The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-04-27
BOND ELECTION
DRAWS INTEREST
VOTE ON SCHOOL ISSUE ON FRIDAY
While Some Citizens Call Expenditure Of
$4,000 Extravaeance, Board
Calls it Economy

Calls it Economy
State and county politics will be for.
gotten by citizens of Hood River this
week, all interest being centered In
the school bond election Of tomorrow
afternoon. when qualified electors will
vote on the proposed bond issue of $45,-
600, of which the school board, r. A.
| Cram. Mrs. Alma Howe and DR.. c. H.
Jenkins, will sell so much as il neces-
safy for the construction of an addi-
tional high school structure on prop,
erty just south of the present high
school building and for the erection of
q one story grade school on Eugene
street property, provided the issue car.
ries. While the bond issue will not by
any means be carried by a unanimous
vote, the members of the board, all of
whom declare the movement one of
strict economy, have been conducting
campaign Of information that has
been making supporters of electors
formerly Indifferent. but open to argu.
ment.
Explaining how the money at pres
ent in the school treasury and that to-
be obtained by the proposed bond issue
| will be spent, Mr.. Cram, who Is chair
man Of the board. says:
| "A portion Of the fund on hand,
amounting to about $1,000, will be
| used in purchasing sites. the balance
for incidental expenses. The board
has options on lots on Eugene street for
the proposed site of the new grade
building. and block just south Of the
high school for the high school build.
ing.
''While we have made the bond issue
for $45, 900, because of the present
fluctuating values of materials, we con-
template selling only 80 much Of the
issue as is absolutely necessary for the
work proposed. The building we have
planned for the Eugene street site will
be one story In height and of four
rooms. 1t will provide place for the
segregation of the smaller children
and will relieve the overcrowded condi.
tion of the Park street school. The
building will be SO constructed that an
other story may be added when needed.
Plumbing fixtures will be installed, 80
that connections can be made without
an additional expense. We propose to
expend between SIG, 900 and Sis, 600 on
this building. The construction of this
building will keep the younger children
of the district away from the stronger
and rougher ones Of the higher grades.
ION the proposed new high school
building, which will provide adequate
accommodations for domestic science
department. manual training and gym.
nasium facilities, We propose to spend
from SIS. 900 to $50. 900. We propose to
remove the heating plant OF the high
school to the new Eugene street struc-
ture. selling one furnace to The Dalles.
The existing high school structure and
the new building, which will be simialr
10 outer architectural design but on
modern plans in arrangement. will be
heated from modern central heating
plant"
Mr.. Cram states that the cost Of run
ming the high school is practically as
great with only the attendance of the
students whose parents reside in the
city district, as with the increased at
tendance from neighboring rural dis
tricts, the boards OF which under exist
| ing arrangements are sending their stu.
dents of high school grades to town.
paying an annual sum Of 1900 for
their tuition.
"This sum-" says MIR. Cram, "is
probably at minimum, for the outside
attendance will probably be increased
IL the additional school facilities are
provided.
Members of the school boards of
Pine Grove, Frankton and Barrett dis
tricts met with the local board last
week, and 1t was the concensus of
opinion as expressed that the rural dis
tricts would continue to send the high
school grades to town, provided they
are given the accommodation of the
additional building. The rural parents
feel that the local high school authori-
ties have done their best this year, but
they think the changes should be
effected and better facilities provided.
In case the bond election fails, it is
likely that the students of the country
districts will drop out of the local
school.
"The country people feel says Mr..
Cram. "that for the $50 they pay US
annually for each student we can do
far more for their children than they
could by establishing any high schools
of their own. And as was expressed at
our meeting last week. we are going to
continue to get their support, il we
produce the goods. Our proposed plans
will effect an economy for them and at
the same time give us a saving. The
| S4. 800 we get from them would pay
interest, at five per cent, on 500, 900
ond issue. We feel sure that we can
sell the bonds at fve per cent, and get
nice premium. We are only asking
for $45. 200.
''If we lose the country students we
are going to have to raise by taxation
this 81, 800 that we have been getting
from them for tuition for the expenses
of the school is are going to remain
practically the same. Really. It will
cost US more money for school taxes
next year If we do not bond than if we
do bond"
DR.. c. n. Jenkins says:
''As director in this district have
been asked my reasons for advocating
bond issue for SAL, 600.
"First, we lack room in our buildings
to accommodate our children and have
been paying outside rental for two
years. At present some of our rooms
are so over-crowded that pupils do NOT
receive as much personal attention
| from the teacher as they should. This
results in lover standings. Nor is the
crowding of pupils satisfactory from q
sanitary standpoint. We need more
room and this can only be obtained BY
renting or building. II we rent, oul
taxes must be increased and at the enc
of the year there is nothing to show
for the expenditure. II we builc
permanent structures, they will las,
long after the bonds. have been retired
and we.have something to show for oul
IN investment. Good schools attract gooc
Il people to our community and are the
l best advertisements Of our social anG
II commercial standing. Our boys snt
Il girls are our future citizens. Wha
better investment can we make fol
H them?
1.-The bond issue called for is S45, 600