Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-28
LOVEJOY SCHOOL BUILDING
Only One of Three to Be Constructed Under
Present Appropriation.
The Decision of the Commissioners
Reached After Consultation With
the School Authorities.

As indicated in yesterdays Star, the Dis
trict Commissioners will decide to rebuild
the Lovejoy school building, one of the
three school structures provided for in the
District appropriation act of June 80, 1898,
and defer the erection Of the building at
10th and Gale streets northeast and the one
at I'd street and South Carolina avenue
southeast until Congress shall provide them
with additional funds
AS was explained in yesterdays Star, the
Commissioners sought advice in the mat
ter, and it is understood the school Off
Gals, while advising that the construction
of the Lovejoy school be proceeded with at
once, suggested that 1t would be better to
allow the balance of the appropriations for
the other two schools to be covered back
into the treasury. and then at the coming
session ask Congress for additional funds,
1t being unwise. in their opinion, to con-
struct these two buildings on what are
known as office plans, prepared in the office
of the inspector of buildings and contem-
plating cheap and less commodious struc-
lures.
For rebuilding the Lovejoy school the
Commissioners have something like 10000
available, sum much larger than those at
their disposal for erecting the other two
schools The Iovejoy school, when con-
structed on the office plans. will closely re-
semble the Bruce school, which is said to
call for but one stairway, it is stated that
before it can be completed the Commission
ers will be able to secure appropriation
which Will permit them to place addf-
tfCnal one in the building. 1t is not believed
that the structure can be erected much ear
lier than next April or May, which would
hardly allow 1t to be occupied until the
commencement of the following school year.
September, 1900.
Arguments Used.
Then. again, Superintendent Cook of the
colored schools has advised the immediate
construction of the Lovejoy building. he be-
ing of the opinion that, all things consider
ed, it would be better to do this than to
delay the work until after Congress meets
Mr.. G. H. Richardson, one of the colored
n. embers of the school board, has also so
advised the Commissioners, as will appear
from the following communication which
he has addressed to the Commissioners:
Il respectfully call your attention to the
following facts concerning the Levejoy
school. for the rebuilding of which we have
$50. 600:
First. since the ground is owned, this
amount should lie enough to put up a very
excellent building, leaving out some of the
expense for details in ornamentataon.
Second, there is a great deal of material,
especially bricks. in the old building which
corrsd be used for the inner walls Of the
new one.
Third, during last summers vacation re-
pairs We're made upon all of the buildings
except Lovejoy, which was omitted on the
ground that new building was to go up
this year AS lnis was impra cticable We
We're forced to use the Old structure an
other year for school purposes without even
having minor repairs put on it. OF course
as a result, many children were kept home
who We're too small to attend schools at
greater distances, while larger ones living
near this building attended schools in other
buildings.
Danger to Life.
Fourth, together with the dilapidate
and insanitary condition of the school, a
greater danger to life lies in the fact that
panic is apt to ensue at any time from
the failing of decayed walls and ceilings.
am informed that on several occasions dur
ing the present year this was averted only
by proper discipline on the part of the
teachers.
Fifth, it is reported that the residents
in the vicinity of Lovejoy school are pre-
pairing to hold meetings and finally to wait
upon you for the purpose of protesting
against another years occupancy of the
old building, which they believe to be con-
defnned.'
The result of this advice of the school
authorities and of the urgent need of addi-
tional schools for the colored pupils is that
the Commissioners have decided to at once
go ahead with the construction of the
Lovejoy building. and the contract for its
erection will probably be awarded to Mr..
u r. MOckabPp the