The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-16
Washington Park People Want Better
School Facilities.
WHAT COL. ISAAC l. GoFF SAYS
And What tho school Authorities Have
to Say In Reply and In Explanation
and Justification OF the Course They
Have Taken.

The residents at Washington park. that
fast growing community on the east Of
Broad street. are hustling, progressive
and enterprising. They take great pride
in the park and all that concerns IL, and
do not propose to cease their labors uutil
they have all the modern conveniences
and improvements. educational facilities
included.
Just low the Washington park resi-
dents are somewhat stirred up on the
schoolhouse question. The Taxpayers
association held meeting the other even
ing, at which the school committee Of the
city came in for considerable criticism for
its failure to keep its agreement with the
park peopls in the matter OF furnishing
school accommodations.
At this meeting committee was ap-
pointed to walt upon the school board,
and a resolution was adopted calling
upon all residents to sign a memorial
protesting against the delay In building
the school house, and In changing it from
six to four-room structure.
What Colonel Gon says
Colonel Isaac L. Goff, treasurer of
the Home Investment company, which
plated the park, and himself resident
there, gave News reporter an explana-
tion OF the causes which led to the hold
ing Of the indignation meeting by the
Tax association.
About two years ago." he said, I'VE
took a census OF the children at the park
and found that there we're then 178 OF
school age. We called upon the school
committee for the purpose of securing
educational facilities for the smaller
children-that Is, for those who would
attend the primary and intermediate de-
partments.
1--WE agreed with the representatives
of the school COMMITTEES that IL they
would furnish teachers and fuel we would
furnish the school room. We hired the
Methodist chapel aud the school was held
there.
This year. however. we could not get
the chapel, as the congregation is grow
ing SO large and It's use for church pur-
poses is so frequently demanaed that it
was not deemed advisable to continue the
school there.
I've were compelled. therefore, to look
for other quarters Halls are not p:enti-
full down there, and we fin
ally avai!ed ourselves OF Mr..
Youlden's offer of the use of
his barn. As you may imagine, this is
not adequate to our needs. It il greatly
overcro~ ded. and 1 have just learned
that the superintendent has decided that
como Of the pupils will hnve to 60 to
Other schools, which will take them
long way from their homes. This is very
strongly objected to by the people.
The Agreement Not Kept
Pint tb;s IN pot tha onIv c.usa 30 .o,,,
plaint the people OF the park have. After
prolonged negotiations we succeeded in
getting the school committee to purchase
three lots at the park for a location
for school. We also gave three
more lots. The original agreement was
that we were TO receive cash for the three
lots we sold, but when it came to settle
ment tho school committeeman insist ed
that instead of cash we should accept a
lot in another place which belonged to
the city.
eve agreed to this in order to hasten
the building Of the school Last Decem-
ber we were led to believe that q six
room school house would be built, and
that 1t would be ready for occupancy at
the opening of the present fall term.
Neither Of these promises have been
work on the foundation has only Just
been begun, and instead of six-room
building, which we understood we were
one Of four rooms.
These are the reasons which led the
Taxpayers association to protest"
what . Committeeman Says
A member of the school committee says
that he does not understand that any
definite promise was made to the Wash
ington park people to build a six-room
schoolhouse, and that 1t is not the policy
of the committee to build six room houses
except in very thickiy-settled localities,
where 1t might be difficult to pro-
cure lots for additional houses when they
are required. The school authorities were
handle pped last year for want OF money,
and the city had to ask the general as
semi bly, to authorize loan before the
buildings proposed could be proceeded
with. This delayed the Washington
park house, as we'll as others.
This committeeman said also that there
is plenty of room for all the Washington
park children in schools In that section
of the city, though they would have to
travel further than they ought TO be
asked to do, and IL Is the intent on OF
the copmittee to complete the new house
as soon ms possible. He did not think the
committee had agreed to have the new
house completed at any specified time.
This committeeman evidently thinks
that the Washington park people wish to
press their claims with undue force.
though be very carefully refrained from
making such an explicit stiSement
What Secretary Rosc ssya
Secretary Rose Of the schoal committee
said this morning that he knew nothing
about the matter. II there had been any
such aereement ~ claimed be
had heard nothing Of IL. With
the building Of school houses
the committee has really nothing TO do
That matter II attended to by the city
.euncil tirouoh fts eommittees Wb.n