The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-02-03
L THE BONDS

VI AA~
lied by this school district for the
building of a new High School build
ing have been sold AT PAR and &C
crued interest.
A few months ago the trustees of
the school district contracted for the
sale of these bonds at ninety cents
on the dollar, which caused the Press
and Banner to severely criticise their
actions, calling attention to the law
which declared that the bonds could
not be sold for less than par, and at
the same time declaring that the time
would come in a year or two when
these bonds could be sold for par and
the district not be called on to lose
ten thousand dollars.
Some people who for the want of
something else to say like to dis
agree with the Press and Banner, at
that time stated that "other towns"
were selling like bonds at the price
offered here; that building was cheap
and that it was better to accept the
offer and carry out the contract
made by the trustees than to cancel
the sale. A few short months have
served to show the people who gave
them the better advice in this mat
ter.
Building materials taken as a
whole are not higher than was the
case in the summer; labor is certain
ly cheaper;;s apd the school building
may now be eTected as cheaply, per-
haps a little more cheaply, than it
could have been erected SIX months
ago. The school district is ahead the
sum of ten thousand dollars, and
the bond-buyers have a bargain in
the bonds at par which they would
not willingly part wlthal."
With the money in hand the trus-
tees of the school district may pro-
coed first to pay off the indebtedness
against the present buildings which
were made in order to secure proper
heating facilities for the present
buildings and which Indebtedness the
National Bank has carried for the
district for a considerable time and
at great inconvenience, no doubt.
They may then proceed to erect a
high school building suitable to our
wants and requirements, which when
completed will give this school dis.
trict adequate school facilities and
enable US TO carry on the work of
running the schools without being
hampered.
In the erection Of the building
,soon to be erected, we trust that the
trustees will see that we get a sub
stantial permanent building, suited
to the wants of the town for a period
of at least twenty-five years. Nothing
necessary to this end should be neg
lected but at the same time we
would Ike to suggest to the trustees
that 40 money should be spent which
is not necessary to this end. If the
Press and Banner should ms Ike a
friendly criticism of the yresent
board it would be to the effect that
there are signs of extravaganza about
where there should be nothing but
evidence Of economy. We say that in
the most friendly attitude towards
the board, believing that the men,
bers of the board will be glad to
know the feelings and view of peo-
pie on the outside. The taxes which
. must be pad on the bonds for in
terest and principal for the next few
years at least will be hard to pay,
and knowing this every effort should
be made to keep down Unnecessary
expenditures.
Having said this, we say as we
said when the bonds were being is
sued that we hope to see the school
district furnish to the people of the
district as good schools as are to be
found anywhere. The district is
poor in taxable property and is with
out the available funds which some
districts have, but nevertheless with
Il true spirit of economy on the part
Of the school authorities there is no
reason why we should not have what