Arizona republican., 1921-09-21
WEDNESDAY MORNING. sEPrEMBER a1. 1921.
The Biggest Asset

The greatest and most profitable of all institu- tions in Phoenix. Its public schools resumed opera fions on Monday after a summer shut down during which recess the facilities were enlarged new build ings erected, more machinery installed and all bet ter prepared for the coming years operations.
 There is no better barometer of the welfare of city its financial condition general progress and prosperity than its schools Financial concerns negotiating for citys municipal securities study school population and attendance. Industrial cor porations seeking desirable location in prosper ous city with evident future do the same Therefore. when the enrolment of grade schools of Phoenix the opening day Monday totalIed 43s5 an Increase the first day year of more $50. 1t gave ndispdtable evidence that Phoenix has not halted delayed in her steady and sub stantial growth and also that people are. uni formly prosperous.
 The opening day enrolment was surprise to the officials They admit it. They had heard from some unexplained source that many residents of Phoenix had moved away from the city during the past summer and also that the usual number of early arriving winter visitors had not materialized Therefore they put those supposed together and arrived at the conclusion that the opening day enrolment would do well to equal that of last year
 But something went wrong in the calculations. Either there had mistake in the count of the registration of pupils else the report of all those residents moving away had lacked in veracty It was easy to check the school enrolment figures and equally after noting the steady influx of boys and girls that overflowed the different school buildings and grounds. to the conclusion the growth of Phoenix had not stopped, even tenn porarily and that the prosperity of the city had kept pace with the increased population.
 From five school buildings and 36 teachers in 1909. when Superintendent John D. Loper took charge of the Phoenix grade schools; until the present year when IT buildings with TIT teachers comprise this great educational plant remarkable growth in size and efficiency has been made. Three of these buildings. the Longfellow, Emerson and Jackson schools. occupied for first time this year.
 The Phoenix Union high school which opened for the school year week ago, registered responding increase in attendance, there being enrolled the first day, 26s more than the open ing day last year. Two handsome buildings have been added to the high school group this year. the Industrial Arts and Liberal Arts buildings.
 With these added facilities both the high school and the grade schools prepared to for the increased enrolment in adequate manner But 1t probably will not be long before the familiar plaint of congested buildings and crowded class will again be heard. and 1t will be a healthy and encouraging complaint too. because will attest a growing and prosperous city,
 Phoenix has many reasons be proud of her schools They rank with the best in the country. has frequently been declared by those compe- tent to state and they conducted in economi- cal and the same time efficient manner. They are the biggest asset and the splendid exhibit in all the city.