The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-02-23
WHY is THIS, THUS?
The members of the School
board tell Why nothing has
Beer done.

The Architect seems to be to blame from
Their Remarks-Each member Inter-
viewed-A Review OF what has and
What has not been done--A question
Of great Importance to the District
Some Of the Board want the Architect
Fired--One member says that there
has beenn no Delay aud that things are
Lcyely--0ur Readers can Perhaps
tell What Is the Matter from the Fol-
lowing Article.
Many of the citizens OF the town
are wondering why the public school
building is making no better Roadway.
They don't understand why there is
nothing being done toward the be-
ginning of the building by letting the
contract. They cannot see how
months of delay with no apparent
cause can help matters any or hasten
the day when the building will be
ready for occupancy. They are asking
a good many questions about the
matter and we have decided TO ask
each member OF the board as to the
reason for the delay. Each one has
told US something about the matter
and our readers can read what they
have said and draw their own conclu-
sions.
Last year in January the public
school building was burned. In the
following month the ruins were dyna-
mited, and were soon after pulled
down, making the destruction COM
plete, In July Architect Peoples, of
Pittsburg, was selected TO make the
plans for the new building. In Au-
gust the people OF the town voted
bonds to build the school house.
During this month the heater contro-
versy began, and it was settled in
January Of this year Since then
there has been no meeting of the
board and nothing whatever has
been done toward the beginning of
building operations. Why this is
true may be explained by the inter
views with different members of the
school board.
DR.. James 2. Fitch was the first
seen. He said that as far as he could
see there was absolutely no reason
why there was no meeting of the
board held. He had been very anx-
ious to have the matter settled and
the bids advertised. A number of
conferences with the different mem
bers of the board had been held to get
them to have meeting and he had
become tired of the thing and had
quit trying to get them together
"Here we are with the summer almost
on US and nothing done. We can let
the contract for thousand dollars
less now than we can after the build
ing season opens up. The architect
told me In November that he had the
plans ready with the exception Of a
few 1ues for the heaters and that
these could easily be put in and would
take only a few hours work. The de-
lay is inexcusable and | want the peo-
Pile to know it. We ought to have
the house under roof right now. We
have lost time enough already and
ought to lose no more. II we want
the building for the next year we will
have to do something. How TO get
the board started / must confess /
don't see."
Mr.. l.. G. Lazelle, who is the presi-
dent OF the board, was next seen and
told the object of the VISIT He
thought there was no use saying any
thing as in a few days we would know
all about the matter. ssMr. Williams
is in Pittsburg and he has been di-
rected TO see the architect and
find out from him what is the matter.
When he returns we will know what
we are to expect. But there is no use
of getting excited over the matter.
The delay we have experienced will
not prevent our getting the house
ready for next year. The architect
has been written to repeatedly by me
about why he has not sent on the
plans and specifications, and he has
told me that the heater man was the
cause OF the delay. The contract can
be let in the early building season and
the building can be completed in time
for occupancy next fall"
Mr.. Frank Cox did not think SO
favorably of the outlook. He stated
the state OF things in the follow
ing terse style. "The aachitect was
employed by US last August to draw
up the plans and specifications. He
promised them in month. After
wards he said he would be later as he
would have to wait on the heater con-
tract. That was settled on January
first. The plans are not yet forth
coming. We know Of no reason for
the delay. This is the last of Feb
ruary. While we do not advocate the
laying Of brick In the winter time,
yet the plans and specifications should
have been, long since received so we
could take bids and be ready for work
in the early spring. 1t is an imposi-
ton on the people of the district to
be thus delayed because it will take
considerable time to take bids and let
the contract after the plans have been
received. The architect should be
forced to furnish them at once or he
should be discharged
Mr.. Geo. Steel said that he knew
of no reason for the DELAY
and was in favor Of firing the archi-
tect If he did not come to time pretty
quickly. The time for the letting of
the contract and arranging for the
other preliminaries was rapidly going
and there was nothing being done.
There is no excuse for the delay and
want something done. The fault,
as see it, is with the architect,
Mr.. Williams is In Pittsburg and
can't be seen about the matter but
he wants something dond and would
like to have meeting of the board
to look into the matter.
WILLIAM RIPLEY, Of Greenbrier
county, So years Of age, unable to
oct anvfhinv str,,ugar drank 81