The Sauk Centre herald., 1937-03-11


reasons in the light of your own
statements contained in the Pam
phlet as well as in the light OF pal
pable facts.
1. On your own testimony the
present capacity falls short of pre-
sent enrolment by 80. Also, on
your own testimony there are en-
rolled 70 Nonresident pupils. You
admit, then, that our present Sem
ior High building is adequate for
resident enrolment. Your first
reason, therefore, means nothing
more or less than that we are be-
ing asked to build at an indebted
ness to us of $165,O00 school
building for Non-residents.
On this point 1t is noted that you
make no reference to any antici-
pated emergency arising in the
near future due to increased resi-
dent enrolment. There seems little
danger Of a sudden increase in the
near future. But what about
growth Of our city? Well, the
city of Sauk Centre has in
creased its population only 125 per
cent in 81 years. In 1880 the pop
ulation was 1900. Today 1t is but
2711. We are informed, though we
have not had time to verify the in
formation, that there has been
built in Sank Centre only one new
home in the last four years. Dan
ger Of sudden growth does not
seem imminent.
2. Let us look at your second
reason. Safety from fire hazards!
Yes, our school children should be
properly safeguarded. We wonder
though, why the consideration OF
this point should have been re.
served to this late date and this
particular occasion. For "a years
this Senior High building has beer
without a fire escape despite the
fact that a tubular fire escape
might have been installed at any
time in all these years for as little
as $500. But surely the Board o.
Education does not expect us to be
lieve that it has been seriously
concerned with this matter. If /
we're we find it difficult to recon
cile that concern with the fac
that it deliberately converted
large section of none too larg'
basement into a garage for tn
school buses. Three school buses!
Let us grant that the Senio
High building is too small and tina
the appointments are not up t
standard. The common sense thing
then, is to correct these conditions
If the building is too small let u
enlarge it. Or build an annex. Tn
average private home Is not quit
up to what the owner or occupan
would desire. Do we wreck 1t an
/ build another? We do not. We RI
model it or we build on to it.
| Wreck a $4,000 or $4,000 build
| ing such as our Senior High for
, mere salvage of $2500! No! An
again No! And in this connectio
let 1t be said that the zealots fo
such wanton destruction Of proper
ty are not thinking in terms
class rooms and fire safety but
? terms of gymnasiums and assen
bly, halls. They are confusing ed'
cation with magnificence of built
3 ing-measuring education with tn
l yardstick of bricks and stones an
mortar.
3. Profits accruing from MOI
resident pupils. AS to profits frol
i, state aid over and above the CO.
of education and transportation
Nonresident pupils the figur'
a given us in the Pamphlet are
e first blush rather plausible. Wht
we scrutinize them, however, th'
: remind us of the chap that estir
/ ates his cost of maintaining his c.
by computing the cost Of gas al
: oil. and of these alone. So, to
n with these school profits. Wh'
n the initial cost of building Is II
L ured in and the interest on the !