The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25
WILL TRY FOR ANOTHER PLAN.
PROTESTS WILL BE MADE At THE
MEETING OF SCHOOL BOARDS.

Means by which Additional Funds
May BE secured for the Construct
ion of Building on New Lines.
Col. MERGERS Reasons for Prefer
ring Mr.. WhitcOver's Plan to Mr..
Jrban's-AdNoeates of building
on New Lines Fear They viii
Achieve Nothing.
The report of the joint committee of the
Board of Education and the Board of
Trustees of Chatham Academy viii not be
received and accepted without comment
when the two boards meet at O'Clock To-
morrow afternoon at the Office Of Supt
Otis Ashmore Although those who are
opposed 10 the Urban plan for the restora-
ton of the academy fear their efforts will
be of no avail, they will yet Try 10 bring
about the obliteration OF the old lines of
the building and the erection of a more
modern, convenient and comfortable
school
The sentiment is strong against adher-
euce to the Old lines, as contemplated by
Mr.. Urbans plan. A number have ex-
pressed their antagonism against the res
toration. just the building formerly
stood, though they appreciate the difficult
ties with which the Board of Trustees
is surrounded 1t IS recognized that there
is not enough money available to rebuild
on new lines. and that the beard must
perforce use Mr.. Urban's plan, probably
the best that could be devised upon the
original lines
Col. George A. Mercer, president of the
Board of Education and member of the
Board of Trustees, was greatly disappoint-
ed when he saw that there seemed no al
tentative but to accept Mr. Urban's plan.
He opposed il in the joint committee meet
ing until he saw that there was aDDar-
emily nothing else 10 be done than accept
it. His heart was not in the acceptance,
and he would stil be glad to see any
change made possible.
81 freely confessed to Mr.. Urban" Col.
Mercer said, while the meeting was in
progress, that l infinitely preferred Mr..
Witcovers plan to his. 1t was through
no personal desire to see Mr.. Witcovers
plan accepted, but simply because
thought ii by far the better suited to
the needs of the school, that l opposed
Mr.. Urban's plan. The latter gentleman
has done work for me that l have found
very satisfactory, and l am quite sure
his plan for the restoration of the build
ing Is as advantageous as could be drawn
upon the old lines.
mind to show that the plan of Mr.. Wit
cover was far 10 be preferred to that of
Mr. Urban. and l gave them to the meet
ing. Succinctly, the reasons were as fol-
lows:
1t Is a three instead of a four-story
building; it supplies larger school rooms
and more floor space; its entrances and
exits are better; its staircases are better
Placed Its rooms are better lighted and
ventilated; it provides two principals
rooms; il has one large central hall by
which all parts of the entire building can
be reached as the High School uses some
rooms of the middle building. easy access
is essential New rooms could be added
on the south without obstructlng and shut
ting off the light and air in the others;
the building, when erected, will present
a much handsomer appearance; 1t does
not involve sinking the floors of the
ground plan which ] consider very OBJ
jectionable and, necessarily, in this eli
mate. creating damp rooms"
Col. Mercer further said to the commit
tee: "Mr. Urban's plan, | have no doubt.
is as good a plan can he formulated
for a building on the old lines; what !
earnestly object to is a Limitation to any
fixed lines"
81 have called a joint meeting of the
two boards for Monday afternoon at
O'Clock. We will bring up the matter of
the two plans for further consideration
then. II is possible that there may be
some loophole of escape from adherence 10
the old lines presented. and if such should
be the case most certainly il should be
taken advantage of.
1.-THE difficulty lies in the Board of Trus-
tees having insufficient means TO pay for
a building more costly than $4,000 could
erect. Indeed, the board will be called
upon to use up its avaia BILE funds when it
supplies that amount. / know of no means
by which the extra money needed for such
plan as Mr.. Witcovers could be secured
unless some wealthy man should donate
il or the County Commissioners supply it.
The money is about as unlikely to come
from one source as the other
The County Commissioners, as at pres
ent constituted, show no desire 10 help the
cause Of higher education in Savannah.
About the only way an additional $1,000 or
$4,000 Gould be secured would be by the
people voting for an issue of bonds The
Board of Education could not get the title
TO any part of the property, probably, for
the investment in the building, but il
might stipulate that IL should be given a
permanent lease on he property, some
thing it does not now hold 1t is not antic-
ipated that the Board of Trustees will al
amy time desire to take its property from
the Board of Education, yet 1t undoubtedly
has the right to do so If it should desire.
Such an investment by the county could
be made to perpetuate the right of the
Board of Education to occupy the prem
Uses.
1T has been suggested that the addi-
tional money might be raised by popular
subscription. One member of the Board
of Education seemed to sanction tbs
plan. He told me that a friend of his
had offered TO contribute $500. The plan
could not be successful though and | do
not believe $1,000 could be raised. / see
no means by which the necessary funds
can be supplied, yet will talk the met.
ter over and possibly some conclusion
may be reached that will yet result in =
better building going up than the indica-
lions now promise"
Some have said that the march of the
residents southwark win in the course Of
years leave the present academy site I'M
desirable for school purposes Col. Mer.
Ger was asked about that and his view Is
the contrary. He says the statistics or
New York city and others show that IN
the business sections there are the dens.