The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-11-11
The Board Of Eaucation's Strange
Action.

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There can be no doubt OF the need Of a
new High school. n there can be none
as to, the public desire for the erection Of
one with ali due promptitude; but we do
not think public sentiment will ccndone
the peculiar course OF the Board of Edu-
cation. last evening; merely on the ex-
cuse OF haste. Considering all the time
that has been allowed TO eIapse, no point
was made BY taking what amounts to a.
precipytate step at a time when no par
ticular motive for instant decision can be
stated, and when many reasons for going
slow are very apparent indeed.
sThe particulars Of the action taken are
given In our news columns, and some ex-
pressions of public opinion regarding IL
will also be found there. The objections
are manifold. First Of all, 1t is by no
means settled that the Harrison tract"
IS the best site for the purpose. Second
ly. there II the unpleasant feeling, not
removed by any means from the public
mind. that there is q spice of jobbery In
Its selection. the purpose-in part-being
to relieve q railroad OF lands for which it
has no use. Then there is the matter of
price. Did anyone ever hear Of such an
operation as a municipal body resolving
upon a great purchase OF real estate with
out knowing what they were to pay for
ft2 It IS funny, or rather it would be
funny if the danger of IL were not APP
parent to children. not to speak Of bust-
ness men.
or course the School Directors will say
that the Board OF Finance Is still to deal
With the question OF price. But this Is
frantic nonsense. How can the Finan-
ciers be In any position to drive a close
Bargain when the Board of Education has
put It In a hole by determining upon the
purchase OF the Site" Plainly the seller
or sellers can put any figure they please
npea their property. and the Finance
Commissioners nave no means of securing
a single dollar of abatement. when they
are forced to buy under instructions from
the School Board. We do not think the
Financiers are quite 80 green as to be
placed ia any such false position. Why
should they be made responsible for an
exorbItast price for all or any part OF
a plot OF ground. which they did not se-
lect. but which they were simply COM
PEELED TO acuuire-practicaliy at any price
that may Dc asked for it.
It Is worth while inquiring what the
city Is going to buy, anyway. IL 1t AXE
the Harrison site. The people in general
AVE an idea that they are buying the
entire tract. But this is not so. All it is
proposed to take is a narrow strip. with
no frontage save what can be secured by
the purchase Of a couple of lots from am
other ouner-Iots which are not even
offered to the city. and upon which no
estimate Of price has yet been made.
The present railroad owners retain the
larger part OF the Harrison lands. and
there is no guarantee as to what use may
be made Of them in the future. They
may be cut away for a freight yard. or
any structures from tenement houses to
machine shops may be erected on them
In the future.
1t Is to be hoped that the Board of FL
nance win turn this whole matter back
to the Board Of Education in short or
der. This is a bad time to borrow money:
it~is a very bad time to begin to build.
Money IS high and a loan cannot be made
by the city on the most favorable terms.
Prices are high and labor is dear. and
building Is very expensive. as the city
has learned In one or two cases.
Let US have a calm and careful review
OF the entire subject
Qusernsss In Monmouth.
One peculiar feature Of last Tuesdays