Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-27
CITY SCHOOL BOARD.

The regular monthly meeting was held
last night present Hon. Charles E. Stu
art, Chairman, VIM. F. Carne, ESQ.,, Supt.
Public Schools, and Messrs r. L. Carne,
Fendall, Herbert, Leadbeater, Marbury,
Smith, Thompson and Vincent, Trustees.
The minutes having been read, the Chair
man, after returning his thanks for re-
election, announced the following standing
committees for 1856, viz:
Finance and Accounts-Wm. H. Marbu
ry, F. l.. Smith, Thomas Leadbeater.
Studies and Discipline--R. l.. Carne, H.
Strauss, Superintendent
School Houses and Furniture-E. Snow
den, T. D. Fepdall, Superintendent.
Complaints and Grievances-F. J.. Smith,
S. A. Mankin, w. ". Herbert.
Books and Printing!. S. B. Thompson,
w. F. Vincent, Superintendent.
Washington School-W. F. Vincent, r.
L Carne, j. 5. B. Thompson.
Lee School-Thos. Leadbeater, w. Ii.
Marbury G. E. Stuart.
Snowden Schuol-W. w. Herbert, Z.
Suowden, r. d. Fendall.
Hallowel School-H. Strauss, F. L..
Smith, S. A. Mankin.
The unfinished business being the reso'u
ton Of the Superintendent appropriaLing
the money in the treasury not otherwise re-
uuired to the building fund, and the subsi
lute offered hy the Chairman, directing the
clerk to pay the note due Q. {. Bradley,
esq.,, then came up for consideration.
Col Smith offered a substitute for the
substitute, directing the Committee on FL
nance and Accounts to contract with Mr..
Gibson OH the terms proposed by him for
new school house on the old Academy lot,
aud authorizing the borrowing OF money
therefor, to which he'accepted q modllica-
ton proposed by the Superintendent TO the
effect that unless specially stated otherwise
in the specifications, the new building
should conform in all respects to the Ami
don building in Washington.
|. MIR. Il, l.. Carne wished that committee
to state exactly where the money was to
come from. He was in favor of the build.
| ing if it could he raised without embarrass
msnt. but he had heard it said out OF doors
| ,hat it might call for an increase Of taxa
| ton, and as he thought the public schools
could he well provided for otherwise, Ee
would not agree to any action that would
| uecessilute that.
Col. Smith said that he, also, would be
oppt sed to an increase of taxation, but thaclt
would not be necessary. 1t was rather
astonishing 10 see gentlemen who had pro-
posed the purchase of new lots, now de-
claring that Il new house could not be built
for want of money.
Supt. Carne admitted the possibility OF
| requiring an increase Of taxation for a short
| time, but commended that the people would
checrfully vote it if necessary.
| Mr.. Leadbeater reviewed The figures OF
the estimates heretofore made and doubted
the financial ability of the Board. He had
voted for the erection Of Il new building,
but was not in favor Of it if taxation was to
be increased.
Mr.. Vincent earnestly advocated the
building We had been wasting eleven
years, and were no nearer to the end than
when we began. The children were crowd
ed up like cattle in cars and the people were
demanding increased accommodations and
would pay for them. We would be sur
prised, ultimately, to find how easy it had
been to get out of debt. He had been as
sured by prominent bank officer that the
money could be had and he thought the or
position of some gentlemen on that account
| IL mere subterfuge.
Mr.. R. L. Carne said he thought the dis
cussicn had fully justified his question !;
the Finance Committee was prepared to
give an exact statement Of our financial
condition. and he was utterly opposed to
going bliudly into such an enterprise or
borrowing money from building associations.
He wanted to know exactly where it was
to come from aud on what terms. As 10
the allusion Of the gentleman from the 4!h
Ward to the proposition Of him and some
Others for the purchase Of the meeting house.
lot, it involved 10 present payment aud an
interest Of five per cen'. only. Cash must
he paid for the new building, and as the
Board owed Mr. Bradley $1,000 and Mrs.
Howell 81 500 which might he called for at
any day, he Thought it safer to pause, rs a
building could be obtained much cheaper
than by building one.
Judge Stuart urged that Mr.. Bradlcy'S
claim being due, should be paid oil II he
would not renew the loan for five or ten
years, and the Superintendent having with
drawn his original resolution, the Board
unanimously adopted the following:
Resolved, That the clerk be instructed to notify
Mr.. C. Z. Bradley that the debt now due him will
he paid on January l, 1885, or sooner if he 30
desires it and that So much Of The funds Of the
Board as may be necessary DC, aud the same are,
hereby. appropriated TO discharge said Obligation
principal and interest, to date of payment, and
the clerk is directed to draw his warrant therefor.
Col. Smith then offered his substitute
with several notifications, as an original
proposition, reading as follows:
Resoired That the Finance Committee in con
junction with the superintendent Of Schools, be,
and they are hereby, authorized to contract with
William Gibson for the erection of u school build
ing on the Howell lot according tn the plans and
specifications and ut the price submitted by him:
Provided, however. that the building erected un-
der this contract shall conform to and be like the
Amdon school building now standing at the
northeast corner Of the intersection of Sixth and
+ streets. southwest. in the city Of Washington,
except where it is in the specifications set forth
that it shall differ from the said Andcn building,
and that in all cases where said specifications are
silent any detail particular, then that the
said Amdon building shall be the model to which
the said William Gibson hereby agrees to conform;
so that when the building hereby contracted for
shall have been finished. it will in general ap
pearancc and character be Of the same model rs
said Amidon building; and it is hereby agreed |
that this contract shall be interpreted tc mean
thotU chol1 l,,;1