Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-01-17

provide for yearly payments in order
that the concluding part of the debt
and it's complete cancellation would
come together, the world war brought
its high prices on everything which
cities purchase. Quite contemporane-
ously ensued the change in the state
constitution or sale of intoxicating Ii
rfacture or sale of Intoxicating IL
qIors and deprived the municipali-
ties of the revenues previously pro-
cuHed from that source.
1t is this combination of events
which brings affairs to a head at this
time.
Public Schools.
Passing to schools, it develops that
in Cleveland the number of addi-
tional pupils yearly is something
more than 5000. Even during the
four years of the war, when stoppage
in immigration was expected to re-
duce this inflow. practically the same
ratio of growth was shown. This ne
cessitates new buildings. Figuring 4O
pupils to a room, 125 rooms must be
provided yearly If 25 rooms constr
tute an average new building, then
five such structures are necessary
every 12 months. The unit cost per
room is not less than $4,000, so that
S1,S75 900 must be spent each year II
educational standards are to be main
tanned. In Cleveland, as in many
other cities, easements have been
called into use, storerooms have
been rented and portable structures
have been installed in the school
yards.
Both the nation and the state have
asked Cleveland, with other cities OF
mixed racial population, not only to
continue but to enlarge the work OF
Americanization. This has received
attention since the beginning of the
war in parts of the state where moth
ing was done previously. 1t would be
a regrettable mistake to permit it to
lag, particularly in northeastern Ohio,
where it has been carried on in COM
plete harmony as between the schools
and industrial plants. We must not
forget that of our population in Ohio
of something less than 100000 in
1910, almost 100000 were foreign
born. Real Americanism pre-supposes
an understanding of our ideals and
an understanding of them can best
be instilled through our language.
Therefore, the schools must continue
to be recognized as the vital part OF
the melting pot.
Cities Beset With Troubles.
This more or less elaborate recita-
ton of conditions in our largest city
will, trust, bring about better real
ization of what responsibility the i'm
pertive duties of American life leave
upon cities in the terms of public
expense The schools, speaking gen
orally. are better off in the strictly
farming communities than in either
the villages or the cities. In making
a survey of the smaller cities beset
with common troubles, Gallon, in
Crawford county, was taken as an
example. Financial stringency has
existed there for over 10 years. 1t is
a splendid community, with an awak-
ened desire for good schools. Three
years ago the board of education
spent $4,000 more than its income;
two years ago, $1,000 more, and one
year ago, $4,000 more. The deficit
was met by issuing bonds upon GER
tification to the auditor (under sec
ton 5656 of the General Code) that
| the expenses were legitimate. Now
it finds itself faced with $4,000 worth
of bonds occasioned entirely by de
| ficiencies. Worthington, Franklin
county, is more or less typical vii
lage, having a population of less thar
1000. The schools requested fol
1918 $4,000. They received $13,90t
and in order to run on this amount
every teacher was given two grades
and one high school instructor wal
dropped.
While some country districts have
had their troubles, they are not com
parable to what is found in the cities
Madison county, for instance, whicl
has centralized nine or 10 out of he
IA rural districts, reports but one O
these in financial distress and tina
was occasioned by the necessity O
completing the school building a
wartime expense.
AS the permanent system of higf
ways is extended into more rura
parts and the smaller school unit
| aa,-o1s1ofod 10
will multiply. There is complaint i
some places of an increased ovel
head expense, but under the me-
code the extent of supervision is d.
termined entirely by local desire
This unhappy state of affairs il
volving the finances of governments
centers is a part of the series {
events that mark this transition:
period. At this time, decisions frol
the supreme court are awaited in O
der to ascertain just what inherer
rights your honorable body possesse
in the matter of providing new an
additional methods of meeting publ
expense. Not until this determine
tion can concrete plan be evolve
: Health.
There is no need more pressiu
than radical reorganization of Il
. health service throughout the stat
The present plan under which IL
state department of health operat,
: is highly regarded by competent a
; ta0-ities, but speaking in gener
: terms it is well-nigh impossible for
= to provide for protection and rend
/ the cooperation desired for the re
: son that in a vast majority of col
e munities there is no organization
e be called into use.
Z Within the last year we have {
= perienced the epidemic of infiuenz
IRE death rate was appalling all ov
S the country, and inroads into both t
Il health and the life of the people we
g so serious that the federal governme
s recognized the task of scientific
d sistance as scarcely second in i
i portance to carrying on the great wi
% Through the surgeon general of {
49,. -.