The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-09
THE WELLS SQUARE SCHOOL.
IMMEDIATE STEPS TO BE TAKEN
FOR ERECTION OF A BUILDING.

IA School House There on the
Model of the Anderson Street
school BuIIding-The Board De-
cides to Increase the Insurance on
school characterization COunty's
Pro Rata of the State School Fund
$37 BOG. 04-COmmIssiOner Glenn
Urges Enforcement of the Dog
Tax for Benefit of the schools.
Capt. TattnaII Reelected Treusur-
err of the Board.
The Board of Education decided at It's
January meeting last night to proceed a
once to take the necessary steps for the
erection of a new school building fronting
Wells Square. A resolution was adopted
to the effect that a school building as
nearly like the one on Anderson street
as practicable be erected on the lot 'front.'
ing Wells Square, and that for this pur-
pose the plans and specifications Of the
Anderson street building be obtained from
the architect by purchase or otherwise
to be used with such changes as may
be necessary to conform to the location.
After obtaining the plans the board will
call for bids, and after awarding the
contract will employ some competent per-
son TO supervise the work. 1t was fur
Their decided that the building should front
on Eighth street. and that the play
grounds should be on the south side of
the building next to the lane.
The need for an additional school build
ing has been foreseen for some time, and
this need was strongly presented by the
members of The board who appeared be-
fore the grand jury last March. AS a re-
suit of this appeal the grand jury des-
ignated $4,000 of the school approprla-
ton for 1899 to be used in the erection
of a new school building on Wells Square.
AS this amount was insufficient in itself
for the erection of a suitable building, it
was decided to wait until the beginning
of this year before taking steps. AS the
grand jury, which passes on the county
budget, win meet again in March. there
is good reason to expect that further
appropriation win be made for this work.
The Board of Education accord
ingly decided to go ahead with the work.
The $4,000 already in hand will be suff1-
cient to carry forward the work until
the meeting of the next grand jury, and,
although the money from the expected APP
preparation will not be Immediately availa-
BILE, the credit of the board is good, and
no difficulty is anticipated in obtaining
such funds as may be needed to push the
work to completion.
The work will be undertaken with the
idea of completing the building and hav-
ing ii in readiness for use at the opening
nj hn sob ny,t
derson Street School building has proven
so thoroughly satisfactory for school pur-
poses and the cost was SO reasonable in
comparison with the facilities, that the
board concluded that ID could not do bet
ter than TO follow the same plan for the
new building. Owing 10 the higher prices
of material, the cost of the Wells Square
building will doubtless be somewhat in
excess of the Anderson Street building
Should the Wells Square building be COM
pleted this year az is contemplated, this
will be the third school building erected
by the board in the last eight years, the
others being the Henry Street and Ander-
son Street buildings, all in the southern
section. This Is in itself sufficient evil
dence Of the growth of the citv's popula-
ton southwark, while the crowded con-
dition of the schools In the northern Sec
ton shows that the population has also
increased there.
The recent destruction of the eastern
wing OF the Chatham Academy bv fire
undoubtedly incendiary, was discussed in
cidentally by the board. On recommended
ton of the Committee on School Houses
II was decided TO increase the insurance
carried on several of the school buildings
as follows Anderson Street School. from
$4,000 to $4,000; Barnard Street, from IS. eco
to $3.50; West Broad Street, from "a, 600
TO $500, and the Ma ssie School from So
900 to $500. The adjustment Of the loss
upon the school furniture in the Chatham
Academy, upon which there was an in
surance of 81 200, was left to Chairman
Lee Roy Myers. of the School House Com
mittee, and Supt. Ashmore. The ques ton
of increasing the insurance upon the fur
niture of the schools was also left to
them.
Supt. AshmoTe's report stated that there
had been very gratifying attendance
upon the schools since the reopening on
jan 2, Notwithstanding the normal con-
ditions were somewhat disturbed at the re-
ult of the burning of the Chatham Acad-
envy There are now S25S children enroll
ed in the schools, an Increase of 1924 over
the attendance at the corresponding pc
Rod of last year. The duplicate system
by which the two Chatham grammar
schools are now making joint use of the
Massie and St. Patrick's Schools was stat
ed by the superintendent to be working
very satisfac torily
The superintendent reported the opening
OF the new school for colored children
on Duffy street on Jan. in accordance
with the action of the board al the pre-
vious meeting, the conditions prescribed
by the board having been substantially
complied with. The school rooms have
been made reasonably comfortable and
there is now an attendance of about 120
pupils. The limit Of 40 will doubtless soon
be reached.
The school furniture saved from the
burned portion of Chatham Academy has
been removed to the Henry Street School
and stored away in place of safety.
Supt Ashmore read a letter from State
School Commissioner Glenn. stating that
Chatham county's pro rata Of the state
school fund for 1899 Is $37, 306 a. This ia
an increase over last year when Chatham
county received $Ss. lSs.4O The pro "a
OF the school fund to each child OF school
age is s2.l6S an increase of cents over
last years pro rata. The book reports
the commissioners letter stated from
ninety-seven counties, show the average