The Portland daily press., 1872-01-24

A special meeting of the City Council wa
hold Loot avanipp

IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
Howard G. Freeman and jeremiah johnson
were appointed and confirmed as policemen
without pay.
Alderman King, for the joint committee of
the City Council and School Committee on the
communication of State Superintendent John
son in relation to the matter of the appoint
ment of School Supervisor for Cumberland
county, who shall have special charge of the
city schools, reported that action at this time is
inexpedient, and the report was accepted.
Ordered, That the Committee on Streets, &C.,
be and are hereby requested to obtain permits
sion of the Harbor Commissioners for authori-
ty to construct the Marginal Way now laid out
from Could wharf to the Grand Trunk Rail-
way.
Both Boards then went into joint Convention.
IN CONVENTION.
The report of the special committee of the
School Board, in relation to improved school
accommodations in the western part of the city,
was read by the City Clerk. [This report has
already been published.
Mr. George w. True, chairman of the School
Committee, by invitation, addressed the Con-
vention, explaining and enforcing the views of
the report and the superior advantages of the
North school system. One excellent benefit
will be the co-education of sexes. Mr.. True
read from the report of Hon. w. T. Harris, Su-
perntendent of st. Louis public schools, in
earnest support of said view as matter of pro-
gress economy, discipline aud instruction. The
materialistic tendency of the boys and the real
Il
system better for both sexes generally, making
the average standard of scholarship greater.
DR.. S. c. Gordon remarked that the particu-
lar objection will be that made against the
North School, As one of the subcommittee
on the North School, 1 can give just idea of
said school. The early prevalent impressions
as to construction were objections. After in
yestigation and experience, will say as to ar
chtecture, school purposes and class uses, if not
the most desirable, it is the best in the city In
regard to too many pupils in one building in
case of alarm, the modes of ingress and egress-
so as to open outward; no doors locked during
school hours; first floor eight rooms for prim-
aries; second, easy and broad steps flight, eight
rooms for higher primaries; third, eight gram.
mar schools; neither flight is wearisome. Ex-
animation will show this. Eben Wentworth,
Master (twenty-four teachers); under his ex-
cellent supervision the whole is admirably con-
Quoted. Pupils of superior ability progressing
under this system, instead of leaving for pri-
vate schools, are here enabled to progress more
rapidly and reach graduation at an earlier day.
Under such system the supervision is constant,
and SO is far superior to that of a superintend-
ent of the whole city. The ventilation is
surpassed and the heating method excellent.
In conclusion he reafirmed his satisfaction
with the North School, its system and its re-
suits.
NJ A. Blanchard esq.,, presented the plan of
the proposed school house on Bracket street,
giving ground plan and elevations. They are
submitted for the City Councils examination
Committee for repairs upon the present school
houses The North School edifice was long
contemplated, and although when erected cost
large sum of money, yet it has fully met the
anticipations of the committee. The commit
tee are constantly being urged by parents for
better school houses. Mr.. Blanchard, as the
other speakers, alluded to the superiority of the
concentrated system as to supervision, scholar
ship, economy and progress generally. The
School Committee are unanimous in the recon-
mendation made If the members of the City
Council will only visit the present schools they
cannot fail to arrive at the same conclusions
The reason for bringing the matter before the
City Council SO late in the municipal year is
because it is necessary to commence building
operations at once. The Bracket street lot is
54x27 feet. There is a corner house which ought
to be bought as more room is needed. The
committee, however, do not propose to advise
the City Council, but will be satisfied with any
central locality and desirable building
Lewis B. Smith, Esq, followed, sustaining
the views of the previous speakers.
The urgent demand for better accommoda-
tiOns induced the report at this time.
In answer to an inquiry Mr.. Smith remarked
that nineteen out of twenty of the applications
for such school edifice as proposed came from
parents of small children, showing that fathers
and mothers do not object to | their
young children going the probable distance;
also that the steam heating apparatus required
for the Park Street School would cost $780,
and also that the egress from the Bracket
street school as positively dangerous. The dis
trict line in contemplation is between the west
of High and Green streets, Spring and Oak to
the water. The buildings to be discontinued
would be the Walnut, Vaughan, Park and the
one on Spring street and the Centre street
EFT street, the Bracket street school would
have to come down. The Bracket street schol-
ars could be accommodated at the other schools
during construction, sessions being reduced for
10 Ire fia,,x
at the time during which it is proposed to erect
the new building As the heating saving is
estimated at 20 per cent. in favor of coal and
steam. The average distance to be travelled
Councilman John SWEET liked the plan but
hoped that children would be taught honesty in
public schools.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Alderman Senter offered the following ordel
which was referred to the Committees on Pub
lie Buildings and Public Instruction and sem
DOWN.
That the Committee on Public Buildings be-
and they are hereby authorized and directed tt
cause to be constructed ON the Bracket street
lot, by contract or otherwise, as they may deem
best, on consultation with the School Commit
tee such school house as may be Judged to bt
best for the accommodation of primary anC
grammar schools as proposed by the S. S. Com
mittee.
Ordered, That the City treasurer be and hereb,
is authorized to hire the sum of $4,000 ON
term of time not exceeding twenty years, tn
same to be applied to the payment for the con
struction of new school house on Bracket
street
Alderman Mccarthy moved to indefnitel
postpone the whole matter, which was lost
to 6-Mr. Mccarthy voting in the affirmative
Alderman Winship offered an srder that tn
Committee ON Public Buildings and the Com
mittee on Public instruction be authorized t
procure plans and specifications and estimate
of the probable cost of new school house; an
to report what in their opinion the several lo'
which the School Committee recommend to
sold, can be sold for: and in fact to take int
consideration the whole matter and report a
soon as possible. The Alderman referred thi
to the Committees on Public Buildings An
Public Instruction, but the Council indefinitel
postponed it, and the preceding orders.
Adjourned
Some wretch stole the contribution box of til
Young Mems Christian Association from til
entry of Mechanics Hall. Nobody but til
thief knows how much money was in it, but
10 1ONa{f la4sA L IL