The evening times., 1899-06-29

After thorough consideration of the
question the District Commissioners have
decided to reject all bids for the construc-
tion of the three public school buildings for
which appropriations were made last year.
Proposals for the erection of each OF these
schools have now been rejected three times
and the Commissioners have decided to
permit the appropriations to laspe with
out attempting TO have the buildings built
this year, and TO make later appeal to
Congress for additional appropriations
large enough TO permit of their construc-
tiOn.
The action of the Commissioners, be-
sides winding up the school question for
the time being. concludes one of the most
difficult problems which the municipal au-
thorities have been required to handle for
some time. The three buildings were an
thorized by the District Appropriation act
Of June 80 of last year. Thirty thousand
dollars was appropriated for rebuilding the
old Lovejoy School building, at the corner
OF Twelfth and d Streets northeast. A new
school of eight-room capacity was author
lied for northeast Washington, and S37, 500
OF this amount the Commissioners ex-
pended enough money TO purchase a site
in Fifteenth Street between Gales and
Rosedale Streets northeast, and the balance
was to be devoted TO the building. The
third building authorized by the appropria-
tion act was to be of the eight-room va
riety and located in southeast Washington.
The Commissioners purchased a site for
this building on the corner of South Caro-
lima Aypnup and SprCnd Street
Early last summer architects began work
upon the plans for the three schools, but q
strange combination of circumstances pre-
vented the completion of the drawings In
I'll last spring. when they were submitted
TO the District Commissioners. While not
too elaborate, these three buildings, as de-
signed by the architects, were neat and
beautiful, as well as roomy and substantial,
and the Commissioners and others who
viewed the sketches We're delighted with
the advances shown in school architecture.
Owing, however, TO the vast amount of
building in various parts of the city. ma
terial advanced rapidly. and when bids
were received it was found that they were
much in excess of the amounts available.
The first lot OF bids was rejected and the
architects instructed to alter their plans.
SO as to reduce their cost By doing away
with certain decorative features. New ad-
vertisements were inserted in the newspa-
pers. and a second lot of bids received,
but with no better results than before the
second series of proposals being, compare
lively speaking, higher than the first.
These were also rejected and directions
given to the Inspector OF Buildings 10 pre-
pare entirely new plans for the schools
within his Office.
This was done with the intention of
seeking bids on schools of very simple and
plain character and on a reduced and mod /
flied scale. Il was hoped to make the |
buildings substantial. but 10 reduce their !
cost wherever possible. but when bids were /
received they just came within the limit /
of the available balance of the school ap- i
preparation.
Two questions then presented them !
selves to the Commissioners, whether to /
erect the buildings according to the modi-
fed plans or 10 reject all bids and ask |
Congress for more money. They realized |
mat while the residents of northeast and |
southeast Washington were eager for the
erection of the three buildings many op-
posed the building of smaller and shabby
looking structures. In their dilemma. the
authorities conferred with the /
Board of School Trustees. G. +. 7. Cock
superintendent of the Ninth, Tenth. and
Eleventh School Divisions; DIR. G. H.
and General Harries, and as
certained that while Superintendent Cock
avn trustee RlcnarCSOn and many co o.ei
citizens were anxious to have the Lovejoy
school erected according to the mo lifted
plans, the majority of school trustees
were vigorously opposed to the ccnstruc-
tion of unpretentious, cramped structures
as proposed.
A statement was received from Trustee
Richardson to the effect that the colored
residents of Northeast Washington were
about to petition the Commissioners to
erect the Lovejoy school without delay.
and the Commissioner had about decided
10 reply that they expected to rebuild the
school with the present appropriation and
hoped to make the award of contract within
l few days. Later. however, this action
vas reconsdered and reversed and the de-
,ision reached was to build none of the
proposed school with the present appro-
II is argued that little time will be lost
1y the new plan of procedure. The three
schools could under no arrangement be
completed before the close of the new
chool year. Congress Will be asked 10
make special appropriation and as soon
is the money is secured new bids will BE-
opened on the complete plans of the ar
which are ready, and work could
hen be begun on each OF the proposed
buildings in the spring. At the most. only
few months of the following school
ear would be lost. and the city would
'osSess three good buildings.