Gunnison news-champion., 1920-04-16
7vVHY We NEEO
!, 4. 5. bU|LD|MG
Strong Arguments Advanced
For Proposed Bond
II Issue
Reasons Given are Powerful In
ce6ive To Assist Educa-
6oaal Program Of
County

{" uooA Ftogram OF
County
~ Since the proposition Of bonding the
county in the amount of 500, 600 is to
p submitted to the people at the
bchool election on May 3rd., II is only
fair that all the people should be given
ee entire history and status Of the
gshole question Of the proposed build
ing for high school purposes.
We thought that this matter had
ZEN settled; We voted $50 900 in 1918.
Why was it not put into 4 building
Where 10 that money now, anyway
asnt that money enough? II II
! vas enough in 1918. why not now?
1t 10 true that in the spring of 1918
Nhe high school committee submitted
. - the people the question Of incur
ring . bonded Indebtedness Of $50, 600
Ror the construction Of q separate high
hooi building. The proposition at
mat, time carried large majority.
The six percent bonds had previously
reen sold ct one percent above par,
subject 70 the approval Of the voters.
This yielded $500 which with &C.
,4yued interest now amounts to SO, ,5OO.-
essss s0SA%t VHAy - otn0Al R0IG Va
shich has been expended in initiating
Che building A large portion Of this
money was invested in short time GER
$ti6cates Of the United States Govern
>laent, and drew interest until March
s6, 1920, at Az percent. Some Of the
= honey is now in the bank drawing in
.,terest until used.
The war being ct its height in the
spring Of 1913 all construction for
Z peoce pxrpvseBS vo=-saisxUnsiuupze ana
>xnpt again resumed until the spring Of
|hSS1e. All estimates for the construc-
Hon of the county high school building
had been based upon costs that were
BEFORE tho spring Of 1918. The High
Hchool Committee very naturally
assumed that after the coming Of
neace,. prices ON building material
Ind hbor would go down instead Of
MP. They were therefore quite as
mud surprised rs all the rest Of the
void to discover that the facts were
juk the opposite-prices began to soar
Ney are going up daily by leaps and
bunds.
! Therefore, when the County Hieh
School Board advertised for bids in
!, ,sAe spring of 1919, although they pub
|lished them in Denver, Pueblo, and
4 Colorado Springs, they received only
1ne bid, and that only on the general
Work Of the main building (not includ-
ihs plumbing, heat and lighting.)
I Dis bid was in the astonishing sum of
tN1 900, for the completion of the
neral work on the building that
Auld have been done for $4,000 be-
he the war.
Because the Committee had only 4
ettle over $50, 900, it decided to let the
ipntract for simply the basement Of
khe proposed building and the walls Of
tthe ground floor with temporary roof
i hat may be removed later II ever the
/. people wish to complete the building.
81 lThe lettering of this contract released
The contractors from their bid on the
work for the entire building. J. This
much Of structure was to cost $780,
Oct, and only the basement was to be
i y ready for use. bviously such .
J bailding would only to . very limited
extent relieves the crowded condition
q the schools and II would not give the
high school students the facilities and
s advantages that young people in these
ARys are demanding: nor would it af-
4 r3rd the preparation that the times
q are demanding OF the young people.
4 ne NUMm1SVee DeBau, bnekeIOfe1
daring the winter just past, to try to
ind out how much it would cost to
i a1mplete the proposed high School
! Z N6lding and make it usable thrJogh-
s out, (kemember that the earlier bid
had been for general work only.)
They discovered right away that now
nb contractor can be found who will
take job any but . cost plus 10 per
" <Snf hasia There IN such uncertainty
bout the cost Of material and labor
That contractors everywhere have quit
i seaking contracts on the old basis.
fss Although it is impossible to keep up
With shifting prices, the architects en-
Rloyed BY the COMMITTEES estimate that
a the cost-plus basis, the building
4 within one hundred Thousand dollars
h addition to the first $50, 900. This
additional bond issue would give z
b fotal of over $50, 900, which would
E very probably enable the county to
Il Lid sn1 equip ) high school plant
II ~ would met all demands far year,
| Is come. OF course, tie High School
4knmit*ee u not bonnd By any agree-
- With the builders 70 let the joh
sths eost-plus-ten-pereent basis;
d q Is eaa do = Il Tie people approve
sI.s sdls 1I - -, & < dsss = Il Z now I isoi
= fSos5 6uHlfnr Would svsr aeai1
kk q $3.50 = before IL VA. IN
}oneer q wsis II higier thines -
i Or IscalifE1e NJ eolng uGAt q
- their bgslnratfsa # ednentanG
Csniiansl, - Pase nsAE
u ~ 49, q.