Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-04-21

Any immediate prospect of the adop-
tion Of the Junior high school system
and the erection of n new junior high
school building in the city of Augusta
was completely and finally blasted
Monday evening when the citizens as
sembled in City hall auditorium at the
annual school meeting, with but a
scant half dozen dissenting votes, ac-
cepted the motion introduced by Sewall
Webster to indefinitely postpone ac-
tion on a motion which had for it's in
tent and purpose the acquiring of a 10,
of land on Stone street opposite the
Cony High school for the purpose of
erecting such a school building.
The action by the citizens came
after a lengthy discussion of the many
phases which had entered into the
proposition of adoption of the junior
high plan and the new building spro-
ject. The discussion was participated
in pro and con by many speakers. and
where the meeting at first seemed on
the verge of adopting the motion
which would commit them to the jun
ior high plan, they were swayed by the
eloquence of those who opposed either
the system itself or the specific pro-
posal to purchase or acquire part of
the old Reuel Williams estate by right
of eminent domain, and when the vote
was taken on the motion which would
effectually squelch the whole PROPOSE
tion. for this year at least, the senti-
ment had strongly turned against the
junior high proposal.
The meeting Of last evening was
probably one one of the most largely
attended school meetings ever held in
this city. The interest in the junior
high issue was paramount and between
500 and COO voters occupied the seats
in City hall auditorium ready to regis
ter their will on the several questions
as they came to a vote.
The discussion and action on the mo-
tion to postpone the proposed action to
purchase or acquire a so called school
lot" was the last important matter
to be considered by the school meeting.
This issue held the center of the stage
and interest for the greater part of the
evening, the other six articles of the
warrant being disposed of with dis
patch.
Congressman Nelson, Moderator
After the opening of the meeting
and the reading of the call by Frank
Hewins, chairman of the board, Hon.
John Il. Nelson was elected modera-
tor, with Rev. Howard II. Brown as
secretary. The report of the board
of education as presented by Super
intcndent of Schools Fred w. Bur-
rill, and as printed and distributed
to the citizens, was accepted.
The meeting authorized the ap-
preparation of S143,95241 for the
schools of the city Of Augusta for
the current year. OF that amount
$135 5O1S.41 is for current expenses
and SS934 is for the retirement OF
and interest on bonded Indebtedness.
Previously the money for the retire
ment and interest on bonds has been
appropriated by the city government
and this is the first year that that
sum has been included in the school
meeting appropriation.
TO Purchase Land for Playground
Thomas II. Bodge explained
something of the need of additional
land for a playground at the Will
liams grammar school on Bangor
street and introduced a motion au-
thorizing the purchase of a certain
designated plot of land just north
and another small triangular piece
east of that on Quimby street. The
price to ne paid is to be determined
by 4 board of three disinterested ap-
prisers, one to he named by the
city government, one by the property
owner and the third to be selected
by these two. The motion author
lied the payment of $1,000 of the
purchase price this year and the bal
ance in 1926.
Speaking for the welfare of the
children who will attend that school
in the future, Hon. Frank G.. Far.
rington spoke in favor of the mo.
ton and seconded it. When put to
the meeting the motion was unan-
imously adopted.
Report of Spccia, Committee
The report of the special commit
tee authorized at the last annual
meeting to investigate conditions in
the city schools, w3s presented by
Williams B. Getchefl, and was ac-
ccpted. This report reviewed the
circumstances of the naming of the
special committee, gave compre-
hensive tabulation of the present size
and capacity. attendance and regis
tration. in the several school build
ings of the urban district, and then
declared:
apparently existing conditions
NJ n