The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-30
Hiqh School Plans
Continue Uncertain


Despite the fact the PWA loan and
grant Of $308, 100 to the Bismarck
school district for construction Of q
proposed new high school building
has been announced Is approved,
there still hangs over the situation
. cloud Of uncertainty, George f..
Will, president OF the board OF edu-
cation, revealed Monday.
Clouding the enterprise is the
PWA's recent request that the city
Of Bismarck raise its bond issue from
$203, 900 to $4,000.
This request was relayed to the
school board here by H. G. Knudsen
Of Devils Lake, state PWA engineer.
Knudsen told the Bismarck board
that he did not know the reason for
the requested increase In the Capital
City's share, but has communicated
with the PWA administrator In re-
gard to It.
VIII said the board here still enter
tains q hope that the PWA loan and
grant will be allowed under the pres
ent setup, adding that Knudsen ex-
poets to hear from Washington re-
garding the matter some time this
week.
Would Require Election
To increase the bond issue, Will
said, 1t would b necessary to have
another election, not only for ap-
prevail of the additional $4,000 in
bonds asked, but also for approval
from the voters to exceed the statu-
tory limit for bonds.
The $203 900 bond issue approx
mates the statutory limit Of five per
cent " totxI valuation, Wi1f slid. Ii
view Of the fact that taxable valua-
tons were reduced BY one-third In
June. 1882.
An alternative to increasing the
bond issue, Will explained, would be
to reduce the total cost Of the pro-
posed high school building.
Such procedure, however, might
entail q complete revision OF the
plans and indefinite delay because Of
the fact that, due to rising prices Of
materials, 90 many Of the original
features planned for the building
have been eliminated as to make fur
ther eliminations impractical for the
building - now planned.
All hope Of beginning construction
Of the new structure before July at
the earliest has been abandoned by
the Bismarck board Of education, VIII
said.
Following final approval by the
government on the project, the local
school board must advertise for 30
days for bids on the bonds. This ad-
vertisement Is necessary despite the
fact the government probably will
take over the bonds, which would be
the case in the absence Of better bids.
Require Two Months
Following the sale Of bonds, the
board then would advertise for 20
days for construction bids. These
two advertisements would require two
full months, making 1t impossible for
construction to begin before that
time, viii said.
Ritterbush Brothers Of Bismarck,
architects, estimate that q full year
would be required to complete the
structure, precluding the possibility
that the building could b used be-
fore the fall Of 1885.
Under the original plan, the city
was to supply 427SO00 Of construction
and furnishing costs while the fed
eral government was to supply 4I00, :
900, Or 30 per cent Of 1861 900, the
eatinatA for labor and material costs.
The city has $4,000 In . special
building fund, which, added TO the
3203, 900 bond issue approved last
Sept. II, brings the city's total to
427eyO00.
It Is estimated about $4,000 addi-
tional viii be required to furnish the
building.