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Show COMMITTEE PUSHES PROJECT , FOR MARKER COMMEMORATING FIRST FREE PUBLIC SCHOOL MAYOR, RECORDER SIGN AGREEMENT FOR FIRE TRUCK Plans for honoring pioneer educators educa-tors of American Fork who established estab-lished the first free public school supported by taxation in the Deseret Territory were advanced this week, when the city council approved the report of a committee working on the project. George F. Shelley of the committee, commit-tee, of" which Councilman William S. Storrs also is a member, appeared at the city council meeting Monday night and reported on activities of the committee. The committee was appointed recently by the council to study the feasibility of erecting a I monument to the first free school in the territory. Mr. Shelley reported that in March, 1866, the Deseret Territorial legislature legisla-ture passed a law enabling any community com-munity to levy a tax for the purpose of supporting a free school. In November No-vember of the same year. Bishop Leonara Harrington of the o 1 d American Fork ward called a meeting, meet-ing, and by a very close vote a free school, financed by taxation, was approved for American Fork. Claim Established Huntsville has claimed the honor of having established the first free school, Mr. Shelley reported. It was later found that American Fork came first, he said. There has been some discussion as to who was the teacher of the first free public school here, Mr. Shelley reported. He continued that Joseph B. Forbes and Eugene Henriod both claimed the honor. Daniel Harrington, Harring-ton, of Salt Lake City, a son of Bishop Bish-op Harrington, has suggested to the coihmittee that names of both teach- ers be placed on the monument plate as being the first teachers as both evidently were teachers at that time. The two local camps of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, with the sanction of the state department, are interested inter-ested in the project for erecting a suitable monument, Mr. Shellep re-I re-I ported. It is the plan of the Daughters Daugh-ters of Utah Pioneers that all committees com-mittees meet and arrange for finances fi-nances to complete the project. It is also suggested that the Alpine district dis-trict school board cooperate. Inasmuch as few "old timers" are still living, Mi-. Shelley suggested further that a history of American Fork be compiled before the opportunity oppor-tunity for doing so is gone. Diaries of William Greenwood, William Robinson Rob-inson and others are available for this purpose. He suggested that this work could be completed for a nominal nomi-nal sum. . The report was approved by the councilmen. S. V. Trent, representing the Mack company, presented the lease agree- ment for the new city fire truck, the contract for which was awarded to the Mack company. The agreement agree-ment authorizing the company to proceed with construction of the truck and defining terms of the five-year five-year payment plan was approved and signed by Mayor Albert Tregaskis and Recorder Karl Bennett. Recreation Appropriations Assuring continuance of the community com-munity recreation program during the winter months, a monthly appropriation appro-priation of $50 for this purpose was approved. Representing the Recreation Recrea-tion committee, Jesse M. Walker, Mrs. Delbert Chipman and Earl Holmstead appeared at the meeting and asked for the appropriation. The motion was made by Councilman Ray Ellison and seconded by Councilman Coun-cilman G. H. Gordon. A proposed cemetery project was discussed by the council. A new pro- ject would call for completion of the rock wall, and other improvements. W. E. Hoggard was low bidder on oil-treated slack coal to be supplied to the city this winter. A .contract price was approved, and purchases for city needs will be made at this price. o |