The Mankato free press., 1921-03-25
SELLE GIVES THE FACTS
Backed Up BY Talk From
w. D. Willard
ADDRESS BY PROSSER
Gentleman From Minneapolis
Spoke At G. and c.; kiWanis
Club Meeting

Concensus of opinion at the joint
meeting Of the Mankato Civic and
Commerce association and the XII
wants club last night was that Man
alto is in great need of more and bet
ter schools. This sentiment was
brought out by able talks on the Man
kato school situation by Superinten-
dent E. S. Selle of the city and w
d. Willard. one of the members OF
the board of education. The principal
speaker of the evening was DIR: G. A
Prosser, president OF Dunwoody In
stitute of Minneapolis, whose address
on Community Service" was listened
10 with great interest. President w
A Streater of the Mankato Civic and
Commerce association presided al
the meeting and intIoduced the
speakers. The meeting was held fol-
lowing a splendid $3.50 dinner served
by the ladies of the Eastern Star at
borhood Of 225 people were served
with delicious repast. The tables
were nicely decorated with red carna-
tions and ferns, which had been dom
ated by N. Nielsen. one Of the local
florists. Five boxes of candy were
also given away as attendance prizes
by the Kiwanis club. These were do
\ mated by the firm OF Rosenberger
roII GTTrisT cs the caqsd usual ont kisae saeb
each person rising introducing him
self, and what business he followed
Some of these were very amusing
Before taking UP the regular program
Of the evening the entire assem- blage
INDUCED in a community sing. led by
Miss CorneHa Mansfield in her
usual pleasing manner.
The School Needs.
In order to aquaint the large mum
Der Of people present with the true
situation in this city as to the school
needs. Superintendent Selle with the
aid Of charts and figures showed that
the condition of the high school is in
a very crowSed condition. This over
crowded situation in the high school
Is very dangerous one, and some
provieion will soon have to be made
to acoomodate at least $50 pupils in
some others way, if pupils are to re-
ent high school capacity is an
accommodation for more than $50
pupils. but at the present time there
are 936, in attendance, or practically
400 over the capacity of the school
building. Superintendent Selle said
that in case OF fire with this crowd
ed condition il would be very danger
Gus. The law requires that there
should be three full width exits in
the present time there are but three
such exits. One of the state fire mar
shals IN a recent visit to the school
said that something will have to be
done to remedy the dangerous sit
uation Owing to this overcrowd-
ed condition, some classes are be-
ing held in the attic and in the
basement, where the lighting is very
poor. and conditions generally very
unsatisfactory.
School Tax Lower Than Elsewhere.
BY the aid Of a number of charts,
the speaker showed that Mankato is
not paying nearly as high a school
tax as great many Of the cities OF
the state. In fact If the proposed
$4,000 school bond issue were float
ed 1t would not bring the Mankato
school tax up to the average paid
throughout the state. In referring to
the proposed bond issue Superinten-
dent Selle said:
THE voting of these bonds will
,necessitate an addition of three mills
ito the tax levy next year to cover in
terest. 1t is thought that five years
from now, when the first bonds
mature. this three mill levy will be
sufficient to redeem the bonds thai
est, because Mankato's valuation
shows steady increase. This three
mill levy will mean an increase OF
about so cents per thousand dollars
of market value. II your property has
market value of $4,000, you will
pay about S6 additional tax. IL you are
paying 800 in taxes this year, you
will pay s104.4S next year, if these
bonds are voted.
! "But suppose that Mankato's tax
able wealth does not increase at all
Il thing which is unthinkable, a levy
of three and a half mills would pay
on the whole debt, principal and in.
terest, in thirty years. A levy of foul
mills would pay it off in twenty five
years. These figures are based or
present valuation
"Our schooi tax rate now is 2;
mills, 11.65 mills below the average
for Minnesota cities of about Man
kato's size. If we were levying JUS
at the average rate-34.65 mills-we
could pay for the proposed building il
FIVE years,
at will take 25O to 300 junior High
School pupils from the crowded high
school building.
dangerous, LlnCOln DulIuluS.
W. D. Willard said that as far bach
as five years ago, the members o.
the board of education realized tha
something would have to be done il
the way of more and better schoo
buildings After a thorough canvass
of the situation program was lait
out even before the erection Of the
Union school, and this program in thu
judgement of the board should be
carried out in order to meet Man.
kato's school needs. This program in
cludes first the building on the LIN
coin school site a combination grade
and junior high school. At this poin
in his talk Mr. Willard explained the
advantages to be gained by the pupil!
in the junior high school plan as
over the old plan of the grades. It il
planned to have the grade department
of the proposed new school accomo
date 400 children. The front part o.
the new building is to be three stories
high and capable Of accommodating 40(
junior high school students. The con
Meeting link between the two build
ings would contain the auditorium
manual training rooms etc. This site
will cost in the neighborhood o
$4,000, and the building itself abou
100000 In referring TO the old Lin
colnsschool Mr.. willard said that Il