The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-12
HIGH SCHOOL
NEEDS A SITE
Board May Purchase Old IN
Versity Buildings.
STATE WILL BE GENEROUS
WILLING TO SELL AT NOMINAL
FIGURE.

Whether the board of education viii
become possessed of the buildings and
ground formerly occupied by the Uni
versity of Utah in the northwestern
part of the city will be determined
within the next few days at a confer
/ ence to be held between the state land
( boards executive committee, repre-
sented by Governor Wells and secre-
tary- Groo, and President Newman and
/ Chairman Giauque of the school
| boards committee on buildings and
grounds. Since the former quarters of
| the High school were damaged by fire
and the lease with the owner was
annulled, the High school has been oc-
cupying the old university buildings,
through the courtesy Of the state Of
fieials who have charge of this prop
erty, pending negotiations toward the
school board leasing or buying it from
the state.
Repairs and Improvements amount
I ing TO about $1,000 in value have been
placed on the old university build
ingS by the school board since it was
decided to occupy them for the High
school. and this fact has recently
moved members of the school board to
agitate the propriety of making def
mite arrangements with the state for
permanent occupancy before any fur
theT expenditures are made in this
direction. Just as eager are Governor
Wells and Secretary Groo of the land
board to close some negotiations be-
fore the end of the year.
Board Cannot Buy.
President Newman of the school
board is anxious that some deal with
the state land board for the ownership
OF the old university property be
closed. but he is at a loss to know how
IL can be accomplished without some
remedial act from the legislature, for
the school board is without funds to
anect the purchase, and cannot incur
any Indebtedness on this account with
out the consent Of the taxpaying vot-
ers. A leasing proposition might be
undertaken TO cover q period until
means are provided to make a pur-
chase, President Newman believes. but
ne IS in doubt whether even this can
be done. because of the division of
sentiment among the school board
members. Some of the presidents col
leagues favor the acquisition Of the
exposition square from the city as
site for the High school building
While admitting the advisability Of Sc
curing this property for a future east
side High school, President Newman
contends that both propositions can
not be entertained BIZ the school board
unless some phDanthrOpic citizen
comes to the rescue by taking this ten
acre block off the city's hands and
holding it for the school board until it
can become a purchaser.
Both the governor and his fellow
committeeman IN the land board are
inclined to let the sentiment control.
that the old university property should
revert TO the municipality-the public
school system-at a price approaching
nominal figures Secretary GrOO stated
yesterday his belief that the state
would consent 10 let the school board
have the property at a price far less
than actual value, and less, in fact.
than the cost of the buildings. As to
payments, he said the land board
would consent to anything in reason.
BY way of illustrating the generosity
of the land board in dealing with the
city school board, Secretary Groo cited
the fact that no charge had been made
for the occupancy Of the Union school
building for year and half past