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Thursday, June 3, 2021

Saluda Needs Action on New School, Says Henry Corwith, June 3, 1921

Wither Are We Going?

By Henry P. Corwith, Saluda, N.C.

To the citizens of Saluda township:

Believing that the people of Saluda township and Polk county are interested in the education of their children to best advantage, and desire that the future citizens of this county should receive instruction in good buildings, and through the best of teachers, I am writing to ask a few questions as to why our County Board of Education takes so little active interest in the securing of a suitable school building for this district? We have made but little progress during the seven years I have been in Saluda—except indeed in the way of taxes, which have materially increased, and Saluda township has paid, for years, more money in the way of taxes than it has received in school benefits. Is it not time for its citizens to demand some service for their children? When I came here we had one dilapidated school house, poorly equipped, which was sold at private sale by the County Board of Education, and without being advertised for bids. Some time afterwards a new building was erected in the Morris, or Salley district, where I understand there have never been enough scholars to constitute a legal district, and now Dr. Salley, chairman of the Board, says they are planning to bring these few children to Saluda for instruction when Saluda has a school building.

The next public school in Saluda school district as I remember it was held in Mr. Hamer’s private home, although it was to have been at Poplar Glen, but was changed to back up Mr. Hamer’s private school, which (was) situated at almost the furtherest (furthest) end of the school district. I was assured in advance by Dr. Salley that this school would never be used as a public school, but it was, and was supported by public funds. I retired from the board at the opening of this school.

A little over a year ago we were asked to vote $20,000 bonds to build a new school house. These bonds would have been defeated but for the promise by Dr. Salley that we should elect our own school board, and school district commissioners, and be able to handle our own money and run our own school. After being in office a little over a year we find we have no power to do anything, except follow the Coutny Board of Education. They were to have sold the $20,000 in bonds, but have failed to do so, even when our banks and private interests agreed to take $17,000 of these bonds, leaving but $3,000 to be disposed of. They did not complete the sale, and are still promising to sell them, but when will they do so?

With matters in this shape, and facing the impossibility of erecting a suitable building in time for the beginning of the fall term—even were the money available at this moment some 30 days ago the Board of Commissioners was offered the brick seminary school building, and the playgrounds, in exchange for the $20,000 bonds worth only today $18,000 in cash if sold to the best advantage. We spoke to Dr. Salley about the offer, and he said he would have the state school inspector come and look the proposition over.

He is still coming. After waiting nearly three weeks for the inspector we asked Dr. Salley to have Mr. Cobb come and investigate. He did so, and advised us to offer $13,000 for the seminary property—this after Dr. Salley had said that the land was worth $10,000 and the building $10,000, and we find the best bid that was put in for the construction of this building was $26,000, and since then some $4,000 was added for plumbing, and, in addition, the seats, piano, library, and other equipment was included in the $20,000 offer, and we thought we were offered this school building, practically ready for use, at a very low price, and when we considered this splendid work of the seminary in Saluda township during the past 30 years, we felt it was not our place to quibble about the price, particularly in view of the fact that our bonds were not sold, and there does not seem to be any reasonable hope of their being sold.

Is it not time for the citizens to demand some service for their children, or will they live on the promises of Dr. Salley and the County Board of Guardians who have the control of the education of our children? I have heard it said that, because we had living in Saluda the chairman of our County Board of Education we therefore had a pull. Have you ever seen the pull coming our way? If so when?

After considering the seminary proposition, we asked for a final talk with Dr. Salley, which was made by R.M. Hall. Dr. Salley declined to meet with us, therefore the majority of the board being in favor of the purchase of the seminary building, but lacking the cooperation of the County Board of Education, we decided to resign, and have accordingly tendered our resignation to the citizens, to be acted upon Saturday, June 11 at 3 p.m., at the meeting called at the Odd Fellows Hall in Saluda.

Saluda township seems to be in a bad way for schools, and their proper management. What is the trouble? Many of the citizens feel that petty politics is the cause, and the charge of graft is in the air. Is it not time for the citizens to vote for, and support men and women of ability, and known civic interest to look after educational matters.

I now appeal to you, as citizens of Saluda, to come to the school meeting June 11, and express yourselves fully as to what you want. This is the only way you can get it.

From the front page of The Polk County News, Tryon, N.C., June 3, 1921

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