New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
IT'S CORNERSTONE LAID
BEGINNING OF THE FREE HIGH SCHOOL
OF COMMERCE.
vR CARNEGIE MAKES AN ABLE ADDRESS
AND Mr.. HEWITT SUGGESTS SOME IN ~
TERESTING POSSIBILITIES.

The cornerstone of the Free High School of
commerce was laid yesterday by Miles NJ
o,Brien, the president Of the Board of Educa-
{ ,ion in the presence OF many New-Yorkers who
are interested in educational affairs. The build
ing for the school is to be erected on the north
side Of Sixty-f1fth-st., about three hundred feet
west Of Broadway, and it is to run through the
block TO Sixty -sixth-st. and be five stories high
The frontage in Sixty -f1fth-st. is 80 feet and in
-.xty-sixth-st. 100 feet The building is to shell
- the first free high school for commerce to
5e established in this city and the first institu-
,;on Of the kind in the United States.
The idea of such school in this city orig
mated with Mr.. O'Brien in 1899, and in March
NJ that year he brought it 10 the attention of
the School Board for the Borough of Manhat-
tan with the result that the committee on high
schools was directed to formulate a plan for
such a school. In the following June the COM
raittee reported in favor Of building the school
m the site in Sixty-ifth-st. The plans were
prepared and approved and the work adver-
Used. and bids opened on November u. 1900,
the contract being awarded TO P. J. Brennan
,be lowest bidder for $500 600. The money for
the contract was not appropriated by the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment until March L.
1901. and soon after the contractor began prep
srations for the building.
ADDhESS Of MN OAt1-NEd1G1-
Ex-Mayor Abram S. Hewitt had been invited
to lay the cornerstone of the building. but he
was i'll with rheumatism in his home yesterday,
and he contented himself with sending letter
which was read. Mr.. O'Brien spoke OF the
character of the school to be housed in the
huilding. and introduced Andrew Carnegie, VINO
made an address. Mr.. Carnegie referred 10 the
enforced absence of Mr. Hewitt. and spoke OF
the former Mayor in terms of praise he SAID
in part:
This school, as has been stated is the pioneer tea
ng on+TT and il owes its creation the fact that
the United States has become the Leading coinleI
eaI naq9hi bein N now second The exports of
Ticultural products have long oeen r5 INTO com
netit;on with them in manufactured artlcles Nlich
Re Peor1 formerly had to import for our own wants
Ne are intimately TO be the great manufacturer
and exporter OF articles IN me e'ic schools of
commerce have become an imperative necessity III
the great seaport OF the oos mon; of life schools
For most OF the other aFocduoILls % siia ~ Itsrt
designed 10 give the student the best posslpIe sIdT
- instruct the youth desirous of entering upon a
business career are OF GeceRt & Is +e are as Vet
unknown, if except a few private sGho3.s |l
TnSiroen1s of commercial knowledge.
To-Day our friend and leader, Mr. Hewitt. was
which IS for the first time in our history to open
gates to the business stuoeIt, M%lIh3L % ti.
school system which is maintained by public taxa
zen for no man is SO poor that ne does not. d-
rectly or indirectly contribute this and the other
RG90 R6raSe SoGis dsy for ereateP SeYor one that
nstee bisto-Z and proves TO all men in all parts
Of the world that come what may, the second city
In the world, so soon TO become me nrsI Is abreast
OF the times in its educational department
SUGGESTIONS FROM Mr.. HEWITT
The letter of Mr.. Hewitt referred to the plan
formulated a few years ago by the Chamber
IF Commerce in connection with the trustees Of
Columbia University for the creation and
management of a school for commerce. and ex-
pressed the hope that this plan might be de-
veloped in the building in sixty-ffth-st His
letter was in part follows:
Charnbe Of Commerce and Columbia University
ne Departnent D Of E6ucatioa viii permit The
same policy which has brought about the founda:
circulating libraries, made possible by the mu-
MUSEUM of Natural History and the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art q part OF the property OF the
connected with the city government, ought TO pre-
vail with reference TO the High school Of Com
should provide the sites and buildings but the en-
1riZa+e contributors 7 nave no reason to doubt
that the taxpayers of New-York will thus be re-
Of the necessary buildings as soon as the Depart
Of Education shall have perfected its arrange
the university for the administration of the school
In this way the unequalled teaching force of the
university will be made available with the CO.
operation of the mercantile experts to be derived
proposed TO be raised will doubtless be prompt
ly Subscribed and the Chamber of Commerce Will
come Of which Will be used for carrying on the
rnercial training which its position the financial
and business centre Of the world will soon require
am particularly soLcit2us that the burden, Il
Il be so regarded. or carrying on the schooI snal
be taken up by donors who will consider II priv
where the highest principles Of commercial in
tegriry. Justice and equity shall be taught to the
young men Of the rising generation. into whose
confded
SCHOOLS OF MECHANICS ARTS.
In the same way have reason to think that the
sohoo6 or MeGhahfcS Z s can Pe eS1sPSneq n n
the Cooper Union and the A;lchmuty Trade School
the pepsrtent ne Of iducati 10 expend any none 1
whatever either for buildings or for the cost OF
filed with young men and women who pur-
suing the very courses OF instrqction & to be fur
Nearby is Tornbkins Market. which will soon be
abandoned as an armory OF the 6sth Regiment.
II the city will turn over this building board
of trustees 70 be constituted by the Department
the trustees of Columbia University, school ot
mechanics arts for the instruction Of workmen
ey day and by night can be established, without
sailing upon the city for an contribution in money
CURED in addition 10 that which already exists in
ne Cooper Union and the Auchmuty Trade
ork w viii n tGs possess 0 in the commerc @
High School and in the Mechanics Arts School
cples Of educsti service and meeting the
Ints ~snts Of the workmen and artisans who are
concerned. the educational scheme or instruction
limited by the cost of the building about to be
greeted upon the site you have selected for the
accomplished unless possibly the amount Of money
Nsleh the rich men of this country are giving for
1eSelre the creation Of a School of Philanthropy.
hefit forums men Sa be instrctd as TO the proper
sse OF their means ane be taught TO regard them