New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-15
TIE BUJLDJNG or SCHOOLHOUSES.

Now that tho new school law has been sup
n,emented nv the reorganization OF the School
BOARD. the benefits of the changed order OF
things are rapidly becoming apparent ,ei
hans no single proof of the fact that practicai
reform, and not mere change OF cohu''on''
has been accomplished is more conclusive thah
the steps taken by the Commissioners 10 put
the Departments business operations Oh IL III
tional basis, and especially to hasten the WORK
of providing new schoOlhOuses where the! are
needed Hitherto slowness has been the most
conspicuous characteristic of this branch OF 'he
service At every stage of the process from
the first tentative consideration or site 10 the
completion of the school building, delay mas
seemed TO be the motto Of all concerned IN the
operation. OF course, appearances have Deeh
more or less deceptive, the chief fault lying
In a system which probably has not been satis-
factory to anybody, but which nobody mas
thought himself able to correct
Rut at last. under conditions fundamentally
improved, the Commissioners are conndent OF
their ability to institute new system. for
this purpose there is need Of legislation when
there ought TO be no difficulty In procuring.
Tn the mast It has sometimes taken two years
to acquire a site, during which interval hoihihs
else was done. 1t is now proposed 10 save 'iliie
in some cases by the purchase or SIZES ana
change in the law is also desired enabling the
city, when a site is to be condemned 10 take
title early in the proceedings ana 10 enter upon
the land at once for purposes OF survey III or
der mat plans may be drawn and contracts
made without delay. and several processes thus
60 on simultaneously, instead or IN SLOW ana
tedious succession. There are other respects
il is said in which the city has been put III
disadvantage Builders of excellent repute are
quoted as complaining that they cannot aHord
to do work of the best quality for the price
which the lowest bidder has sometimes accept
ed: which is equivalent to saying that IN theIr
opinion the city has not got its moneys WORTH
in spite of the bonds which it exacts from con-
tractors. This is essentially question for eX-
perts but builders also make the point mat
tley suffer from being unable to obtain money
due them with reasonable promptness. If this
is true and the delays in payment are longer
than proper prccaution should impose. then the
builders have real grievance. Moreover, the
practice also works TO the detriment OF the
city in n large sense, though from narrow
point of view it may seem to be economical.
One of the Commissioners, speaking for the
new element in the Board, though sincerely de-
sirous of expediing the work of school build
ing does not believe that In the matter or rapid
construction the municipality should be ex-
pected to compete with private citizens, for
whom modern "sky-scrapers" are put up in an
amazingly short time. His view is that such
swift work costs more, and therefore would not
be profitable to the city. But even If 1t does
cost more the conclusion does not seem to us to
follow of necessity. If the private owner Is
willing TO pay more It is because he does not
want an interest account running any longer
than is necessary against large investment
He is anxious to have revenue coming In as
soon as possible in one form or anOther-either
rents or increased facilities for his business
The return which the city gets upon n school
house cannot be reckoned in exactly similar
terms, but If popular education really is the
| sort of investment which 1t is supposed to be,
then extra pay for quick work on schOolhouse
may be true economy. In building to supply a
future demand the argument might not apply,
but while the educational establishment is max
| ing up arrears we are inclined to think that
| the community will commend the utmost &C.
lcrity consistent with thorough workmanship.