Losing Ground
February 25th, 1922
The Deputy Minister (0-6275022)
Department of Education-Ed
Sir
I received yours of the 11th and Board Meeting held to-day. - I know, by experience, that it is your great desire to be fair towards our S.D. You, now, wish SE (not NE) 9, and SW10-54-4-5 to be taken from us and put to the Darwell District. The former belongs to the C.P.R. and will soon, I understand, be taxable. The latter belongs to a man (Loyngaard) who always pays his taxes.
My Board considers there will be nothing against this arrangement, if you give us the equivalent; but we cannot afford to lose these two 1/4 sections without.
Allow me to remind you, Sir, that we, now, only possess sixty-six quarter sections, and of these 66, eighteen are non-assessable.
Total area 10,383 acres, Assessable 7,503. God knows it is hard enough, now, to run the School!! (end of p.87)
We have probably the smallest and poorest District in Alberta. So we cannot, possibly, afford to lose any of our small income. Should you insist in taking these two 1/4 sections away from us, we firmly ask you to put the South 1/2 of Sec. 24 to our S.D. We now possess the North 1/2 and the South 1/2 formerly belonged to us, - in fact, our School used to be operated on SW24-53-4-5, before our S.D. was mutilated, without mercy, in order to help Wabamun & Rexboro.
Smithfield S.D. possesses ninety-nine 1/4 sections, with most of it settled and assessable. This against our 48 assessable. Yet it will cost as much to run our School as it does the Smithfield S.D.
We are cruelly penalized, and repectfully ask you to stand by us. - My Board maintains that the only way to fairly adjust matters, is to add paying Farms to our S.D. instead of taking them away; or else to allow us a large special Gov't Grant, if the School is operated. (end of p.88)
My Board wishes me to inform you, Sir, that Mr. Loyngaard is not a married man. Therefore, unless he wishes to sell his Farm, it makes no earthly difference to him whether he is 6 or 16 miles away from the School. The only thing which counts with him is the taxes, and he is bound to pay these, to either one District or the other. If his farm should be sold to a man with a family, my Board considers then will be the time to consider this question.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
P.S. My Board wishes to operate our School from April 2nd; right through the Summer and Fall, as long as weather permits, if the money can be found.
T.S.
(89)
March 25th, 1922
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education-Edmonton
Sir (0-12066-22)
I received your letter of the 9th inst. My Board met to-day, and I laid your letter before them. -
My Trustees wish me to say that although you, of course, have power to do as you like with us, and to take away from our 48 only assessable 1/4 sections they hope you will be merciful. It appears the Department won't lend us money. The Bank refuses to allow us to renew the $300.00 Note after May 3rd. With the exception of the Western Canada Land Co. we have only 24 possible Taxpayers, 10 of whom still owe last years taxes.
The Tax Enforcement Act is no benefit to us, for when a farm is offered, by auction, there is no bidders, so we not only do not get the arrears, but the farm ceases to be taxable. You misread my last letter, Sir. I said "We have probably the poorest S.D. in Alberta." Other Districts may be taxed higher but are better able to pay the taxes. -
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(90)
April 25th, 1922
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education-Ed
Sir (0-17514-22)
My Board met last Saturday the 22nd, and I was requested to send to you a copy of the Minutes, which I now do. Perhaps it is my duty to inform you that rebate month ends April 30th. Even if the Western Canada Land Co. cheque ($315.00) comes in this week, with the $70.00 G. Grant yet to come I shall only have in hand barely $700 -. $300.00 Bank Note is to be met May 3rd, Bank absolutely refuses renewal. Education Dept. (letter Nov. 3rd) refuses help - Therefore, Sir, unless unexpected money or help from an unseen quarter comes in we cannot possibly operate our School for more than 4 months even with the Teachers salary $4.00 each teaching day. It is best to look this in the face!!
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(92)
April 29th, 1922
The Manager
Royal Bank of Canada - Ed
Sir
I beg to enclose $402.39 with deposit statement. Will you please take the $300.00 (cheque enclosed) to wipe out our debt to you - Note due May 3rd, 1922, and place the balance $102.39 to our credit? Please send me an acknowledgement that the $300.00 Note has been met. - I think we shall now have a credit balance of $255.00. Am I correct? -
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(93)