Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-05
TO FINISH THE HIGH SCHOOL
Building COMMITTEES Chairman
Orders Work Resumed.
CHIEF JUSTICE HEAVY tNDORSER
Signs Note for Twenty-Five
Thousand Dollars.


committees OIL the ljOhrd OF EuucHtOn
Thinks That He Has u Right to Arrange
for Money to Complete the Bullding.
The A. s. Reed & Bro. Co., general
contractor for the new high school
building, was given instructions Monday
morning by William Turner, chairman
of the building committee Of the Board
of Education, to resume work on the
building at once and complete it, and
Edwin Talley, supervisor of schools,
was also ordered by Mr.. Turner to re-
port for duty there to supervise the
work. In giving the order Mr.. Turner
assui ed the contractors that the boaid
WILT its meeting neat Monday night,
pay the money which is now due, about
$4,000. The major PORTION Of this
amount goes to the Reed company and
the remainder to Harry A. Miller, the
plumbing contractor, and George ii.
Pierce OF New York, the architect.
Mr.. Turner arrived at the decision to
have the building completed without
delay after receiving assurance, as he
believed, that the money to pay for the
work would he forthcoming. He took
the step Immediately after Chief Justice
Charles b. Lore had promised to loan
the board s25, 900 for the purpose and
placed his name to four months
promissory note for that amount. The
note was drawn up Monday morning and
signed by Mr.. Lore, and now only
awaits the signature ofs DIR. Evan g.
Shnrtige, president Of the Board Of
Education, who is expected to sign 1t
during the dav.
Last Friday Chief Justios Lore drove
to Mr.. Turner's store, at Third and
Poplar streets, and voluntarily offered
to loan the board $1,000, $4,000,
S25, 900 or $50, 600, and by way Of en-
phasizing his offer remarked; 1.-THE
high school building must be COM
rleted. 1t is disgrace to the city to
allow the Building to stand unfinished.
] will do all can to have the build
ing put in shape for use."
Mr.. Turner was very busy at the
time and was unable to attend to
drawing up the papers, but early Monday
Inoruing he went to Chief Justice
Lore's residence, and after brief con-
versation Judge Lore and Mr.. Turner
came downtown and went to tho
Union National Bank, where the note
was drawn up and signed. The judge
expressed q Willingness to loan all of
the S50,00 but Mr.. Turner said be
wanted the loan to be popular and
would not accept more than S25, 600.
Judge Lore remarked, however, that IL
more was Needed he would stand good
for the amount. st
Mr.. Turner told reporter OF The
Gazette afterward that he knew
several other people who would loan
money and be WIS positive no trouble
would be experienced in raising the
whole amount in short time. About
500, 600 will be needed to complete the
building, and it is Mr. Turner'S idea
to raise the whole amount at once,
although the contractors have agreed
to finish the building II $4,000 is
forthcoming, agreeing to give the
board credit for the balance.
He is chairman Of the finance COM
mittee as well as the building commit
tee, and from his knowledge of the past
and present financial conditions, be-
lieves the board can clear up the in
debtedness in from elk to eight years.
Each year the board receives from City
Council S20,0 to be placed to the
building account and the board has
authority to transfer 5000 annually
rum tuo StueEdi oAUouoo w tuo Duild-
ing fund, which make the latter fund
$50, 600 each year.
II firmly believe" he said, in speak-
ing OF the prospects, that the board
will have about 5000 each year to
apply to paying off the indebtedness
on the high school until the debt is
all paid off. All OF the schools are in
good condition, and very little money
mil Ia fn in,
pair for the next year or two at least,
unless something unforeseen develops
| think $4,000 year will take care of
all repairs and improvements, includ-
ing the building of another new school,
''It is hardly likely that it will be
necessary to build more than one new
school while the high school debt is
unpaid, as the high school building
will relieve the congestion in the major
portion OF the city for several years 1t
Is likely, however, that next year the
board may find it necessary to erect a
building at East Lake. The board
owns fine lot there and S15, 600 will
put up first-class building that will
accommodate that section for several
years.
MIR. Turner said it would he impos-
sible to have the building completed
by the beginning Of the next school
year, the first of September, but he
| thinks it will be finished and ready
for use by the first of the year and can
be occupied about that time.
Relative 10 the method of securing
money by which the loan was secured
ON Chief Justice Lore's endorsement,
Mr.. Turner said the board had given
| the COMMITTEES ample authority TO 60
ahead and make such nm arrangement,
but in order TO clinch the matter 1t is
probable that the resolution which was
offered at the last meeting, giving that
authority specifically, will be passed.
The notes are TO be for four months,
and to be renewed at the expiration OF
each term until they can be paid off.
| 1t is the intention of the committee to
appeal to the Legislature at Its next
session for authority to borrow money,
and 1t is expected that such authority
will be given; also, that a good rate Of
| interest can be secured and all of the
notes paid off. by the method referred
to above the bank furnishes the money
and the endorser stands good for the
amount. The notes bear interest at G
per cent.
1t is the intention Of the board, upon
the completion of the new high school
building, to convert the present High
School into grammar school and some
of the primary school scholars will be
sent to the present grammar schools.
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