The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-08
NEW SCHOOL HOUSES
BURDEN OF A LIVELY
SION BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
The Minority Triumphs for N Time
Over the Democratic Majority
Changes i'm Teachers.

L. VI III SOlAli1llSctOlCIS Gil
barked on a sea of expenditure last night
in the matter Of new buildings. No plans
were presented TO the board for examina-
ton or inspection. and nobody seemed to
be able TO give the board an estimate of
the probable cost. 1t was minated that
the plans had been approved by a former
board. and had been laid aside because of
financial straits and the high range OF the
bids. Nevertheless, the committee was au-
thorized first to advertise for bids for the
construction OF an eight-room building with
an assembly room on the third floor. at the
corner Of Capitol avenue and Twentieth
street. The cost of this structure in its
bare walls and roof, under the plans sub
mitted some months ago by Architect
Scherrer, would not nave been much less
than 10000, without the assembly room,
If the lowest Of the bids offered had been
accepted.
That an eight-room brick building, severe
ly plain and unadorned architecturally,
should cost SO much aroused the opposition
Of Commissioners Hendrickson, who said
that buildings Of similar usefulness and
outward appearance had been constructed
in this city when material and labor We're
much higher for as little as $1,000. 1t was
a big jump, he said, to make, and he asked
that the board lay the subject over until
the next meeting. with the understanding
that the architect was in the meantime TO
furnish some sort of an estimate as to
what the building would cost. He de-
nounced the probable cost, on the basis of
the bids received, as exorbitantly high, and
begged the board to go slow. He said he
was in favor of good buildings, but he had
seen the plans of this building, and it had
tAf -
ventilation, lighting, heating or arrange
ment. 1t WAS just a common four-walied
building, with light entering on three sides.
This made a damaging light to the eyes of
the pupils, he said. and the German gov
eminent had recently passed a law forbid
ding schools to be lighted in this way. In
the course OF his opposition some other
commissioner referred to the buildings of
indianapolis as the poorest in the country,
ana as Mar. Hendrickson had something to
do with the present structures, he retorted
by reminding the board that the plans Of
laughed at by the contractors, who had told
him that IL was difficult to tell from the
specihcations whether ii would cost $l5, 900
or twice that. 1t was evident from the
range of the bids that the contractors all
thought they would bid on the safe side.
Nj. Hendrickson was so much in point in
his remarks that the president of the
Clique was moved to ask:
MI. Roth, will you accept Mr.. Hen
orlckson's suggestion to await until next
estimates ready?"
NO, SIR" abruptly said the chairman of
The discussIon "t contin eueShiS Mr. rrm HsnSr,c,k-
son, Mr.. Scott and Mr.. Blackledge keep
ing up the fight, and soon Mr.. Roth was
seen 10 go forward In esponse to a wink
from the president and take instructions.
He retired to his seat and at a convenient
point announced that he would yield so,
much as to have the specifications asked
Tor as to the masonry. the hrickyVOrk fha
iron work, the painting and the glass.
Without inquiring why a complete estimate
tect, the board took a vote on the motion
10 lay over for two weeks. Mr.. Loeper
voted with the minority, and the vote stood
five to five. which, in parliamentary rules,
meant Its defeat. Then the motion as
amended was adopted.
The same COMMITTEES was also authorized
to advertise for bids for a four-room build
ing at the corner OF Lexington avenue and
State street This was another or the build
ings that the board formerly had in mind
and for which bids were received. The low
est bid was SIC, "a o. over $4,000 a room. Still
another schoolhouse to be advertised for
IS a four-room building at the corner of
Michigan street and Ramsey avenue, and
this, at the rate of former bids, will cost
over $4,000 a room, exclusive of lot. Com
must be practiced, and yet there was no
tinge of irony in his tone. He said he would
oppose to the. last a twelve-room building
for No. 80, and the people of that neighbor-
hood must make up their minds that
they will nave to put up with the present
submitted, do everything at once, and no
one disagreed with him on this proposition.
The discussion again took on a form that
aroused Commissioner Hendrickson and he
told the board in plain words that the
plans and Specifications for the Capitol-ave-
nue. building were so designed that the
building could not be other than a fire trap.
Iron s~tairways, he said, had been provided
in the plans and these would soon wear so
smooth that they would be a constant
$3.50 a. ~ -y.tl- NJ
Ways were oa ua Arranged s so they ReyiiS Would uh1 invite nUite
in all the cold that comes in the way of
the building every time they were opened.
full satisfaction OF the majority members,
if they should persist in not trying to cor
rect the mistakes of the past, but only in
This was the only breeze during the ses-
sion. A motion by Mr.. Hendrickson for an
eight-ro9m building nth the n northeast part
Architect Scherrer was directed to pre-
pare plans for remodeling the small house
on the n-ewly-purchased Ricketts, property,
for use for school purposes in connection
with the High School No. l. The larger
building on the same lot was also ordered
School.
A communication was received from o.
r. Johnson asking for the use OF the High
School building in connection with prepara-
ton for the May festival and the request
was granted a request was received from
the people in the neigheorhood OF the
OAlOO ANOs ~ oOhAAo ~ - % SOAOOAs
A communication from DR.. Castor, owner
Of the building occupied in its upper floors
by school children, on the corner of Ohio
and Delaware streets, was read, declaring
that it is incumbent upon the School Board
to roof and inclose the outside stairway
of the building, TO which the city building
inspector raised objection. A c~ommunica-
ton was received from the secretary OF the
Mechanics Institute giving an inventory
of the list of articles contributed to the
board. The board authorized the drawing
of a warrant for $3.50 for election expenses,
which the city controller refused to pay.
The total amount in the warrants drawn
for the month was $26,246.29.
The report of Mrs. Williamson, OF the
drawing department, was adopted and the
appropriation of $500 for carrying it into
effect was made. The committee on teach
ers and salaries made a report, which was
concurred in, as follows: For the en-
ployment OF Mrs. Cora nIundelle, as a
permanent substitute in school No. IL, at
the full salary of the grade; for the employ
ment of Mrs. Martha Hoover, as a perma-
nent substitute in school No. s, at $25 q
month; for the election of Georgia Alex
ander as principal of Annex No. 3. the
term to begin Feb. i; for the employment
OF Emma Smyser as a teacher at $50 a
month: for an increase in the salary Of
Philip Archman of $50 a month after Jan.
], 1895.
Mr.. Scott announced that after once re-
fusing the demand OF the committee on
insurance, Mr.. Allen, who Is at the head
Of the insurance mems combine In the city.