The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-11
NO DECISION.
CHILlREN TURNED AWAY
FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
YET NO bDDI9.OeA S aO0J T00HS
superintendent Derr EHnmpcred by
the school Board : Two Suitable
buildings Can be Had at Reasonable
Renaal-The COIOred Children All
Risht-Action Of the A. M. Il. Church
Trustees.

The question: of providing more
school failities, which at the time
was apparently settled by the cleo
ton of the finance committee Mon
day night, for the welfare of the city
has not yet been arranged to the SAT
isfaction of those who are interested
in the education of the children Of
Roanoke. Under the existing cir
cumstances, Superintendent Derl
and the school board are still unde
cided as to what had best be done.
The finance ard public property
committees, to whom the superinten
dents recommendation were referred
left the renting of buildings to the
school board and the public property
committee, with the provision that
not more than 5000 be expended d.
The Board contends that suitable
buildings cannot be secured.
From Superintendent Derr aTIMEs
reporter learned yesterday afternoon
that comfortable store building
with two rooms, large enough to &C.
commodate about 200 pupils, can be
secured in the district north Of the
railroad. 1t is the Wilson Wert7
building On Shenandoah avenue, and
can be rented for $50 per month.
Iu the southwest section, a room on
Seventh avenue, two blocks from the
Second Lutheran Church, can be
rented for SIG per month. This room
will hold by crowdins not more than
fifty pupils.
In the part of the city beyond
Woodland Park and the City Gene
terry there are about 300 children,
many of whom have never received
any benefit from the city schools.
The Lutheran Mission Church was
at first proposed for temporary use,
BUTT has been intimated to the SUI
perintendent that the building CAN
not be had. although The Lutheran
Church has " orshipped in the chapel
of the First ward school building fc"
some time, and will continue 10 do so
perhaps fer the next year, while their
$4,000 church is being erected.
When his attention was called TO this
fact, Superintendent Derr said that
the church ought 10 return the cour-
tesy, but was met with,the reply that
u public school would injure the
building.
The opportunities offered for ac-
curing property for school purposes
are also interesting. Suitable grounds
can be purchased in the northwest
section for $1,S00-one third cash, and
the balance on TWO years time, in an
nual payments In the southeast sec
tior4otscan be secured for 5000 upon
the same terms. The land companies
to which the lands belong have Of
fered to help erect buildings if the
city will purchase the property. Mr..
Derr thinks that the enhancement in
the value of the property by the time
the last payment would be due would
be as much, if not more, than what IL
asked for it now. Both locations are
well adapted to school purposes, and
conveniently situated.
The colored children have been
very we'll provided for. a school will
be opened this morning in the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, near the
colored school building, with Miss
Rosetta Cuffy as teacher. This will
afford additional facilities for 100
colored children. There are over 800
in the other school already, and it is
crowded. This building is secured,
ready furnished, for So per month, at
the voluntary offer of the trustees OF
the church, as they were anxious for
more school room.
The walls of the new brick church
on the lot adjoining the school build
ng are about completed, and as soon
as the roof is on, the basement wilt be
Immediately fitted up for the use OF
schools. This will be Il very neat room
and will be near enough to be under
the immediate supervision of the
principal. This is also the voluntary
action of the church, and the room
will be ready for use inside OF two
months.
The other schools are crowded
already. Over 600 were packed into
the First ward building yesterday,
and quite a number could not be pro-
vided for.
The amount appropriated for rent
ing buildings lacks about 5000 of being
sufficient to secure the buildings now
in view through the term. The
board appears to be opposed to the
renting of buildings. and Superinten-
dent Derr, who is interested in sup
plying the needed school facilities,
finds himself in rather puzzling
dilemma The superintendent says
that the buildings he wants to rent
are not entirely satisfactory, but he
thinks that the should be put up
with until better can be supplied.
He does not antagonize, but heartily
encourages, the buying of the pre-
perty alluded to above, but thinks
the present need of schools should be
supplied as far as possible. With an adj
ditional appropriation of 5000 he has
already pointed out how it would be
possible to provide for at least 25C
more white children then can get IN
the present schools
A Warming Bell Wanted.
1t is source of much annoyance tc
passengers over the Vinton extension
of the Roanoke street railway that
no warning bell is sounded when the
dummy leaves either end of the line
When the time for the departure o.
the dummy arrives the bell is given 6
tap and the train moves off immedi-
ately, whereas, if it was rung about
three minutes before leaving time, j
would notify he passengers in time
People are left nearly every trip JUS
from this cause.
Rev.J. e. BushneIrs Vacation.
Rev. J. E. Bushnell. of st. Mark
Lutheran Church, addressed larg
audience, numbering several thou
Tho orroot utharaD Gather