The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-26
SCHOOL REPAIRS.
Board Of Education Acts
On The News Sug-
.gestion.

Whether the new Board of Education
has been prompted by the editorial sug-
gestions of 1.-THE News or not, it is act
ing in accordance with the spirit which
animated the suggestion that every eff
fort be put forward to commence the nee
essary repairing of the public schools as
soon as the children leave them this
year to enjoy their summer vacation At
last nights meeting each member, as
committeeman of his respective school or
schools, submitted an estimate of the
amount of money required to make nee
essary repairs during vacation. These
were referred to the Finance Committee,
who will forward them to the Finance
Board. The object is to commence the
necessary repairs as soon as possible and
accomplish as much as possible during
the summer holiday
Finance Commissioner Jacob Ringle re-
Gently appeared at a conference of the
old Board of Education and suggested
that an architect be appointed to make a
careful inspection of the schools and re-
port an estimate of the needs of repairs
and costs thereof. The old Board took
no action on Mr.. Ringle's suggestion
Most of the members looked upon the pro-
position as an unnecessary expense. They
felt, too, that tthe money to pay for the
services of such an architect must neces-
sarily come out of the appropriation for
school repairs.
Mr.. Ringle's suggestion was never
brought before the new Board.
In speaking of the matter yesterday,
Mr.. Ringle said: II do not believe that
members of the Board of Education un-
less they happen to be practical builders,
can properly estimate on costs of school
repairs. l know something Xapout the
building business myself, having been en-
gagged in one branch of it at least for
maEy years, bur do not think | would pc
capable of submitting an estimate upon
the needs and costs of repairs to our
large school buildings"
Mr.. Ringle was not inclined to discuss
the subject further.
President Mulvaney, of the Board OF
Education, said he could not see the ne
cessity of appointing an architect. He
believed the members of the Board are
fully competent to make the necessary
estimates He said the members had
already been over their schools and would
submit their estimates at last nights
meetin He further said that the work
of repairing the schools would be pushed
forward as soon as the children were out
and the Finance Board fixed the appro-
priation. President Mulvaney said if there
had been any delay heretofore 1t was
caused by the Finance Board and not by
the School Board.
Superintendent of Schools Henry Snyder
was somewhat averse TO EXPRESSING an
opinion concerning Mr.. Ringle's sugges-
ton Me was pressed for time when the
reporter for the News" called upon him.
He said, however, that the minutes of the
Board for the past few years would show
that there had been little or no delay in
commencing summer repairs.
Director Hulshizer said he didn't see
why he, as member of the Board, was
not capable of ascertaining the needs and
costs of repairs to Lis school. He might
seek the advice of reputable contractors
as to costs, and his estimate would be
practical, whereas an architects estimate
was more or less theoretical.
Director Lewis thought Mr.. Ringle's
suggestion was a good one, but as it did
not come before the new Board he went
over his schools and made caHAful esti-
mate of costs of all repairs necessary.
He received bids from various contrac-
tors.
In some instances he was familiar with
the costs of such repairs. He is commit
teeman on No. 3 School and is also on
the High School Committee. He said the
work of repairing the schools would be
pushed forward as soon as the Board of
Fiance made the necessary apppropr1a-