Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-16
HIGH SCHOOL KILLED.
ITS FRIENDS COULD NOT MUSTER A MAJOR
ITY IN THB BOARD
al lis Meeting Last Night-Ths Matter Laid On
the Table-Wsbslsr District School
To Be Completed,

Dickey, who is In Europe, Col. y. a.
Miller presided. There was fair at
tendance Of members and the meeting
was called to order promptly. The
Committee on Accounts reported bills
aggregating S7S1. 66, which were ordered
paid.
The Committee on Public Library
recommended payment Of bills amount
ing to SlO6.6 Go, which was concurred in.
The Committee selected books for
the Library amounting to SS9.56,
and their purchase was authorized.
The purchase of periodical binders for
the library was also authorized. The
contract for furnishing the new library
room with window shades and linoleum
was let TO Friend g. Son. The COM
mittee reported that the new library
room will not be ready until April 10th,
on account OF the book stacks not being
placed there, and recommended that
the rule governing the closing Of the
library during the firstIweek in April be
suspended until such time as the COM
mittee on public library deem ii advis-
able to notify the Librarian. The rec
ommendation was concurred in.
The next business considered was the
report of the Committee on Buildings
and Grounds. The committee employ
ed Architect NJ. PEBBLES, of Plttsburg,
to examine the Webster district
school building, the same gentleman
who condemned the old Washington
district school. Mr.. PEBBLES presented
written report, which was read by
the clerk. BE found that the walls
were in comparatively good shape, but
the floors were very poor. Other de-
fects were enumerated In the paper,
the expert concluding with the opinion
that the building is unsafe for school
purposes.
The reading OF this report, and the
accompanying recommendation OF the
Committee. that the building be COM
pleted according TO the original plans,
brought out a debate, In which the
high school members took an active
part, in opposition to the report and
recommendation Of the Committee on
Buildings and Grounds. The discus
sion was opened by DR.. Campbell,
who has taken a prominent part
in the movement TO build a high
school. He called attention TO
certain sections Of the architects re-
port, and stated that he could not see
the necessity of destroying a building
which had four good walls. Why not
strengthen the joists and make the
building practically as good as new?
Mr.. Joseph Widener, one OF the Web
ster district Commissioners, asserted
that the architect really underestimate
ed the danger of conducting school in
the building. The building had been
pointed and patched up so often that it
was impossible tOtind Out how many
cracks are in the walls.
QMr. Jefferson favored the completion
OF Jobs undertaken By the Board, be-
fore starting anything new. 1t would be
unwse TO attempt TO prop up the old
building in order 10 make it safe. That
had been proven by experience. The
Committee had made an implied agree
ment with the Commissioners OF Webster
school that the building would be COM
pleted this year, and 1t was
due the Board, and especially
the members from the Sixth ward that
the promise should be fulfilled. DR..
Ulrich agreed with Mr.. Jefferson, and
urged the members TO complete the
new building before erecting any other.
lie did not regard the old building as
safe. Mr.. Ellingham, Mr.. Maxwell
and others spoke upon the matter. Mr..
jefferson moved to concur In the rec
Ommendation of the com mittee,
and Mr., Hubbard moved 10
am end by referring the matter
back 10 the committee for the purpose
of securing some tangible information
relative TO the approximate cost Of re-
pairs, and finishing the new building.
Col. Miller did not agree that the Board
was under any moral obligation to COM
plete the building. He stated that
plans had been prepared for twenty
room building, and later twelve rooms
we're adopted and built. At present the
new building accommodates all the de-
partments Of the school, except the
grammar room. At that time nothing
was said about the unsafe condition OF
the school. The building was compar-
atively new, and he thought the Sixth
ward people took their cue from the sue
cess of the First ward people, and raised
a hue and cry that the building is IN
safe. The same scheme was being play
ed in the Sixth ward, with less ground
for complaint. The architect does not
say the building is unsafe, but mentions
several floors which can be repaired
for S5O0-probably less. II be. Mr..
Miller, thought there was any necessi-
" for razing the old building, he would
not oppose it. He was against tearing
down the building, for reasons Of
economy.
Col. Miller intimated that the srchi-
tect was secured to condemn the build
ing, and several members OF the CON-
mittee promptly resented this. DR..
Campbell could not see the necessity OF
destroying the Old building to secure
one room.
Mr. Hubbard's amendment was lost
ayes 5. noes 10. The original motion to
concur in the recommendation was
adopted. by the following vote:
s-Echstuth, Jefferson, Maxwell,
Medick, MenkemiIler. c., Men kemiller,
H., Ulrlch, Walford and Widener.
No-BOyd. Buchanan, Campbell, Eli
lngham, Hubbard, Miller Stanton
The Committee on Buildings and
Grounds reported bills amounting 70
sl,IS5.ss, which were ordered paid.
The following action Of the committee