Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-04
HI OLD SIEVE"
New schoeI Building Proposed to be
Erected.

New school Building Proposed to be
Erected.
At II O'Clock yesterday the represents
tives of the two dailies of this city, accom-
panied by several other prominent citizens
of Nashville, visited the Hume school for
the purpose of learning the true condition
Of the old shanty at the rear of the Hume
lot, in which three hundred and forty school
children have heretofore swelteted during
hot weather, and froze in the winter.
The two newspaper chaps had a vague
idea of proposing to the Spruce Street Rail-
way Company that they take said shanty
politely called a school hCuse), and use the
same for a stable, transferring TO the city
for school purposes the brick stable said
company has just erected adjoining the
Hume building. The pencilwasters felt
that this was
A DELICATE MISSION,
and n which it would be a difficult mat
ter to bring to a satisfactory conclusion.
They realized that, even if the proposition
should be accepted by the street railway
company, the four-footed inmates of the
stable-if they possess that degree of self
respect which is characteristic of properly
educated h0Ises-would protest against the
proposed transfer, rejecting it with an en-
phatic FNeighr"
Fortunately, Il was not found necessary
to approach either the railway company or
their horses with the
DEGRADING PROPOSITION
above mentioned, as the several other
prominent citizens" alluded to at the be-
ginning of the article, consisted of the
Mayor, Aldermen Eakin and Douglas, and
Councilmen Gaut, Fogg and Miller, who
compose the School Committee of the City
Council, and these gentlemen suggested an
other and more feasible plan of relief for
the three hundred and forty children afore-
saidi
The inspecting party went over the en-
tire building, poked their feet through the
holes inthe floor, thrust their hands through
the apertures in the walls, gased at the
midday sun through open spots in the
roof, and in short thoroughly posted them
selves with regard to the many objectiona-
Bile features of the
Old RATTLE TR4P
which has served the city of Nashville-the
"Athens of the South so to. speak, as a
temple of learning for 10, these many years,
after it has been entirely unfit for such pur-
pose.
After this tour of investigation had been
completed, the little procession ef, learned
Iaen He'd out on Spruce street, and slowly
and sadly marched along that thoroughfare
towards the heart Of the city. No illtimed
jeSts broke the solemn stiffness; no flip
nant conversation was indulged ini The
newspaper chaps felt relieved at finding a
~disagreeable duty taken out of their hands,
and the members of the school committee
experienced a feeling of satisfaction when
they found that the newspaper chaps would
lend AID AND SUPPORT
to any practical suggestions which might
BE- made looking to the comfort of those
three hundred and forty poor innocent
children.
The solemn procession finally brought
up in a back office on North Cherry street,
question "What's to be ddne?' was asked.
Alderman Eakin said that something must
be done. The building from which they
had been fortunate enough to escape with
their lives, had been found to be in ever a
worse condition than represented, and
was totally unfit to be used for school pur-
poses. He considered iii
DISGRACE AND A SHAME
that the building had not been abandoned
long ago, and he knew Of seven children
who had been attacked by fever in conse-
quence Of the exposure incident to attend
ing school therein, one of the children hay
ing died.
Mr.. Fogg stated that Mr.. Warren, a re-
liable contractor and builder had offered to
erect upon the Hume lot a suitable school
building, together with offices for the
School Superintendent and BOARD Of Edu-
cation, and all al a cost of SIS, 200, of
which sum he would want $1,000 upon the
completion of the building, and the re-
mainder in one year from that date. At
present, the city is paying an annual rental
of $500, for an Office for the School Super
intendent and Board of Education,
MesSrs. Douglas, Gaut ard Miller all
warmly advocated tile erection of a new.
school building, and Mayor Kercheval
stated that City Treasurer Nelson had in
formed him that the city would be in con-
dition to pay
SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS
on a new building, provided no money
would be wanted until after the 1st of
August.
Mr.. Fogg said that if Mr.. Warren's prop
osition were accepted, no money would be
required until about the LIST of October.
MIR. Eakin then offered a resolution to
the effect that the committee report that
the frame building now occupied for school
purposes on the Hume lot is totally I'M
suitable for a school building, AMI recon-
mend the building of a new schoolhouse
upon that lot for the purpose of accommo-
dating the children now in said frame
building, provided that it does not cost
more than $4,000. The resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Miller moved that MessrS. Fogg and
Gaut be appointed a subcommittee tO con-
suit architects with regard to plans for said
building. and report their action at a meet
ing OF the School Committee, to be held at
SP. NJ. mex Tuesday. Agreed to, and the
committee adjourned.
BOSTON has caught the exposition fever.