The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-04-05
SALARIES
HIGH ENOUGH.
For tn, D-ily Republican.

| Public Education, to increase the
salary Of the Superintendent of Pub
| lie Schools in the city from $1,000 to
| 5000 per annum and the salary of
the Secretary and Treasurer of said
Board from $500 to $1,000 per annum,
| which motion was laid over until the
next meeting of the Board on next
Monday evening. should be over
whemingly defeated by the Board
when it is brought up for adoption
before it.
But u few months ago just pre-.
,viouS to the death Of David w. Har-
Ian who had held the position of Su-
| than twenty-five years and who on
account Of physical intirmities resign
ed that important position. the
Board was compelled to elect his
successor for this position. There
was Il large number of men from this
and other states who made applca.
tion for said position. Men who
wcra well known as educators, who
had honorably filled similar positions
who also produced credentials from
scminarics and colleges and professors
therein, showing that they were fully
equipped in every respect to fill such
a pos ition. All Of whom, when max
ing application for Superintendent of
the Public Schools OF this city,
thoroughly understood that the sala-
ry, paid to Mr.. Harlan. had for few
years previous to his death been in
creased TO $1,000 year And all of
the applicants were anxious to secure
the position at that salary.
From amongst that number, the
present George w. Twitmyer was SEE
lcctcd by 4 majority of the members
OF the Board, and duly installed. That
the Board made no mistake in select
ing Mr.. Twitmycr cannot be gain
said But Mr. Twitmyer as we'll as
all other applicants well knew what
salary would be paid per annum as
superintendent and all of them were
not only willing but very desirous of
accepting the position at salary Of
$1,000 a year for his services.
The recent construction and equip
ment Of the present High school in
this city which George II. Pierce,
architect, publicly declared in the
open session Of the Board in answer
to Mr.. Fraim's direct ques ton,
What can this building be fully
erected and fully completed ready for
school use: declared it could be en-
tirelv completed and equipped ready
for school use for $ll2, 900 and that
he could find competent builders VIII
would fully complete the building by
his plans for that sum of money.
Pierce dare not attempt to deny that
in ans wer to Mr.. Fralm S question in
the presence of a full meeting of the
Board 50 emphatically declared.
Pierce first said publicly that the
building could be erected for Ss7, 900
This is well known by every member
of the Board and it was noted by the
reporters who we're present at that
me citing and duly published in the
newspapers of the city, as recourse to
such papers will fully show.
Mr.. l'raim then said, "Mr. Pierce
does your assertion that the sum of
$1,000 include the heating, plumb
ing and Lighting appliances required
thercin?" Pierce after hcaitating to
reply for a few momenst, replied, ''No
sir Mr.. Fraim then asked Pierce
what the building could be entirely
completed for, for use for school pur-
poses and Pierce on reflection for
few moments replied $4,000. Mr..
Frain evidently to Pierce's surDrise)
then said "Mr. Pierce on what price
per cubic foot Is your estimate from
your plans do you base your calcula.
tion as to the entire cost and compile. |
tlon Of said building and that Mr..
Pierce said :! per cubic foot. To
which Mr.. Fraim replied, "Mr. Pierce
you we'll know that an ordinary build
ing built with ordinary brick, with
common mortar, cannot be built on
your plans and fully equipped for III
per foot 1t was then that Mr..
Pierce said the entire building ac-
cording to my plans and specifications
could be fully completed for school
use for $l12,0OO. What was the re-
suit? Bids were asked for, emitting
the heating, plumbing ard ventila-
tion appliances required in said build
ing to complete the same. Eleven
contractors submitted bids for that |
portion Of the construction of said |
building, each enclosing u certified
check for $1,000 for the good faith of |
his bid. When the bids were public
ly opened by the president of the
board and read by the secretary the
lowest bid for that part Of the con-
StrucLion and equipment of the |
building exceeded $l46. 900.
Sho rtly thereafter bids were asked |
for, for the heating, plumbing and
ventilation appliances alone which
on being opened was found to be over
$43. 900. This added to the bid for
first proposal (omitting the heating,
plumbing and ventilation appliances
required in the building) amounted
to about $l79,0 900. This did not in
cude the two additional buildings
required for t he manual training
connected Herewith. Net her did
it include the seating and furnishing
the school with the necessary school
appliances to open the school for
school purposes. 1t did not include
the grading, concrete paving of the
grounds, nor the curbing Of the
same Consequently, Pierce's asser-
tion that the entire building compile
ted for school purpose es would not ex-
ceed Sll2, 900 with the cost, of the
lot on which there is heavy unpaid
mortgage) will cost over $25O,O00
more than double what Mr.. Pierce
,,ubltplv stated hnftrn M nnnn Saccipp |