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     On October 18, 1910, a letter was sent to all the county superintendents of the state asking for information relative to new rural school buildings built for the years 1905 to 1910, inclusive. The letter asked for the number of new rural buildings in each county, the average cost, the number with modern facilities as to heating, lighting, and ventilating; the number of old school buildings that had been either reconstructed or equipped so as to make the building modern as to heating, lighting, and ventilation. County superintendents also were asked to report new rural modern school buildings, in a special report, describing each new building in detail. This letter stated that but one request would be made for the information.

     Practically all the county superintendents responded. The summary of these reports show that there has been built during the years 1905 to 1910, inclusive, more than 600 new buildings, at a total cost of $444,000.00. The average cost reported ranges from $400.00 to $3,500.00. The larger number come within the prices ranging from $1,000.00 to $1 500.00 A few country buildings are reported costing as high as $3,500.00.

     It is a pleasure to note that practically all of the buildings costing $1,000.00 and upwards, have been equipped with modern heating, lighting and ventilating facilities along the latest lines of rural schoolhouse construction.

     October 19, 1910, a letter was sent to all city superintendents and village principals in the state, asking for information and statistics regarding new school buildings that had been built in cities and villages for the school years 1905 to 1910, inclusive. This letter called for information regarding the material used in the construction of the building, the total cost of the building, including heating and plumbing. the number of rooms in use In the building, the purposes for which each was used, the method of heating, lighting, and ventilation, with information as to special features incorporated In the building, such as sanitary drinking fountains, gymnasiums, domestic science, and manual training equipment.

     The superintendents and principals were informed that but one request would be made for this information.

     The returns received at the office of the state superintendent show that a grand total of $2,750,000.00 was spent for new buildings in cities and towns for the years 1905 to 1910, inclusive. The greater number of these buildings were constructed of brick, and a large majority are heated with steam. All of the larger and newer buildings are provided with gymnasium rooms and have domestic science and manual training equipment.

     County ________

     1. Total number of new rural school buildings __________

     2. Average cost of new rural school buildings __________

        (Where exact figures cannot be secured from the records, make a careful estimate.)

     3. Number of above that have modern facilities as to heating. lighting, and ventilation __________

     4. Number of above that are modern as to

        (a) Heating and ventilating only __________

        (b) Lighting only __________

     5. Number of old school buildings that have been either reconstructed or equipped so as to make a modern building as to heating, ventilating, and lighting __________

     6. Number of above that have been made modern as to

        (a) Heating and ventilating only __________

        (b) Lighting only __________

     If you have a new rural school building entirely modern in all respects, we should like a special report as to its construction, equipment, surroundings, etc., and a half-tone cut of same, for use in the biennial report.

Reported by __________     

County Superintendent.

October ----, 1910.

      *Includes a four-room building.

     **Excludes the modern $8,000 building in the consolidated district at Sholes.

     This school house is located six miles northwest of Ponca in the Aowa valley and was built in 1910. The school board had been planning for the new building for two or three years and had the grounds in excellent shape and had provided funds by voting the limit for two years before building, so no bonds were needed. The site consists of two acres in a beautiful valley. The yard is well sodded and fenced with gas pipe run through heavy posts. Gates are made from the gas pipe and the fence serves the double purpose for fence and hitch-rack. On the north and west the yard is protected by three rows of spruce and pine trees. On one corner of the yard stands the old school house, now used for a barn.. Good outbuildings, a drive well and pump, and a flag staff are on the grounds.

     The school house has a cement block foundation, is 28x36 feet in size with 14-foot ceiling. Porches protect the two entrances. All doors are half glass and the outside ones have patent stops to prevent slamming. The building has a school room, hall, cloak room and a room for manual training-now used for library. The manual training room is lighted by two windows in the east, which are not shown in the picture. The cloak room has racks for wraps and hats, lockers for dinner pails, and a dresser. The school room proper is about 27x27 feet and seats forty-two pupils. Desks are single and have those of the same size in rows. All light for the school room comes from the north and enters at the left of the pupils. The cottage window in the west is of ground glass and admits no direct rays. The heating and ventilating Is provided by a Smith heater. The school is well equipped, having plenty of textbooks, over two hundred volumes in the library in sectional cases, an organ, pendant globe, good pictures, and plenty of maps. The teacher is paid $65 per month.

      This school house cost $1,600 without heating plant or furniture. The entire property represents an investment of about $3,750. The school board who built the new house were O. G. Randol, A. W. Curry and C. E. Stading. The district has about seven sections of land.

A. V. TEED.

     The main floor will seat fifty pupils. Adjoining this is a teacher's room, 10x10. The front wall is blank. Lights are from the rear, and stained glass windows on the side, placed high in the wall. Wash basin and drinking fountains are placed in the hallway, and separate closets are located in the basement. The building is heated by furnace. Total cost about $3,500.

     Building is supplied with excellent maps, globes, and new seats.

B. E. HAYS.     

     We have four modern buildings which are very good, we think. I will send you a picture of one which is the best building we have in the county. It is brick and well equipped with Smith heating system, single seats, bookcase, organ, maps, etc.

     Two other buildings are just finished, which were planned by an architect and are very good. It took quite a little work to get the building committees to get the up-to-date plans, but they were glad of it before they were through building.

     The heating plants are Round Oak and The Smith.

     I think we will get a number of other districts to purchase before the end of the present year.

     When we get them in one district, the one adjoining will begin to take notice.

R. C. HARRISS.     

     Built 1005-1910 Inclusive. City or village New building or addition________

     Purpose (For all grades; high school only; grades only)________

     Year completed Material used (Brick, stone, frame)________

     Cost of building (including heating and plumbing)________

     Rooms (Number)________

     (For what purpose used):________

     Basement________

     First floor________

     Second floor________

     Third floor________

     Total number of rooms in building________

     Heating (Hot water, steam, hot air, stoves)________

     Lighting of rooms (Windows on one, two or three sides)________

     Ventilating (Windows and door only, name or kind of other system)________

     Special features (Sanitary drinking fountains, etc.)________

     Can you loan a half-tone cut of the new building for use in the forthcoming biennial report?________

Reported by____________________________  
Superintendent or Principal         

     October---- , 1910.

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