The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-06-10
Selection Of Larger Site for
New High School Was
Strongly Favored
MOTION CARRIED IS TOs
FOR LARGER GROUNDS
Vote of People Necessary Be.
fore New Site Could Be
Selected

of discussing a proposed cnahse VI
location in the site OF the new $780,
900 high school, which IS to be built,
was attended by very representative
body Of citizens although the num-
Der was not as large as it undouDted-
" would have been had more notice
been given of it. - -s.-.- g., J
DR.. G. M. Palmer, chairman OF the
civic committee of the association
presided at the meeting. DR.. Palmer
called upon a number OF citizens 70
express their views as to the proposed
change in the location. Views were
expressed both in favor and opposed
to the change. Those in favor OF
the change in location gave as their
reasons the facts that the new build
ing, which would cover space OF l76
feet by 24O feet, would be set on
block 200 feet by 800 feet, which
would leave only a few feet on each
side of the building; that the present
site was not conclusive to the best re-
suits in the class room on account OF
its nearness to the business section OF
the town. where detracting noises
and attractions drew the attention OF
the students from their work; that
no room could possibly be secured
near the present school site, for ath-
letic purposes; that the present site
could be disposed of for residence
purposes at q price almost large
enough, if not entire large enough TO
purchase q five or ten acre tract
farther out; that, SO far as centrally
locating the school was concerned, it
is not now centrally located with ref
erence to the student population;
that every citizen would have to apol-
ogipe for the next so years to their
friends, who might be visiting in the
city, for having put $3OO,OOO build
ing on this small tract of land; that
proper physical development on the
playground could not be secured
without suitable grounds; that it
would be impossible to beautify the
grounds around the building in the
downtown site; that the growth OF
the city in the future must be north,
and therefore the school should be To-
Gated farther north; that the school
site is now located at the narrowest
portion of the city due to the swamp
Immediately west of it, and extend
ing north; that the relation of the To-
cation of the school in rs years from
now, and not the immediate present,
should be given very careful consid-
Grafton.
Those not favoring the changing Of
the site advocated its retention in its
present place to avoid additional ex-
pense and increase in taxes. They
also drew attention to the fact of the
distance the students would have to
go from across the tracks in the south
part Of the city. 1t was suggested
that additional ground could be pro-
cured at future date by acquiring
a half a block around the present
building on the east, south and north.
They felt that putting the school out
farther north would take it away
from the center Of the city, where,
they felt, the high school should be.
= After expressions of opinions were
heard, motion was made that the
board of education be requested not
to rebuild the school on the present
site and was carried by a vote of SIS
to 8. The meeting was held to give
the school board an idea of the wish
of the people with regard to the final
location of the school. The matter
is in the hands of the school board,
and if new site is to be selected. it
will be put to a vote of the citizens
in the very near future.