. This could be ac-
complished within four years, as follows:
With the City's affairs economically
handled $4,000 can be raised each year
to apply on this schoolhouse deal, and
our taxes not increased from the rate of
the present year, which, by the way, is
not above the general average of the
cities of the State. We understand |
there will remain unpaid at the close of |
the present fiscal year approximately |
$4,000 on the Mcclellan property with
practically all the city's current indebt-
edness liquidated. With $4,000 raised |
annually tor period of four years the
bonded Indebtedness incurred by said
Association or Committee can be entire
ly liquidated ard the city placed in full
ownership of the new school building,
and also in position to then at once re-
purchase the other said property, making