Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-03-29
TWO SIDES OF THE HIGH
SCHOOL LOCATION MATTERS


NHcIuSclNtS IeSpOipipip " thS P"S
ions of the Abilene schools In keep
ing the new high school off the
Southworth lot, because they believe
a central location is the only fair
one. They voted for the Garfield
for the new high school site, be-
cause that would keep the $4,000
intact, and by saving $4,000 to
$4,000 1t would take to buy the
Brown, or a similar site. we could
Nuild much larger building. and
nearly every one comedies that this
is the ideal spot for the school. A
central heating plant could also be
installed and make a nice saving
each year, and which also places the
auditorium and gymnasium where
the seventh and eighth grades, when
going to the present high school,
could also derive some of the ben
Gifts, and place the building where
the people of Abilene, who are not
40 fortunate as to have carriages
anu AUTOS, COulu dbSculDIb anu
share in the school activities.
Our original plan was to place
the new building between the Gar
field and the present high school
buildings, but after hearing the
arguments of Mr.. Long and Mr..
Wyandt, we finally agreed on tear
ing the Garfield building down and
placing the new building on its lite.
This was also advocated by the
Chronicle and in special called
meeting, was SO ordered Wyandt |
Keel, Long, Fengel and Broughton |
voted Yes" and Engle voted mo" |
but stated he might change his vote
later. Broughton pleaded with En-
gle at that time to make 1t unani-
NOUS so the board as unit, might
get down to business and accom-
plish the work, which the people of
Abilene expect of them.
The plan OF housing the first six /.
grades at the Garfield, was for them ,
to occupy the eight rooms facing
the west on the present play ground !
This plan OF the building was thor Il
cughly discussed by the board and :
Supt Stacey, also the architect, and =
seemed very feasible, as the en- e
trance would be on the west, and g
leading to the play grounds, and the a
corridor, which was planned clear q
through the building east and
west, was to be blocked with heavy
ioors between the eight rooms used
)y the grades and the rooms used
~ the high school pupils. Keeping
he noise down, and the pupils sep IVA
rated. This would give the grades q
irtually the same Fairgrounds that G,
hey now have; and the high school
upils would use the south and east n
ntrances We ordered Mr. Saylor IN
0 draw plans for such building, fo
nd he stated that the extra cost G.
I the changing of this arrange m
lent, when we were ready to use ~.
entirely for high school pur- II.
oses, would not exceed $500 in n
tead of $4,000 as has been stated ~
nd that it you'd be model high D;
chool building and not combl- II,
alton building. a.
Our achitect has already showed be
gu in an article, which appeared IL
n the papers, that he considered II BIZ
good thing to ra2e the Garfield tie
and the state architect q
lso stated that the project looked I'll
easonable to him as he looked the OF
uilding over twice and Is satisfied
hat II is only a few years until il ldi
rould have to be wrecked. This f.
fould provide sanitary and semi 81
ire proof building, not only for the it
Ugh school, but also for the grades bl
nd when our high school attend q
nee grew to where ii needed the &C
Whole building, we could then build II
new ward building, and have co
high school that would meet the I'll
equlrements. w
There seems to be a good deal of re
ceiling worked up over the location Ia
# the building, and the board fin II
lily, after many requests decided $,
o refer the matter direct to the OF
'eople on election day, April 3. 1t W
8 hoped that they can show us, by la
heir vote, where the majority wants al
his fine high school placed. The III
GLOWING sites will be found on as
pecial ballot; The present Garfield e
lite; South site on North Buckeye: ne
he East Eighth street site; city III
all site; the whole block west Of ed
he Nusz store on the south side; h
nd tract of 20 acres Of land lying SC
asst of the fair grounds. extending as
asst as far as Elm street, on line "a
18th Fifth street. thence north on lie
I'm street to seventh and one a r,