Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-14
PURCHASE NOT ADVISABLE
Reasons of Report Against Buying Some
School Property.
The Minor school Building and the
Needs i'm That NeiEhbOrhOOd-
Against the Purchase.

The board Of trustees OF the public
schools have made an adverse report to
the Commissioners upon the proposition
recently submitted to 1t for the purchase
Of the property belonging to the corpora
tors Of the Institution for the Education
Of Colored Youth. to sell Its property on
18th street to the District for $4,000
This action on the part Of the trustees
was based upon the following report Of
the committee on buildings:
THE committee on buildings and repairs,
to whom was referred the proposition Of
the corporators Of the Institution for the
Education Of Colored Youth to sell their
property on 18th street to the District for
$4,000. report that the property, by rea-
son Of its location, will not be of perma-
nont use to the District for school pur-
poses. and its purchase Is not recon-
mended. The results OF the investigation
of the subject by the committee are given
in a memorandum accompanying tins re-
port"
In a memorandum accompanying the re-
port the committee says:
Basis of Cost.
1.-The building is worthless for residence.
hotel business purposes. and would
bring nothing If placed on the market for
other than school purposes. If offered for
school purposes 1t could not be sold at
all, probably, except to the District. 1t
now nets the owners IL per cent on the
s50,NO asked for it, but the probability
that the District will not continue to rent
it threatens the owners with an entire
loss of income from it. for it cannot be
readily rented for private school purposes
SO as to earn good percentage OF Its
cost.
LAS indicated in the second paragraph Of
this note. the building is worth (on the
basis Of cost about $4,000. On the basis
of the demand for such q building, or it's
general market value. 1t is practically
worth nothing. The question is: Should the
District. as the only user Of such a build
ing, take advantage Of the situation and
offer only the value OF the ground because
no more can be obtained from any one, or
should 1t give the proper value Of the build
ing to the District for school purposes? In
the opinion of the committee on buildings
and repairs the District should deal equit-
ably in the matter and make the cost or
intrinsic value Of the building an element
in determining the value Of the whole
property. If this is done, the value of the
property. IS above indicated, will be: For
the ground, 1928 square feet, at 81, $32,-
go; for the building. $4,000; total, s56 $50.
1.-The offer of the corporators of the
Minor Institute Is but $4,000, which, as
suming the District is to buy 1t. is not an
unreasonable price. II the District needs
such building in that locality, or is likely
to need it IN the future, it would be wise
to make the purchase.
Minor Building Not Needed.
"The building is now occupied by the
Busircss High School 1t Is entirely unfit
for this purpose. being able to accommo-
date but $50 pupils, whereas there are al
ready nearly 800 in attendance, and the
annual increase is large. 1t is also too re-
mote from the hcmes of most of the
pupils. new building, centrally located
nd m no
needs of the Business High School, Is
urgently needed, and will probably be
supplied before long. 1t should be stated
that the Minor building is incapable of en-
largement or remodeiing. Hence the prop
erty should not pc purchased for its pres
ent use. AS to the need of 1t for graded
schools. the first division is now adequate
ly supplied with school rooms. The Minor
building is three squares west Of the Ber-
ret about one square northeast Of the
Force and one square southeast Of the
Adams. The vicinity is we'll built up, and
it's future well as its present needs are
amply provided for by the school just
mentiC ned.
when the first division needs a new SC hool
building 1t will be about one-half or three
fourths of a mile northwest of the site of
the Minor School. At such a point the cost
of the necessary land and the erection of an
eight-room modern building will be less
than the cost of the Minor School building.
The same objection applies to the purchase
of the Minor property for cOlored school
purposes. The Sumner Magruder and Gar
rison schools sufficient for present
needs and the future increase of colored
school demands will be in other sections of
the District. If the Minor building were To-
Gated in a part of the District where there
is a need of additional school accommoda-
tons and 1t were offered at an equally low
price location Considered) the committee on
buildings and repairs would recommend it's
purchase. We do not, however, think it
wise to pay so much flpa lot for the sake
of obtaining a building located where we
have no present or prospective use for it,