New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-18
ry.MAYOR HEWITT'S PLAN.
u,s PROPOSAL TO THE MAYOR REGARD
ING COOPER UNION.


FURNISH THE INSTRUCTION FOR THE INsri-
TUTE AND IN RETURN RECEIVE THE
USE OF ITS ROOMS FOR
TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Mayor Strong yesterday repeated his state
nent made in letter 10 President Hubbel OF
the Board Of Education regarding the proposi-
ton 10 buy the old Columbia University build
ines at Forty -ninth-st. and Madison ave. for
the use Of the College OF the City Of New-York.
and TO establish one Of the high schools at
Cooper Union The Mayor said that he under
stood that ex-Mayors A. S. Hewitt and Edward
Cooper the son-in-law and son respectively of
Peter Cooper and trustees Of the Cooper estate.
were willing 10 turn Cooper Union over to the
Board Of Education. and either to discontinue
the free schools Of science and art as now MAIN
tanned, or permit them TO be conducted under
the direction of the Board Of Education.
ihe Mayors letter to President Hubbell said
that a large sum would be saved to the city by
the arrangement contemplated. The Columbia
property purchased would save $500. 900; another
100000 would be saved by using Cooper Union
for a high school. and other amounts might in
crease the total to S1,50OOOO.
II would seem. however. that Mayor Strong.
In saying that the trustees Of the Cooper Union
are prepared 10 hand over that institution to
the Board of Education and to discontinue the
free night schools, is under false impression
The trust deed executed by the late Peter Cooper
makes the abrogation of the full night schools
impossible: and. moreover. the trustees would
undoubtedly never consent to any proposals
that would tend to blot out the Cooper Unions
individuality.
IT COULD NOT BE ENTERTAINED.
.ly lotd bofo
Strong which inspired his letter TO the Board OF
Education on Wednesday were clearly outlined
ast night by ex-Mayor Abram S. Hewitt. To a
Tnbune reporter. who him at his house. No.
9Lexington ave. Mr.. Hewitt said: NO such
Question as the dscontinuance Of the Cooper
Union free night schools could be entertained
for a moment. 1t would be total violation Of
the terms Of the deed under which the trustees
hold the institution. and II Mayor Strong has
been correctly reported he must have somewhat
Inexperienced part Of a conversation 1 had
with him little while ago. In that interview
with the Mayor pointed out means whereby
the educational facilities Of the city could be in
creased at a great saving Of public money by
developing the resources of Cooper Union At
present, in order to provide funds for the carry
ing on Of our night schools. the trustees have to
rent a large part OF the building. If the Board
Of Education would take upon themselves this
expense by supplying instructors all this space
now occupied by tenants could be devoted to
educational work. which could be carried on in
the day time as we'll in the evenings. Mr..
Cooper foresaw that q time would come when a
nolvtechnic day school would be necessary in
order TO meet the requirements Of the city. and
he provided in his deed OF gift that In the foun-
dalton of such school at the Cooper Union the
trustees should be at liberty to cooperate with
tho Hoard of Education.
I'm the scheme recently adopted by the Board
of Education proposing the establishment Of
free high schools. one Of which is to be devoted
10 technical education In the mechanical arts,
the trustees have seen the means OF not only
carrying out Mr. Cooper's ideas in regard TO the
education of wage-earnng classes, but provid-
ing for the city a technical school without any
great expenditure of money.
ADVANTAGES OF THE UNION.
"As was shown in our annual report last May,
the Cooper Union for such school presents very
great advantages 1t has the space unoccupied
during the day. and is fully equipped with the
EXPENSIVE apparatus necessary FOR technlcal IN
struction In the founding OF a high school IN
practical mechanics. as supplemental TO the sys-
tenn Of public instruction. the trustees are WILL
ing 10 do all in their power to help the plans OF
the Board Of Education. And further, if the
Board would undertake TO supply the teachlns
force REQUIRED for the day, well as the night
nriate the entire second floor Of the building 70
such work in addition TO the space now taken
tythe night classes.
This Is the scheme which has been laid oe1ore
II. Mavor. More than this we cannot 90. we
can give away nothing In conjunction with the
Board of Education continue our hight
schools. and the readng-room and library VIII
remain as they are If the Board OF Educauoh
will supply the instructors for the day and night
classes the city will be saved the expenditure
Of erecting a suitable building and the necessary
equipment Such an arrangement woulo no.
only result in economy of administration, pu'
would also unity the technical branch OF nis'iu'
tion in this city ., .ha
The question as 10 who would contioi III rhe
school can be quickly and easily setlleo. i,s 1e
Board OF Education might have charee VI . ia
administration but II would. OF course pe IN ~
cumbent upon the trustees Of the cooper cno, i'n.
10 that the principles Of Peter cooper 'ius'
deed not being violated , -.
No action has yet been taken by the f'oaiU %
Education or by the trustees OF the Cl'g vi vi
lege upon Mayor SrOngs letter Conlihlt'eea N
have. however. been appointed 10 consluei .e
proposals, and reports will probably DC Pie-
sented in the course Of few weeks