The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-27
[ WILLING TO GO IN DEBT.
g POSITION OF THE CHATHAis
ACADEMY TRUSTEES.

C"Dt. III. c. Cunningham says the
trustees Have Been Willing to
IebuiId Since Feb. 10, but Have
GOT Been Able to Meet the Views CT
the Board of Education-The Com
.nittee of the Latter Desire "a More
extensive Building Than the For
aer Are willing to PrOvide-Are
wiling to Spend the $50, 900 They
AVE and no M0re-A Reason Why
The Trust should Remain Sep
arate.
The members of the Building Commit
; of the board of trustees of Chatham
I ademy were not disposed to discuss at
j length yesterday Capt. Blun's inter
' in the Morning News upon the failure
ct the Trustees Committee and that of
Ire Board of Education to agree upon any
J.. n for the rebuilding of the academy. In
! t. they were rather inclined to think
1 Capt. Blum had been rather previous
discussing publicly a matter which he
t, i under consideration between the COM
j., ;ees and upon which neither committee
-; reported to the body 10 which it be-
1t Is.
oO NV tillAih any SOOQ Ndll NOiIl6 VI
-,ussing this matter now nor that il
i help TO mend the situation in any
\ =" said Capt. Cunningham, who Is
irman of the Trustees Committee
le trustees are ready TO make show
of their position in the matter at the
per time and have no fear of the re-
t,s.'
apt. Cunningham was informed that
general public was commenting upon
delay in rebuilding the Academy and
t there was disposition to attribute
delay 10 the trustees.
[ am aware of that" he replied,
1t this is because the general public is
L. familiary with the situation. The
.stees have been ready to rebuild az any
e since February Is when we proposed
- replace the Academy on the old lines
some changes and improvements.
Is was not satisfactory TO the members
the Board of Education, and at their
istence we advertised for and secured
aumber of plans. Some time had to be
owed of course to the architects in
Itch to prepare and submit plans.
l'inber of plans were received. From
t'cse our committee selected one which
Il our ideas and which was submitted
the committee from the Board of Edu-
ton. 1t did not meet with their ap-
we'd were also exhibited to the mem
IS Of the other committee for their in
rmation."
apt. Cunningham was informed that
lie members of the Board of
,.ucation committee seemed 40
81 that they had not been
wen full consideration in the matter in
1t the trustees committee did not take
en- into consultation as to plans, but
nply submitted plans of its own seec-
4 n.
That is true" said Capt. Cunningham
Ye are simply exercising The powers
Inferred upon us by the trust. While
= are DESTROYS of meeting the views of
I Board of Education with regard TO
% building, we are the ones who are
sponsible for the use of the funds in our
re, and ii is strictly within our province
- decide upon the cost and character of
ire building"
The trouble in nutshell" seid Capt.
'lnningham is. that the trustees do not
l. oppose TO go into debt in order to erect
ornate building. We have $50 900 at our
5posal and with this we think we can
ect a very good school building. We do
It feel that we would be justified in in
,'rring a debt in order 10 erect a more
Z nate building. The Board of Education
n give no safe guarantee that such a
{ BIT will be met. 1t is dependent upon
ons and if the grand jury should decline
appropriate the money promised us by
tie board, that body would be helpless and
- would we"
Capt.. Cunningham exhibited the ground
ans which had been submitted by the
ustees at the conference the day before
and to which Capt. Blum had taken such
rong exceptions. The plan provides for
& building in the shape Of cross 152 fest
breadth and 12l feet in depth 1t is n
pacious building, having 1850 square
let OF space on the ground floor. The
an provides for eight large school
rooms on each floor, two in each section
Z the cross, the center being reserved
n light and ventilation and for the
anyways which appear to be ample.
here are two principals rooms on the
fist floor, with similar rooms for jani-
RS or teachers on the other floors. with
toilet rooms and lavatories on each floor.
he arrangement is simple, but appears
be very we'll suited for school purposes.
lch schoolrCom is ,24x36 feet, each being
timated to accommodate fifty pupils,
ing somewhat larger than the general
verage of school rooms.
''The plans were drawn by the archi-
t'ct according to directions" said Capt.
birmingham, exactly on the lines sug-
asted by Mr.. Ashmore at a previous con-
renee with the special view of meeting
lie conditions as stated by him. AS this
iathe case l was somewhat surprised that
e plan should have proved unsatis-
"lotory to the committee from the Board
z Education"
Capt Cunningham mentioned one mat
r of considerable interest during the
)nversation. The trustees have a good
1ason for retaining their control of Chat
am Academy" he said. GAS is well
nown there has been considerable opposi-
ion expressed al various times 10 the
>aintenance of the High School a part
II the countys public school system. This
pposition still exists and it is not at all
eyond probability that 1t may gain sufii
lent force at some time to compel the
}oard of Education to dispense with the
Iigh School, which could be done by de-
lining to make an appropriation for this
urpose. In this case the trustees Of
latham Academy who are vested with
lrge discretion by the terms of their
rust, could step into the breach and de-
ote their building to the maintenance of
high school. This is the only excuse for
,ur existence as a separate body. Except
or this the academy might as well have
ieen merged with the school system long
Ago. There was time shortly after the
war, when there were other reasons for