New-York tribune., 1901-03-15
SCANDAL IN SCHOOL SITE
MUCH INDIGNATION AROUSED ON
STATEN ISLAND.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL To STAND ON HIGHLY
UNSUITABLE LOT BOUGHT FROM
CONGRESSMAN MULLER

Much Indignation has been aroused among the
friends of education Staten Island over the
purchase of a site for the new high school for
Richmond County. The spot chosen is more
suitable for a boiler factory than school, but
the fact that it belongs to Congressman Nicho-
las Muller. the Democratic boss of Richmond
may explain the moral strabismus which led to
Its selection In interview yesterday with
Tribune reporter resident of the borough said
the new school would practically stand in a
freight yard, inconvenient of access and subject
to almost momentary interruption of studies by
the noise of passing trains. Said he:
The site selected for the new high school in
seems hardly credible that, if this be true. any
one interested in education. any one at all
have been Consulted The citizen Who stamdl
the bay viii hardly Believe We that @ tho%gh!f~
men could deliberately choose situation like that
most eXacting department of the public school sys
entire frontage OF this property are the tracks of
tie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad rapidly multiply
From morning to night and from night TO morning
AGAIN. without cessation huge and dusty coal trains
and the air IS iiied With hideous noises
dwelling houses along Jay-st and Richmond
Terrace; of their tenants and rendered this whole
schools or for occupations requiring any measure
ty to cost it is said over $4,000 Will be situated
practically in a freight yard Let any who
wants 70 verify this picture stand in Jay-st. and
look forth upon the car yard of the Baltimore and
Ohio road. The opposite side OF JaySt. is bounded
by this yard, and the tracks rapidly approach
ng the boundary fence. so that probably before
the high school is finished stone may be tossed
from this property to putting steam engines
dragging and Stacking thousands OF directly
under the windows of the new high school!
Verify, this - prospect for the boys and girls
or Richmond Borough, This IS the fine regard of
the Board OF Education for the and efficiency
OF the teachers and pupils of this community This
IS a gHtterng example of the Judgment exercised
by the directors Of public edUCationi
Meanwhile. is there any in authority who
deny this rUmor? Is there any in the whole
Board of Education whole hearted enough to stop
outrage like this upon the high school system IF
this borough Who the educators that
silent about it? Who the SUperintendentS of
schools that choke back their Judgment and let
temple of learning so up the edge of Purgat tory?
Where are the citizens that giving 500 900 for
school in Pandemonium? Where is the Public
Education SOCiety-devoting itself 10 the eternal
welfare OF the schools? Rumor significantly hints
that this property bought by Tammany boss
There may. indeed. be reasons Justify the build
ing OF primary and grammar schools in the neigh
hOrhCOd of factories and in forbidding localities;
hut with thousands of acres of available property
all Staten Island there he defence for
selecting a site few hundred feet from the
wharves and with the intervening space entirely
covered by enormous railroad freight and coal
yard. The residents of this locality have already
fed and person can for a moment believe
this position will not he equally impossible for
the work of high school.