New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-27
ANASTOR BUILDING OFFERED
1T is SAID THAT ONE HAS BEEN PRO
POSED FOR SCHOOL, PURPOSES
THE DISTRICT IN WHICH IT IS HAS AMPLE AC-
COMMODATIONs-THE USE OF A SUITABLY
LOCATED STRUCTURE MAY BE
GIvEN-OPENING THE OLD

COMMODATIONs-THE USE OF A SUITABLY
LOCATED STRUCTURE MAY BE
GIvEN-orENING THE OLD
BUILDINGS.
It was rumored yesterday that William Waldorf
Aston had offered to the Board OF Education the
of the large building at No. l5ll to 15l5 Broad
way, between Fortyfourth and Forty fifth SITS. be-
longing to the Aston estate for school purposes.
Tribune reporter called at the Offices Of the Astor
estate, at No. q West Twenty six.h-st. yesterday
afternoon. but could obtain confirmation of the
report. the offices closed for the day. The
reporter Dr. Hunt one Of the assistant school
superintendent however who said he had heard
that such offer had been made by Mr.. Aston
though his knowledge Of the matter had not come
from any official source.
DR.. Hunt said that the Astor building could hard
ly be Of the school authorities In helping
tn I'm to provide accommodations for the thou
sands Of children of school age now running In the
streets, in the district where the building Is To-
Gated there more sittlngs in the schools than
there are children TO fill them. Where the over
Gro vding exists Is for the most part. on the East
Side above Seventy-seventh-st. and below Four
teenth-st. It was understood that the condition of
affairs had been explained TO Mr.. Class agent
Of the Aston estate and that upon learning that the
Broadway building offered little relief TO the
crowding, he had promised to look the other
properties belonging to the Aston estate. and II
possible, 10 pick some more fasoiaply located
building.
Tomorrow all the old buildings In which the re-
pairs were still being made when the schools opened
two weeks ago will be opened with possibly
two exceptions. Grammar School No. 81. at No. iis
East Eighty seventh-st.. accommodating 1,75O
pupils, will be opened for some time. a dispute
between the contractor making the repairs and the
Building Department having delayed the work for
some time. large force of men at work
,ba bull hou no ic In Of
the most crowded districts in the city and its
closed doors have been the Of many
plants from parents whose children attended the
school last year. Primary School No. AZ. at No.
599 East One-hundred- nd fortieth-st accommodate
Ing 200 pupils. may be opened tomorrow. II not.
the repairs will De completed In two three days
time In some Of the buildings repairs the heat
ing apparatus still in progress. but the work in
most is triHlng does not interfere with the
regular school sessions. and will be completed
within few days
DR.. Hunt said to a Tribune reporter yesterday: "A
condition very much like that which exists In the
schools to,day was pTeyalen IN 1888 wheh Was
there were exaggerated reports of overcrowding In
turned away from the classrooms to run in the
streets. had accurate reports submitted to me
snes ana the aendance The result was that
1900 vacant seats found In the grammar
ed thsmssves OF course these vacant benches
small principally in the upper part of the city,
while In other districts thousands of children
turned away. Had the buildings been scattered
through the city according TO the distribution OF
school population nearly all the children In the
city of school age could have been accommodated
zone of the great difficulties we have to contend
with Is that many parents persist In sending
their children to schools outside of their own dis
trcts which are already overcrowded, not being
satisfied. some for and some for
other with the schools nearest their homes. where
in all probability there are plenty of vacant seats.
1t is likely that some rule will be adopted compell
Ing children to attend the schools in their own dis
trcts"