Arizona state miner., 1919-09-12
DISCUSSION ON NEW SCHOOL LOCATION
j. R. Barnees Views AS To Why the New Building Should
Be Erected On the Present Site


and flowers can be grown which
would very much beautify the school
grounds and in a short time the trees
would give the shade that is needed
in Wickenburg at the beginning and
ending of each school term.
triotic Californian.
Some offer objections to this site
because it will face on two streets
or roads, and the dusS wou;d De
stiffling and the children would be
endangered by passing au3os.s
Every school of Importance that
can call to mind in the Salt River
valley is facing one or more streets
or roads and they have SO autos
passing there to where we have one.
Our roads are of a hard formation
and they don't make much dust, any
way.
Speaking of danger for the chill
dren. There isn't one-tenrn as mucn
danger from the autos as there
would be from railroad trains if
three-fourths. of the children have to
cross the tracks four times daily TO
go on the hill to school. Just think
of it. If the school is voted to go
on the hill we will marcn about T5
children across the tracks twice dur
ing the noon hour while one or more
freights are switching back and forth
on The tracks. And most OF tie
children will be little tots, too. Here
is REAL DANGER, not imaginary
Many Of the advocates of the hill
site have no little children to cross
the tracks either way and they can't
get the view that we parents nave
who have little tots from to 10
years old.
Now to the economical part of tbs
school house business.
We are over head and heels in
debt now on road, ely, county, stacs
and national bonds and we have just
voted to spend $4,000 on the i'm
provement of our school facilities,
in the main to build a new scho0I
house and buy and improve more
grounds and in general to get more
school apparatus. I did not oppose
the bond issue for this purpose. The
fact is I supported it and if there is
any one public thing believe in, il
is more and better schools But /
do not believe in spending money,
public money, that we 4ave 20 pay
unwisely or uneconomically.
Now, | think to pay S2,750 for a
block of land on the hill for a new
school site, nat nearly so large, nor
nearly SO level, sor as convenient to
the majority of the children, as the
one we now have with $1,000 spenr
for adjoining land, would be both
unwise and uneconomicaI.
We now have large block or
land and a good small school house
and it seems to me very unwise to
go up on the hill and spend good,
hard earned cash, just Decause some
body can be found to take the
money [ don't blame the people up
there who have lots to seIi, but we
can get more for a dollar at the old
site, and as [ have said before, it is
more conveniently located Tor both
patrons and children.
What we really need is modern
school building near the old one and
modern equipment both IN and out
Of the buildings.
The more we put in the new site
and new building the less we will
have for school apparatus If we
should run short on money it nigh
be hard to float another bond ISSUE
as Old High Cost of Living is soaring
now and more bonds and expenses
means he will still go higher.
Now I have presented this issue in
about the way several Of US look al
it and we confidently hope that a
majority of the electors will see it in
the same light September 20 ana
vote to keep the school where it is,
but if you don't, and vote to move
the school, | will be sorry for all Of
US, but will not hold malice on this
score and will get in behind the
trustees and do my little part to
make Wickenburg schools a shining
success. Respectfully,
J. R. BARNETTE.