The San Francisco call., 1896-11-17
A BIG PRICE FOR
A SCHOOL SITE
Four Thousand Five Hun.
dred Dollars Too Much
Was Paid.
The Mission High School Goes
to Eighteenth and
Dolores.
Price Raised Five Thousand Dollars
Arbitr arily Since Last
Saturday.

The Board of Education, against the
vigorous protests of two of its members,
Thomas Carew ana DR.. G. A. Clinton, de-
cided last night to ray $50, 500 for a build
ing site, which. up to last Saturday, had
been offered the board for 5000
DR.. Clinton said that the property was
no: worth more than $4S, 900, but seeing
that opposition was useless for all practi-
cal purposes, the board being determined
to pay the sum first named, voted with the
majority.
Director Carew nailed his colors 10 the
mast and went down with the ship, he
being the only ''no' on the final call of
the roll.
The site IL question was that for the
proposed new Mission High School, and
the piece of ground selected was approved
of by the Mission Improvement Club last
Sunday. On the next day yesterday the
owner raised the price from $50, 900 to
$55,U00.
The following communication, read at
last nights meeting of the board, 'ex-
plains itselt":
Gentlemen l beg TO inform you that 1 re-
ceived this morning the inclosed letter, that
explains itself. Carrying out its instructions
$55 900, in lieu of $500 the former price
OF the site / submitted to you, viz: the north
westerly corner of Eighteenth and Dolores
streets, having a frontage OF 1874 feet on Dole
res, frontage OF 395 feet on Eighteen til street
and 39S feet on Dorland street
NEVADA BANK OF SAN FRANCISCO,
SAN FRANCISCO, November 16.}
A. LGGton Esq-DEAR p SIR: Inasmuch as our
! contract with you has expired and we have
! better offers Tor the property, we beg to notify
you that we withdraw the same from your
hands, exc -pting you will be able to receive
$4,000 more than your contract called for In
case you are able to do so, viii give you thirty
days time 10 close sale. Yours truly.
For estate of 1. F. Bloch, deceased.
Director Barrett thereupon introduced a
resolution pledglng the board to pay $52,-
! 500 for the site, provided that the Cali
! fornia Title and Insurance Company
should pass favorably on the title.
Mr. Carew inquired of President Scott
why the price had been raised. Mr.. Law
ton had offered him the lot last Saturday
for $50, 200, and he wanted to know why
the board had agreed to tack $500 more
| on to il.
The chair requested Mr.. Carew to read
the letter and thereby receive enlight-
ment.
| A faint cd or of poodle seemed to per-
| wade the room at this stage of the proceed
ings, and DR.. Clinton moved TO defer
action for one week. He believed the
matter TO be too important to be hurried.
He said that in making the motion his
idea was to endeavor to save some money
TO the City. There were some features of
| the proposition that be did not like 1t
was very singular coincidence to his
mind that this property was offered for
| sale at $50 600 until Sunday-until after
! the Mission ImprovementClub had met on
| that day and decided that they wanted that
| particular property, which decision was
! published in yesterday mornings news
papers. 1t seemed singular coincide en- ce
| that the owner should jump the price up
/ $1,000. The speaker knew that there were
| many desira BILE sites in the Mission for a
! high school, and he objected to paving
any more for this property than its real
value.
The property was divided into thirty
| two lots, and he knew that good round
price would be $500, or $4S, coo for the
whole piece, and he had very grave doubts
whether the land would fetch $4,000 in
| the market.
He supposed that the City would have
to pay more for the land than an individ-
ual would; but it was not right and he
didn't like it. At the executive meeting
| of the board held that afternoon a gentle
man had told them that the price of one
| site, $35 000 could be cut down TO $32 900.
| that OF another site from $50, 600 to $50. 600
and on another from SAG, 900 TO $40, co.,
He thought that a fair price for the
property before the board would be $48 600,
and even then the board would be paw
ing high figure-the rate OF $500 for
each lot.
Dr. Ciinton's motion to postpone was
| lost by viva voce vote.
Director Murdock moved to cut down
the price to $50, 600. He did not like the
idea of the $4,000 raise within two days.
at is not often" he said, "that peopIe
get the full asking price for property. 1t
drop before The property changes hands.
believe that the owner will take it'
DIR. Clinton seconded Mr.. Murdock's 8
amendment. Even then we are paving
too much for it" he said.
| Mr.. Murdock's motion was lost by ayes-
Carew, Clinton, Comte,.. cEiroy and MUIR
| dock; noes-Am brose, Barrett, HawIey.
Henderson, Knox, Soper ana Scott.
President Scott explained his vote on
the ground that his own opinion and that
OF several experts was that the site was in
the right place for the school.
The deciding vote on Director Barretts
resolution. TO pay the owner $500 more
than he asked on Saturday, was then put
and received eleven ayes-Carew being the
only mo-
At recess Mr.. Carew remarked that if
the mem bers of the board were buying a
lot for themselves they wouldn't paw so
much or buy it in that way.
| Mr.. Carew's change of vote and his
giving notice that at the next meeting he
would move to reconsider were negatived
by the board recon onsidering the vote then
AMI there and repeating it.
Architects were notified to present plans
and specifications by November 80 at 8
Pm. The instructions call Tor a three
! ssoIy and basement OF brick, terra Gotta