Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-29
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Recommended q Lot Between Ash
 ley and Dikeman Streets.

ley and Dikeman Streets.
 At q meeting of the board of edu- cation, held last evening, 1t was voted to recommend to the board of alder men the purchase of lot situated on Ashley and Dikeman streets, for q school site, the lot to be not less than 2oOX24O feet This piece of property 1s owned by the Scovill Manufacturing company. The meeting was long and tedious, full of dry discussion and ar gument. All the members of the board were present but Messrs Russell and Chapman. Commissioner Kilmartin, chairman of the committee on schools and hygiene, reported having inspected two lots in the northeastern part of the city with the city engineer. who was pesent and produced his report on the conditions enveloping these lots. From remarks of Commissioner kilmartin 1t is evident that the architect has changed his mind regarding the front elevation of the proposed school. The lot on Dikeman street, the city engi- neer said, would cost a good deal to clear 1t of ledge. probably from $500 to $500. There is, he said. about 400 cubic feet of ledge there. Commis- sioner Goodenough said the architect had told him it would be undesirable to front tte bull 'di" g cn Dikemon n street owing to the view in that direction.
 The merits of the two lots were then discussed. Commissioner Hayes stood out for the Dikeman street lot owned by Crishan Hauser. the one the city engineer said was bed of rock. Coln- missioner Goodenough brought the pur- chase of either of the lots before the board formally by moving the pur- chase of the lot situated between Ash ley and Dikeman streets. This mo- ton was not seconded. The city en- gineer then introduced maps showing the record of his observation of the two lots. the water pressure elevations and character of the ground On NIT Hauser'S lot it would be necessary to build q back wall and other features would appear in the construction of the building that would not be neces Sary if built on the other lot. MT Hauser disagreed with the city engi- neer as to the contour of the land maintaining it was almost level. while the city engineer and some members of the board maintained otherwise. Commissioner Kilmartin then intro duced another lot. which drew from Commissioner Hayes that he opposed building school in swamp. He said srch q building would be a bred CT of disease. such as the Welton street school is. In this way the debate ran on for long time. all of the commis- sioners taking q hand in it. MT Haus- CT left then, remarking that he would Sell his lot and the lot adjoining it. upon which there is now a house, for less than 'S3. GOO.
 Commissioner Cowell thereupon re- marked that he wished to be placed rannr1 than ha lCnp argument against building new school in that section of the city when there are vacant rooms in the Hen dricken school and to him it seemed an unfair, distribution of the children be- tween that school and the We'ton street school. Commissioner Cow ell threw in a compromise motion that the matter of selecting lot be left to the mayor. F. R. Rice and the city engineer. This was not seconded
 Then the mayor remarked that more often mistakes are made by public bodies through ultra conservativeness than otherwise. As citizen and tax payer he was glad to see public eX- penses increaaing: it showed the con- munitv was develoning and that onght to gladden. anybady's heart. But" continued the mayor. with his business optic on Commissioner Cowell, it is singular that while the city has grown abnornally. the eSDense of maintain- ing public protection by police and fire men has increased in proportion to the develoDment of the city. the grand list of the town has substantially re- mained at standstill for years, its increase being only about 60 per cent" He held it was mistake to erect small buildings and if DroDer build 1ngs had been put no when the pres ent schools were building. the present lack of accommodation would not be felt. This was the closing argument, Commissioner Mcdonald moving that the lot situated between Ashley and Dikeman streets be purchased. and this was carried. The board then adjourned. -