Salt Lake Tribune | 1910-01-25 | Page 9 | A Plea from the Federation

I A PLEA FROM THE FEDERATION Editor Tribune About five years ao Salt Lake City entered upon a period of public improvements, and wo now point with pride to the number of miles of paving, sldowalks, curbing, sewer and water pipes that have been laid. Millions Mil-lions of dollars have been expended. For many years tho old town slumbered, mossbacklstn prevailed, and It was difficult diffi-cult to arouse Interest or secure any improvements, even in those things most essential to the comfort and convenience conven-ience of her people. We pride oursclvos that this Is a condition of tho past and that at last vc have awakened to our civic duties and responsibilities, and we now glory In our city, in her growth and development, and in tho determination to make our city a beautiful city. We realize that a city of line residences resi-dences and grounds is out of keeping with muddy streets and sidewalks. But whllo wo arc progressing nlong these lines we should bear In mind thaL for the city to take her place In the affairs of state and command a position to which she Is truly entitled, wo must give heed to matters other than material. And moreover wo must not forget that our growth and development have brought to us many thousands of children, and In order thsjl these children may got the best out of life and become creditable meinbeifl of society, they must have tbe opportunity to attend tbe public schools tbe grades and tbe high school as well. The boundaries of the city have been extended, thus imposing additional burdens bur-dens upon the school board. It Is impossible im-possible to meet tho requirements from taxation alone, and the members of the board have asked the people to vote for bonds four hundred and llfty thousand dollars of which are to be used for so-curing so-curing tho site and erecting: and equipping equip-ping an east side high school building, llfty thousand dollars to be used in improving im-proving the old high school building, and two hundred thousand dollars to be used In erecting additional grado schools. No one can make a careful examination of the needs of the hlfjh school and of additional ad-ditional grade schools without being convinced con-vinced that the school board's demand Is most moderate and reasonable. It Is a shame and disgrace that we have no bettor equipment for our high school. A well-known fact Is that our schools ure rated excellent, and tho graduate from. our high school is given entrance to all colleges, even the most cbnscrva-tive, cbnscrva-tive, without examination. But it will be impossible to maintain tho present standard with the overcrowded conditions condi-tions that now prevail. Tho only objection that has been made against the granting of the bonds is the charges of irregularities on the part of the school board. While It is probable that, some of the members have been derelict in their duties, yet an examination examina-tion of the personnel of the board shows that It contains men who are respected and whose honor and Integrity arc beyond be-yond question, and the names of these men are sufficient guarantee that the money will be expended with rcasonablo prudoncc and economy. The need of the high school and new grade schools Is so great that we cannot allow ourselves our-selves to be swerved from our duty to grant it. by any side Issues. Partisanship should not be permitted to restrain those who believe in the city's progress from doing their full duty to the school system and to the school children- CIVIC COMMITTEE, FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS.