The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-12-29
SPECIAL ELECTION
WILL BE CALLED
CONTINUED from page one.,

power TO secure the services or an eX-
pert school architect without delay to
go over with the committee the needs
Of the city and design a building to
meet these needs and embodying the
ideas In the minds Of the board.
The city may be bonded for school
purposes UP to 8 per cent OF its assess
ed valuation, which would be in round
numbers, $350,000. However, there is
$4,000 bonded indebtedness carried at
the present time. leaving 1920, 900 which
can still be voted by the people for the
purpose in hand, ample for the needs.
The board discussed at length the
matter OF securing an architect for the
important work in hand. This discus
sion embodied the question of whether
the board should advertise for
the submission, OF plans by various
architects or whether it should
directly employ the best man it is
possible to secure for the work. 1t
was pointed out that the asking for
the submission Of plans indiscrimin-
ately would not be satisfactory as the
larger school architects would not get
in the game at all under these condi-
t1ons and 1t was finally decided to give
the building committee the power to
employ the best architect it Is possi-
BILE to secure and have him make his
plans to meet the wishes of the
board.
Under the calling for the general
submission Of plans 1t was pointed out
that at the final analysis 1t would be up
to the board to choose plans without
having the technical knowledge neces-
sary to determine whether these plans
met with the best methods Of practice
in construction.
1t Is possible that the proposed build
ing will follow out largely the ideas
expressed by Pres. E. F. Ladd in an
address at a recent meeting of the
Commons club when this very subject
was discussed. The future, it has been
plainly seen for some time, demanded
great changes and DR.. Ladd suggested
then that by using the ground oc-
cupied by the Central and high school
buildings a great public school build
ing could be started by the erection
of one wing and the addition of two or
more other wings as conditions de-
manded them. At the time that this
address was made it was not thought
that the problem would have to be
faced so soon. .
OF course no clear idea of the plan
OF building has been worked out and
will not be. until an architect is en-
ployed to go over the situation and
submit plans and ideas.
Temporary Arrangements.
The difficult proposition Of caring
for the schools until the new building
is erected was discussed at length,
the board finally adopting plan pro-
posed by Supt. Arthur Deamer, which
embodies the moving of the grades
from the Central building and putting
the high school into the Central, which
was saved from obstruction by the
heroic work Of the fire department
Wednesday night.
Superintendent Deamer stated to the
board that he had made a thorough
investigation of the present situation
and finds that the Central building
can be used with very little repairs.
such as the cutting off Of the steam
main from the heating plant to the
destroyed high school building and the
closing Of the openings, which were
formerly passageways between the
Central and high school buildings.
He reported that the seventh and
eighth grades from the Central can be
divided between the Horace Mann and
the Agassiz schools while the lower
grades can be put into the Civic
Centre. which he has found is avail
able for the purpose. There may be
one room needed in addition to the
Civic Centre, but he said that this would
not be difficult to secure as both Fargo
college and the agricultural. college
have offered facilities to the public
schools In the present crisis.
This plan was adopted and the sup
plies committee was instructed to pur-
chase the necessary seats and other
equipment to follow it out. Quite a.
large amount Of equipment will be
needed, including practically every
thing necessary for carrying on the
high school work.
The plan proposed by Mr.. Deamer
was considered feasible, as the
Civic Centre is only block and a half
from the Central building, making it
as accessible to the smaller children.
With the exception Of the seventh and
eighth grades and possibly another
grade Of older children, little change
of location will be necessary.
To Make Ruins Safe.
The board also authorized the en-
ployment Of contractor to make an
investigation of the ruined high school
building and to tear down or strength
en- the walls where necessary in order.
to make it absolutely safe.
The president has pointed out that
he believes a bond issue should be
emergency expenditures. Many Of
these have been caused by the Mexi-
can situation
The treasury already has authority
by previous acts Of congress to issue
Panama bonds and about 100000
are available. They would bear three
per cent. ...-...
. Plans for raising the other revenue
are said to concern the income tax
and inheritance tax and special taxes
on internal revenue and imports.