Evening star., 1899-06-27
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Question of Construction Left to Decision
of School Authorities.
Whether or Not Necessity Shall Over
balance Desirabiiity of Secur-
ing Better Structures.

The question of the erection of the three
public school buildings provided for in the
District appropriation act of June so, 1898,
will probably be left by the Commissioners
to the decision of the school authorities.
The question before the Commissioners is,
shall the three schools be constructed ac-
cording to the plans prepared in the office
of the inspector of buildings, shall their
erection at the present time be abandoned
for the purpose of asking additional funds
from Congress with which to construct
them? 1t is admitted by the Commission
ers that there is a pressing necessity for
the early erection of these schools, but
what the Commissioners desire determined
by the school authorities, it is said, is, should
this necessity for additional school facilities
be permitted to overbalance the desirabity
of postponing their erection until Congress
has appropriat ed such an additional sum as
will permit the Commissioners to erect
larger, safer and more ornamental build
ings?
As has been heretofore stated in The Star
Congress appropriated $50, 600 for rebuild
ing the Lovejoy School, S3T 500 for a build
ing and site in the northeast section and
$45.J for a school in the southeast sec
ton. Plans for the three buildings were
prepared by outside architects, and bids
asked for them. But twice it became
necessary to reject the bids because they
exceeded the funds available for their con-
Struction.
Bids Three Times Solicited.
For third time bids were asked for by
the Commissioners, the third time upon
plans prepared in the office of the inspector
of buildings. These plans, as has been ex-
planned in The Star, call for buildings of
the simplest character, devoid. it is stated,
of architectural ornamentation, and with
reduced stair and hallway spaces One of
the bids received the last time for erecting
hI1il 6irfr thp
of the Commissioners, coming within the
amount available, and for the other two
schools bids We're received by the Commits
sloners yesterday which would enable them
be accepted.
The buildings called for by what are
known as the office plans contemplate, of
course, much cheaper buildings than those
contemplated by the outside plans, and
these cheaper buildings having met with
opposition in certain quarters, the Commits
SiOnerS. so it is stated, are inclined to be-
lieve that it would be wiser to reject the
bids for the three schools, and then, when
Congress meets, lay the matter before that
body with the explanation that they found
1t impossible to secure the erection of sat
isfactory buildings with the funds at their
disposal. The site for the school in the
northeast section has been purchased, it
being located at 18th and Gale streets, and
one purchased at I'd street and South Caro-
lima avenue for the school in the southeast
section. So, should the Commissioners de-
clCe TO reject lne DlUS LOT IHtSe ScnOOIS,
only the balance of the respective appro-
priations would have to be turned back in-
to the treasury
The Probabilities.
1t may be that the Commissioners will
decide to construct the Lovejoy School, and
allow the appropriations for the other two
to lapse. But it is pointed out that if they
should do this Congress would say to them
when they asked for more funds: You
were enabled to build the Loveioy School
with the funds given you on office plans,
why did you not do the same thing with
the other two schools?'' Then, again, the
Commissioners appear to feel that If they
fail to construct the schools at this time
they will be severely criticised, and that
if they decide to construct them on the Of
flee plans they will be no less severely
criticised for erecting cheap and less com
modious buildings 1t is said that 1t seems
to them that it is a case of You wlll oe
damned if you do, and damned If you
don't"
1t is therefore, understood that the com
mfssioners have sought the advice OF the
public school authorities in the matter, ahd
it is not unlikely that they Will be gulded
hv what those officials suggest. 1t Is sald
that the school authorities do not as
whole favor buildings erected on the once
plans and it is not improbable that the
commissioners will be advised to do noth-
ing until Congress meets, and then lay the
facts before that body and ask addltlohai
funds so that the school buildings VIII not
only be fine examples of architectural beau
ty but also commodious, safe and perfectly
49,.