The Jersey City news., 1899-11-11
VERY QUEER DEAL.
Board of Education's Co.
You Please Way Of Buy
ing Real Estate.
HARRISON TRACT JOB.
No Price, No Frontage, No
Guarantees Against Nui-
No Responsibility
UNLOADING ON THE FINANcIERs.
Public Indignation Excited
UNLOADING ON THE FINANcIERs'
Public Indignation Excited
Over a Snap Judgment
The End Not Yet.

The Board of Education made an un-
expected move last night in the matter
of a site for a new school and this action
has been followed by very nnfavorable
criticism They recommended to the
Board OF Finance the purchase of what is
known as the Harrison site in spite Of the
reasons advanced against it as to incon-
venience and price, to say nothing about
the attempt to foster on the taxpayer
burthen which they win not be able to
stand for some years to come.
The meeting was specially called for the
s.site, question. Director Egbert, who
from the beginning of the New High
School agitation has been an ardent advo-
cate Tor the Harrison property owned by
the West Shore Railroad, offered this
resoiution:-
To the President and Members of the
Board of Education
Gentlemen-Your Committee on New
High School, appointed at the meeting
he'd May L. 1899 respectfully report that
they have given much attention to the
consideration of the site OF the proposed
new High School and that they have care
fully examined all the sites offered in
response to the advertisement of the
Board of Finance and also others Wnich
have been offered since. In considering
committee has had in mind the size,
location, accessibility, probable cost,
probable effect on surrounding property,
drainage, prominence and general desir-
ability. They have felt that the plot to
be purchased should be of such size as
would permit the erection of an impos-
ing building. and allow for suthcient ex-
= While there are undoubtedly many sites
which are adapted for High School pur--
poses, yet your committee were nmiteo
7fo3af hes n H.
out difficulty. After having several meet
ings and having both as committee and
individuals given much fnougnt 70 me
recommend the site known as the HARMS
II has been felt that the public generally
has regarded this site as peculiarly fit for
public building of some kind and now
that a new high school is to be erected,
your committee feel that no better site
could be chosen. The area IS very mucn
greater than that of any other site ofrer-
ed 1t is centrally located and can pe
easily and quickly located py puplis from ON.
any part of the city at the cost of one car
fare A building upon it would be exceed
ingiy prominent and could be seen from
many parts of the city,, .,s
Your committee would, therefore, re
commend that the following resolution De
Resolved, That the Board of Finance
be and they are hereby requested to pur-
chase the site known as the Harrison
estate, including the two lots at the cor,
ner Of Newark and Palisade avenues, ana
bounded as follows:-On the north py me
Kiersted property, on the east by the
Junction Railroad, on the south BY New
ark avenue, and on the west by Pansaos
avenue; this site to be used for the erec-
ton Of the new High School building;
provided, that this site can be purcnaseQ
at such reasonable cost as will not affect
or prevent the erection and furnishing OF
a suitable High School building
From the many expressions OF opinion
which have been heard both IN pupnc
f1nT mi
thai this site will be satisfactory to all
,cftfzens who have given the matter OF
location of the new High scnool atten- saa
ton and who are familiar with the oii-
ssYour committee also believe that I'M
mediate action on this important matter
nupils of the High School, and Will pc
p1eas sing to all citizens who are interested
In the education of our youth
Director ]. E. Hulshizer, Jr.. Chairman
of the New High School Committee, said
that be alone Of the committee had not
decided in favor of the report. He was
opposed, he confined, to the selection
of the Harrison site If for no other reason
that he did not think it was the best
which could be procured.
.sThere are grave reasons why action on
the matter should not be hastily taken"
continued the Director. 'sThe purchase of
this new High School means the issuance
of 900 of bonds, and the present is
anything but a good time to issue bonds.
I am confident that they cannot be dis
posed of to the same advantage as the
sale of the last issue. Then, again, I do
not believe in the Board of Education
Sinking its responsibility in this matter
and placing the burden on the Board Of
Finance. For these reasons cannot vote
for the report"
Director Ward asked why no amount
was stated in the report
Director Egbert, the engineer of the
scheme said that for reasons, which he
neglected to state, the price could not be
stated He again urged that the report
should be passed and the deal closed.
Not so fast" retorted Director HUI
shizer. your report recommends the pur-
chase Of something which has not been
offered to them. You are including two
lots on Newark and Palisade avenues be-
longing to Mr.. John Edelstein, who has
not offered them
Director Barker was also anxious for the
passage Of the resolution and he was fol-
lowed by Director Egbert who admitted
much to general surprise. that he carried
in his pocket a statement from the New
Jersey Junction Hairoau oHerlnS tnelr
property for sale, namely, two lots. He
added, naively:-
But no price was named therein"
Nice kind of Offer. that,' remarked one
Of the Directors.
Director Birdsall endorsed Director HUI
shizer's advice to make haste slowly. He
thought that some information as to price
should be gained, but Director Berger,
also a ardent a 7vnoafa of h11vsnr a once
shid that the committee was not proceed
Ing hastily. If the Board Of Finance did
not like the price that would end It.
Director BirdsalI, however, insisted that
some price should be nanzed for no other
ttNsver quit certainty for hope.N Never take
4 medicine Of doubtful value instead Of Hood