Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-23


r The Board of Education held special |
4 meeting last night week, at which |
4 proposals for erecting the proposed
\ new high school were opened, and the
\ Of IA to A was given authority to award
( the contract.
There were only two bidders, the
4 A. s. Reed & Bro. Co. and Calvin l.
!. 8wayne, the figures of the former,
4. which were the lowest, being $139, 773,
H provided the building is erected accord
4 ing to the revised plans and speciti-
cations.
Mr.. Ross, as soon as he learned there
Z were only two bids, asked whether the
+ board deemed it advisable to open only
the two bids or give more time and
II allow others an opportunity to bid.
y. He said he understood more time was
desired. He was informed by Presi-
y dent Shortlidge that no formal OBJ
! lection had been made and there WINS
no protest against opening the bids.
from contractors, so far as he knew,
II and as nothing further was said of the
4 matter the bids were ordered opened
and were as follows:
A. S. Reed & Bro. Co.-S139, 773, if
Z erected according to the revised plans
I and specifications; $50 working days
required to complete the contract;
7 nothing to be allowed for the building
now on the ground; if Brandywine
y granite is used ON the lower portion
4 $500 is to be deducted; if terra Gotta
trimmings are to be used 81, 1853 is to
be deducted; will put in terra Gotta
cornice instead of wood for an adj
ditional sum of So, 1888, or copper
cornice instead of wood for 1884
additional.
Calvin l. Swayne- 1851, 1903, if built
according to the revised plans and
specifications; with copper cornice
and stone trimmings, sl5o, 500; wood
cornice and stone trimmings, S14S, sol |;
wood cornice and terra Gotta trim
mings, S149, 257; copper cornice and
Z, terra Gotta trimmings, s149, 2S3; terra
Gotta cornice and band, $149, 3d. if
Y woodstock granite is used, deduction
4 of $756; il light eastern granite, de-
duction of $3.50; no allowance for the
old building on the ground; 10 months
required to complete the contract.
After the bids had been read Mr..
Z Carter moved that they be referred to
the committee on new buildings, with
power to act.
Mr.. Fraim said before the motion
was voted upon it would be well to
inform the members as to what changes
had been made in the plans and speci-
ficationss
Mr.. Turner, who is chairman of the
committee, explained the changes,
which have already been printed il
these columns. "The committee he
remarked, "does not want to build {
barn.
"were the original plans for 1
s barn?'' Mr.. Fraim asked
saI ffhuf
advocate building barn
II deny the assertion Mr.. Frain
said emphatically.
At the request of President Short
lidge, the controversy between the tw,
members ceased here.
N Mr.. Ross inquired how the building
was to be paid for; whether it woul'
not be advisable to seek the assistanc
of City Council and ask the Legis
lature for authority to borrow tn
necessary money. He figured that tn
total cost, including the money for tn
lot and heating and plumbing, woul
many years would be required to pa
the whole bill.
President Shortlidge called MI
Turner to the chair and made q fe
remarks advocating the project. II
pointed out the necessity for ne
high school and gave his reasons. H
spoke of the congested condition in tn
built-up portion of the city and sal
the object in building a new big
school was to give relief to the 9TH
school. At present it is necessary I
accommodate some Of the gramm;
scholars in primary schools and the
are other complications, in addition
the crowded condition of some of Il
schools, which it is expected to relic,
with the proposed new school. I'll
building, he held, would be fully pa
for in five or six years and the co
will not be as great as some peop
anticipate.
DR.. Shortlidge took occasion to ref
to other matters. He said under tt
present condition of affairs in Il
State, through the influence of Ike
and Sussex counties, Wilmington
Disseminated against in the matter
money for educational purposes. /
spoke of the city receiving only 800, o
last year from the State school fun
instead of $4,000, which should ha
been received. He thought the peor
of Wilmington should demand the
rights.
He thought it was unjust that d
Board of Education and other bod
should be governed by the State ]
said the Legislature had added t
Eastlake, Highlands and other distrit
to the city without making addition
provision for school facilities. VIII
these additions are being made to I
territory the appropriations from I
school fund are being reduced.
quoted figures from the reports of I
State auditor to emphasize his remaI
and point out the discriminate
against the city. He also spoke of /
influence Of professional lobbyists fir
the lower part of the State agail
measures before the Legislature
the benefit of Wilmington schools.
The members of the board, he sa
reverting to their responsibility to
people, are here for purpose. I'll
are here to look after the interests
the taxpayers, and in the pres
instance he emphatically stated, Il
are certainly doing SO. He felt that
was doing his duty conscientiously 9
did not like to be criticised.
Mr.. Turner said it would not
necessary, at present, at least,
borrow money. II the fund in hanc
exhausted before the building is &C
pleted and paid for, the board
issue certificates Of indebtedness, vi
which interest can be paid, and
certificates paid off as the board
ceives the money. The building is
,lse as n hiph school for Az ar IN ye