The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-26
THE PLAN UNSATISFACTORY.
80 PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS RE-
BUILDING THE ACADEMY.

Henry blum Talks Freely rs to the
situation-The Committee of the
board of Education Given no OPP
aportunity TO Pass Upon the Plans.
The one Submitted Thoroughly
Unsatisfactory and UnsiGhtly From
an Architectural StandpOint-Com-
mittee VIII Report to Called
Meeting of the Board.
The prospect of getting a new building
on the site of the Old Chatham Academy
IN time for any use during the next school
wear appears to be more remote than
ever. The committee of the Chatham
Academy trustees to which was entrust-
nd the selection of plan and providing
for the erection of new building, and
the committee of the Board of Education,
which was appointed to represent the in
kerests of that body, had another meeting
yesterday afternoon. but without reaching
any definite conclusion. In fact, judging
from the expressions of some of the gen
slemen who were present at the confer
ences, there is less likelihood than ever
OF an agreement between the two bodies
At the conference were Capt. II. c.
Cunningham. Mr. George c. Freeman and
MIR. w. L. Clay, of the academy trustees,
and Col. j. H. Estin, Mr. b. A. Denmark
and Capt. Henry Blum of the Board of Ed
ucation. Superintendent Ashmore was
also present. The conference, while pleas
ant. was unsatisfactory as to results. The
trustees committee submitted plan.
which it has agreed upon. entitled, "Plan
MO. s. of a series submitted by Mr.. Urban
and offered 1t for the approval of the
committee of the Board Of Education.
The latter did not regard it with favor,
and, in fact, differed so totally in their
kdeas concerning the matter. from the
trustees committee, that it was soon
seen that there was no hope of an agree
ment. The members of the Board of
Educati ton accordingly withdrew and held
a short conference among themselves, at
which they decided to submit a report at
an early date at a called meeting of the
board.
Capt. Blum was seen after the meeting
and consented 10 discuss the matter with
abe understanding that whatever was said
by him should be reported as coming from
him personally and moi as speaking for
the committee of which he is a member.
Il do not doubt that the trustees are
6Cting as tney DeneNe 10 De DtHts ne SAID
land that they are due the appreciation
of the public for the services which they
have rendered. At the same time / must
say that l am unable to understand their
course in the matter. They do not seem
no take into consideration that the Board
of Education has, at least, an equal inter
est In the kind and character of the build
ing 40 be erected for the uses of the
schools. 1t seems strange to me that our
srOr has IN
Euk the architects or to take under con-
sideration the various plans submitted.
The committee was appointed probably
-four months ago ana al! we have been
called upon to do at the conferences which
have been held was to consider plans al
ready selected by the trustees committee
and as our ideas differed so widely as to
the character of building which should be
erected nothing has been accomplished"
''As 10 the plan submitted by the trus-
tees this afternoon" said Capt Blum,
Il consider il to be so utterly unsatis-
factory as to be entirely out of the ques-
ton. The plan, we were informed, was
submitted by Mr.. Urban, in accordance
with instructions from the trustees IL
is for plain, three-story building in the
shape of a cross. the two sections cross
ing at right angles and the center sec
zion running back to a depth of about l20
feet The ground plan reminded me ex-
actly of two poker sticks crossed at right
angles. The plan provides for twenty
four rooms eight on each floor. The in
terior arrangement does very we'll the
rooms being large and well ventilated.
with large well in the center for stair
ways, lights and ventilation. 1t is the ex-
serior of the building to which / object
1T is absolutely plain, with no architec-
sural beauty and no pretense to anything
of the kind that l could discover.
ut should be borne in mind" said Capt.
Blum, that the building which it is now
proposed to erect will doubtless last for
generations. The burned building lasted
nearly hundred years and the next one
will doubtless last fully as long. The
location is the most prominent one and
the most desirable in the whole city, and
Will become more prominent as the
city increases in size. This being the
case. We should have some regard for
public taste The new building should
be one which should be attractive from
an architectural point of view. as well as
one suited for the purposes for which it
is intended. 1t would be great mistake
TO place a building there which would
DE an eyesore and discredit 10 the city
and the public school system. Il will be
a source of great regret to our people
in years TO come should the main school
building of the city situated in the most
central location, present a bare and I'M
attractive appearance
II understand and appreciate the mo-
tives of the trustees" said Capt. Blum.
f'The desire on their part 90 avoid debt
and to husband their resources is a com
mendable one, but il is not right 10 neg
lect all ideas of beauty for the sake of
saving a few thousand dollars. Their
fear Of mourning a large debt which they
would be unable TO meet is a groundless
one Public sentiment in favor of
handsome building is so strong that be-
aieve we could go before the next grand
Jury and secure an appropriation of $40
200 for this work. The academy is sim
ply part of the public school property
Of the people of Savannah. Any debt
incurred on its account would be met just
the same as if incurred on account of
any other public school building Be
sides, II should be borne in mind that the
Board of Education has agreed to nay
an annual rental of 50. 900 so long as any
debt remains upon the building. for the
PURPOSE of enabling the trustees to erect
a building which shall be desirable in
every respect. on this account If for
no other. il seems 20 me that the views
of the members of the Board of Educa-
ZION in regard 10 the new building are
entitled TO very considerable weight"
Capt. Blum said that a number of plans
for the academy building had been sub
mitted by architects. which he thought
far superior 10 the one adopted by the
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