Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-30
SPARRIN'G FOR A SITE.
Councils Will Have to Decide Be-
tween Schools and Militia.
BOTH WANT THE MARKET HOUSE,
all the officials but Bigelow on the Side of
Education.
LIVELY TALK AT AN OFFICIAL CONFAB

| hany Interesting polutS were ralseQ at
the meeting of city officials with the High
School Committee in Mayor Gourley's of
fee yesterday afternoon to discuss the use
of the Fifth avenue market house for High
School purposes. Mayor Gourley presided.
There were present Chiefs Brown and Bige-
| low, Controller Morrow, School Superin-
tendent Luckey, High School Superintend-
ent Woods, and Messrs Holmes, Terrence,
Wilson, Reisfar and Benz, of the Central
Board of Education.
Chief Brown, as a member of the High
School Committee, opened the discussion
| by stating there was urgent necessity for
more commodious quarters for the High
| School, as well as for the Central Board.
The offices now occupied by the board were
not proper accommodations for the teach
ers' institute meetings in the hall hereto
fore used for that purpose.
Market House Centrally Located.
ST have suggested that the Fifth avenue
| market house be taken for that purpose, !"
continued the Chief, "because it is CEN
trally located enough for the Central Board
rooms, as well as convenient for High
School purposes. The property is large,
and good hall could be arranged to accom-
modate the institute meetings. There are
700 teachers In the public schools of the
city now, and when they are gathered to-
gether weekly large room is required. As
the city owns this property it would be a
saving to the taxpayers to use it for this
purpose, because the Central Board must
have more ground, and if this is not taken
the property must be bought"
Mr.. Holmes explained that at present the
High School was so overcrowded that the
board has had to use the upper floors of the
Franklin school for four commercial classes.
The Franklin is overcrowded as well as the
Normal School, on Miller street, and there
is no other way to relieve the High School
but by a new building. Mr.. Holmes
thought the board would willingly take the
Fifth avenue market property.
Cause of Bigelow's Inactivity.
At this point Chief Bigelow gave the key
to his course of long inactivity with regard
to the old market property. 81 would
suggest" said he, before the board makes
up it's mind to take the market property, that
it has been promised to the militia for an
armory. If they decide to take it you can't
get it."
In response to questions Chief Bigelow
said Battery B now uses part of the build
ing without contract, but there was a con-
tract in the Finance Committee awaiting
action which, if approved by Councils,
would give the property to the Eighteenth
Regiment and Battery B for so years. The
property fronts 240 feet on Fifth avenue, is
120 feet deep, and is worth from SIS, 900 to
$1,000
Mayor Gourley-Nothing, then, stands in
the way of giving this property to the High
School. provided Councils approve it?
Chief Bigelow-No, sir If an ordinance
is prepared it will go to the Finance Com
mittee, and it will rest with them which side
wins.
Superintendent Woods was asked his
views on the location for High School He
thought it easy of access, and desirable in
many ways.
Schools Scattered In the West.
GIN Eastern cities" he continued, sthe
policy is to keep high schools in the center
of the city. In the West they scatter
them over the various sections Cleve-
land has four high schools distributed
this way and Chicago has IL. I am in favor
of the Western plan, but the market house
project does not interfere with it. Our
Central Board and institute quarters and
the center of the city, and the market will
fill the bill excellently. But in the future
I think it would be well to provide for
branches of the High School on the South
side and in the East End'
Chief Bigelow-I don't believe the
market house location a good one for a
central high school, 1t depends on what
you want. In five years Allegheny and
will be part of Pittsburg and
then the location will not be central 1t
should be in the East End. But if you
want to scatter the buildings the site is all
right.
Mr.. Torrence-It would be great say
ing to the city to make use of this property
for High School Besides saving the cost
Of buying the ground we would save 81, 500
! year which we are paying for room In the
franklin school, 81, 900 for Central Board
headquarters and 81, 200 to $1,000 every
year for rent when commencement exer-
Uses are held. Our committee favors the
use OF the market property and the whole
question is whether we can get it or not.
Mr.. Bigelow for the Militia.
All but Chief Bigelow declared in favor
Of giving the property up to the Central |
Board. He wanted to know where the |
military could be placed if the market |
house was given up. The Miller street school
and Second Avenue Park were suggested,
put would not do, Mr.. Bigelow saying that
IN other cities the militia were given fine
buildings in the best locations "I am
committed to the military" concluded the
Chief, "and must give their request the
preference if they still ask it.
Chief Brown here broke in. 'I am In
avor of taking care of the military, but
sould be surprised if Councils should re-
use request from the Central Board for
his property to give it to the military.
couldn't get property for fire and police
stations because it would cost too much,
'ut am now paying exorbitant rents
where the city should own the property.
councils could not consistently refuse this
property to the schools and then turn
.round and buy them high priced ground
elsewhere"
Mayor Gourley took part in the discus
ion which followed, declaring it an outrage
hat the city should pay such high rents
or property she ought to own. Mr.. Holmes
aid If the Central Board got the market
louse site $150,000 building, that would
10 an ornament, would be erected. A
ariety of subjects of minor importance
Eas discussed by the gentlemen in confer
nee, until finally Chief Brown suggested
hat the committee present an ordinance at
he next meeting of Councils He said he
7ould not lobby for the bill, but would
cave the responsibility with Councils. If
hey refused the requests demand for $780,
10 for High School site would be made
the next appropriations, and Councils
ould be compelled to grant it
Wants Ward Lines Removed.
Controller Morrow raised the question
neither the overcrowded condition of the
Ugh School could not be relieved by using ,
lie spare room in some of the downtown
'hools The committee declared it could
ot, but the Mayor said: '.That is ques-
on l want to speak of There should be
| obliteration Of ward lines In relation to
hools. Amy child in the city should be