The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-25
School Board Planning to Erect
the Much-Needed Building.
NEGOTIATING WITH A. A. DENNY,
The Pioneer Owns Two Lots ON SEM
Stands in Need OF Just Nova
Difference In Opinion as to Their
vided az to Measures to Adopt.

some question OF how TO provide more
room for the schools. A problem that
has arisen for every year for the past four
years has been up for discussion at vari-
Gus meetings OF the board for the past
four months. 1t involves the construction
OF high school, which all authorities
agree is greatly needed by the district.
Tne district owns SIX out of the eight
lots in the block bounded by Seneca and
University and Summit and Boylston
streets. The two lots on the southeast
corner of the block are owned by A. A.
Denny. who has offered to sell them to
the district for $500. The ground Is
covered by a handsome residence. which
is included In the price laid On the prop
erty By Mr.. Denny. but for which the
school board has little use.
The directors are divided as 70 the best
course to pursue. Some of them favor
seeking new site ana selling the six
valuabf, lots In the block described. In
fact. efforts have been made In the past
to find suitable and convenient site
for new building to be used as a high
school, but as yet the board has not
found anything suitable for its purposes
which it can purchase at what the MEM
bers consider a fair price.
During the last few days negotiations
have been conducted quietly between Mr.
Denny and members OF the board OF
school directors. 1t is understood that
Mr.. Denny and the members Of the board
have not agreed upon a price to be paid
for the property. Several times It mas
appeared as IL both parties to the trans
action would yield something IN order to
effect deal, and it was said yesterday
that the board is likely to be called to-
gether any time to conclude bargain
with Mr.. Denny.
object to the Price.
All the members Of the board are
anxious to settle the matter. There ap-
pears to be an unanimity OF opinion as
to the need for more room In the schools.
Some OF the directors, however, have ssslt
that they were hardly justified In paying
the price asked by Mr.. Denny. Others
believe that ne Is but demanding what he
An interesting phase OF the matter IL
the representations that have been made
by residents OF the vicinity of the prop
erty named Some of the people own
Ing homes nearby have appealed to the
school board not to build on its property,
as It will, they say, lessen the desirabilty
of their homes. Other residents OF the
neghborhood have tod the board that IL
q fine. handsome building were erected
and the grounds suitably improved. 1t
would add much to the attractiveness OF
the neighborhood and the value of the ad-
jacent property.
The necessity of providing additional
school accommodations for the district ly-
ing between Yesler avenue on the south
and Pike street on the north and bound
ed on the west by Railroad avenue and
on the east by Summit street has been
before the school board every year for
the past four or five years. The members
OF the present school board have long
recognized the urgency OF the needs OF
the district, and last fall the matter was
again brought up through Superintendent
Barnard. The board stood confronted with
this condition of affairs: The Central
school. built for the accommodation Of the
pupils In the grammar grades residing in
tha district described, has been used for a
long time exclusively as n high school.
The scholars who live IN the district ard
are in the grades below the high school.
have been parceled out. so to speak, in
buildings leased by the school district from
private individuals and from corporations.
There ara at present twenty schools. or
rooms. each with full quota of scholars,
housed in leased buildings. These build
ings are manifestiy unsuited for the pur-
poses of the district. In the old unIver-
sty building. It IL necessary to burn
electric lights In two or the rooms. for a
part of the day In summer time and
for the greater portion OF the time during
the winter months. The parents Of the
children In these rooms have repeatedly
complained TO the board on this account,
saying that the electric lights were in
furious 10 the eyes OF the scholars.
Designed for Grammar Grades.
The residents of the Central school dis
trict have taken the position. too. that the
high school is occupying a building built
for the children Of the grammar grades.
The parents CT these scholars have ad-
vanced the argument that the high school
was occupying by sufferance a building
designed for the grammar grades and
tina, the board should with all haste posi-
bic provide room for the high school so
that the Central school could be put to
Four years ago. the matter was brought
before the people In an election and the
proposition submitted by the school board
involved t5e purchase OF the two lots
owned by A. A. Denny In the block
bounded BY Summit and Boyiston streets
and Seneca and University. The remaind-
or OF the block is owned by the district.
Mr.. Denny asked the school discric: 10
paw him slSoo9 for the property. TIE
proposition aroused some opposition and I.
was defeated. IL IS understood hat Mr..
Denny was not anxious 20 dispose OF his
property at the time and that this defeat
or rejection OF his offer affected him
kesn!y.
sinee then. negotiations between the
seho,l district ana the board have been
cond,Ie.ed from time to time. without any
rNss.ifs being accomplished The board
has rad various other sites rendered 10
IL and has examined number OF these.
The Sentiment among the directors. how
ever. has beer against disposinr OF the
fine property owned by the distrfct in the
block described Tbs Is admirably SIT.
uatsd In ne finest residence section Of the