Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-12-22
Board of Education.
THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
NOT YET ACOBPTED BY THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
AN INTERESTING SESSION.

AN INTERESTING SESSION
An adjourned meeting of the Boar,
of Education was held last evening
with President Baird In the chair. Tn
bill Of Allen speakman & Co., for lay
ing a drain ut No. school, which hat
been referred to the committee of fha
school, was, on motion of Dr.. Keables
referred to the Committee on Accounts
the doctor saying that he had no dOub
the Board Of Education would have Il
pay the bill, and would have to look b
the sublesses who attach to the drair
for what they owe.
A motion made by DR.. Keables was
passed, authorizing the Secretary O.
the Board to make list Of the drains il
the city laid by the Board Of Educa
tion and the names of property owners
who attach to such drains, aud to see
whether the 1esses have paid their an
|nual rents. ~
DR.. Ksablss stating that the main Oh
ject of the meeting being TO recefve thu
new High School building from the
hands of the contractors, said the build
ing was completed with the exception
of little touching up around, 9 few
bricks to lay In the pavement and a few
little jobs that would be done no doubi
after the acceptance of the building.
He moved that the board accept the
building from the contractors.
The motion was seconded, and no
remarks being made. the vore ON the
affirmative was taken, When the
President was about to call for negative
side of the vote, DR.. Shortlidge was
given unanimous consent to speak. He
said that perhaps the Board had better
not be too hasty in accepting the build
ing, as there was quite sufficient time
70 DO 30 when the work was all com
pleted, and besides there might be
cartain sub contractors not satisfied,
yet left with the power of entering
liens against the building.
Unanimous consent being given the
debate became general: Mr.. Trump
and Mr.. Palmer, though they thought
there would be no risk in accepting the
building, were of the opinion that the
Board had better see that the sub con.
tractors signed releases before accept
ing the building. Mr.. Smith, while dis.
claiming any lack of confidence n the
contractors, who were his init mate
friends and were honorable men,
thought the rel lsase of the sub contrac.
tors should be secured. Mr.. Grier sug-
gested that the Board meet at the
school house and examine the building
before accepting it.
DIR. Keables said 1t was immaterial
when the Board accepted the ing.
He was very willing that the Board
should meet and examine the school,
house. There was nothing about it
that the committee were ashamed of;
on the contrary they courted the closest
scrutinz and inspection. In regard to
the sub contractors, he did not see how
the contractor could pay them until
he was raid, DR., Keables paid high
compliment TO the contractor, saying
that he never showed any disposition
to take any advantage, but on the con.
trary had done more than he promised.
The locks and door. knobs for instance
called for In the contract could have
been purchased for 50 but the contrac
tor did not use them but got locks and
knobs that cest 30 each for the front
doors and charged nothing extra.
On motion of Mr.. Smith, the Board
agered that when it did adjourn ii
would meet on Saturday afternoon next
at 3 O'Clock at the school house.
DIR. Shortlidge said ne expected te
hear full report of the building oi
the High School made during the meet
ing.
DIR. Keables said the committee had
the report at hand to read whenever Il
was desired.
DIR. Shortlidge thought the report had
better be read.
Dr. Keables then read the report
showing that tho price of the building
was$52. 900. Extra expenses, caused by M
fault of the committee, but BY order o.
the building inspector, $24O for hard
brick wall in place of a salmon bricH
wall, upon which the tower was to rest
and afterwards refused 10 let the towel
be built upon it. Studding the sids
wallis with 3x4 lumber S65l.46. Thii
studding it was said was to strengthen
the walls, but he could rot see how
it done so, though 1t might perhaps
keep the wall more dry. Altering tn,
tower TO conform to the demands of tn,
building inspector, $3.50.
This made q total OF fSi3Ol 46, whicl
DR.. Keables said was not needed. Th'
was directly responsible we're $lS 10
making platform for the corner ston'
laying and $12 for an extra door, max,
ing total of $50. The line wall, whicl
cost $166, was something unforeseen AM
/, Unavoidable. DR.. Keables ssi1 tner
was a building, one Of thei best Dull
and handsomest in the city, that wouit
have been completed ior the contrac
price, with the exception OF the $50 re
ferred to, had the committee not beel
interfered with and the work delay cd
As 1t was the whole cost ofthe building
was but $54, 1896 46 including. extras Q
all kinds. He considered this q splen
did exhibit.
DIR. Shortlidge said he could not sc
how the 1880 extra expenses, caused b
the tower change, should increase Tn
total, when the omission OF the towe
saved some "a, 900 or 5000 in expense
He thought the committee was rsthe
hasty In claiming SD extra ex
pense.
DIR. Keables In reply said that hs
the committee not been intorfered wit
the building, tower and al would hav
been erected for the contract price, pit
$50 extra.
Mr.. Wiley said "Hs that doth nj
blow his own trumpet, his trumpe
shall not be blown" He highly eult
lgized the new building, and reall
thought the committe. wsa worthy {
the thanks Of the community and of Il
Board.
Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Trump and M
Feukel eulogized the committee and Il
building in tho Same manner.
Mr.. Grier thought, rs the committ
had been compelled by the buildir
inspector to incur unnecessary expens'
in studding the walls AID changing q
wall for the tower, aad afterwsrt
refused to permit the building OF tl
tower upon the walls, somebody oug
10 be held responsible for the increas,