The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-12
COAL CONTRACT UPHELD
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS APPROVE
MIR. CLELAND's ACTION.
A. n. Meyer & Co.'s Bid Selected as
the Only One I'm Proper Form
Routine Matters.

Business Agent John f. Cleland, of the
School Board, to the A. B. Meyer Coal
Company. was approved by the School
Board at last nights meeting. The con-
tract came up with other business trans
acted by Mr.. Cleland during the month
and submitted for the approval OF the
board, and was approved along with other
purchases made.
The contract for the coal was made In
August last after the regular advertise
ment had been made for proposals. Com
missioner Sweeney asked Mr.. Cleland last
night about the manner in which the con-
tract was let and was told that of the
three bids submitted the A. b. Meyer Com
pany's was the only one in proper form,
and the award was made to 1t. Commits
sioner Sweeney asked why a second adj
vertisement was not tried and Mr.. Cleland
told him that he feared the unsettled state
OF the coal market at that time, due to
the coal strike and other uncertainties of
the trade, might raise the prices of coal
higher than the then high price and he
thought ii best to let the contract to the
Meyer Company. The contract, by which
the coal company is bonded to sell and de-
liver to the schools OF the city the needed
coal for use of the schools and Libraries
until June 80, was drawn up recently by
Albert Baker, attorney for the School
Board and signed by A. b. Meyer & Co.
The bond was submitted, but has not been
approved yet, as signatures to 1t are lack
ing. and to get them the bond will have
TO be sent out of town.
PRICES PAID FOR COAL.
The prices to be paid for the coal used by
the city schools. according to the contract
approved last night, are: s2.45 per ton for
No. vein Linton coal, semi-block, and
s2.S5 for Brazil block of the lower vein.
There was some discussion among the
School Commissioners as TO the necessity
for their approval of the contract, but on
the request of Mr.. Cleland the contract was
approved. The purchase of 1000 pounds of
wooden yarn at SO cents pound from Todd
& Todd and of 1900 hand looms from j. E.
Painter & Co. at 121z cents apiece, were also
approved. The looms and yarns are in
tended for use in the primary grades of the
schools. They are to be used TO keep the
minds of the children of one class engaged
and employed at something useful and in
structive while the room teacher is engaged
in recitations with the other classes.
The weaving of the yarn on the looms
and the formation of mats from them is
said by members of the School Board to
be a benefit to the children as well as
teachers. The children are taught accuracy
and their sight trained to method, as well
as their attention held to industry, by the
device. The plan will be extended to all
of the primary grades of the city by Su-
perintendent Kendall. Cubes and blocks
for use in the primary departments were
payment of s239.05 ordered by the board
The contract for hauling the ashes and
waste paper from the schools was recently
awarded TO William Dunlap on his bid of
$500. and this award was approved by the
board.
BILLS FOR THE MONTH.
The total bills allowed for the month
amounted to s6,636.12 and are from the va
rious appropriations. A transfer of $500
from the library fund to the library build
ing fund was ordered.
Business Agent Cleland reported the
designations of Frank Robinius, janitor at
the library. Frank Taylor. assistant jani-
tor at school No. 4, and NJ. II. Cain as
engineer at the Manual Training High
School. He announced the appointment of
William Lighter as assistant janitor at
school No. 4, and Joe Clinton to a SINH
lar place in the Manual Training High
School. The transfer of John Cahill. as
sistant janitor at the Manual Training
High School TO the library was also an
nOunced.
Miss Eliza G. Browning. city librarian.
submitted her monthly report showing that
there are now 9S,302 volumes for circula-
ton In the library. or these, 1880 circulat-
ed in the homes of the city during the
month.
Superintendent Kendall announced the
appointment of Arda NJ. Noble, a substitute,
to date from Sept. "a; Ida Mendenhall as
a department teacher at school No. 45 In the
place of Miss Philippe during her leave of
absence on account of illness, appointment
to date from Nov. 10; d. L. Weir, Fiske
Allen, o. l.. Wooley. Fred Sillery, ]. l..
Dunn, j. Gillian and Beulah Porter, teach
ers of elementary English; A. j. Bean and
F. z. Bronson, teachers of mechanical
drawing. and Edwin F. Stokes and George
NJ. Caldwell teachers of manual training
in the night school now in session at the
Manual Training High School, all of the
appointments TO date from Nov. 3.
Peter Scherer was appointed as teacher
of the school for foreigners. to date from
Commissioner Sickels was appointed by
acting President Andrew M. Sweeney to
be member of the committee on decora-
lions and gifts to schools provided for in
an amendment to the school organization
adopted last night. The committee is 10
consist of one member of the School
Board. the superintendent of schools the
supervisor of art in the schools, a teacher
10 be selected by the superintendent, and
two citizens 10 be named by him. When
the Sl1I OF proposed CnanSe In the scheme
of decoration of a school is suggested, the
supervising principal in the district in
which the school Is situated is to be a
member. The committee is to determine
on the appropriateness of all gifts to the
schools and color schemes used in the dec.
orations OF the schools, and is to serve
for one year. Its report must be submitted
TO the board before the first OF July OF
| each year.
Superintendent Kendall asked that the
| appointment of a school commissioner bs
L. .f.xI.@
/ on and the schools might be In receipt OF
| gifts which IL would be necessary for the
/ committee to act on before they could be-
accepted. such as statues and pictures
books and other articles often donated Il
Il the schools.
School No. IS of West INDIANAPOLIS was
named the Daniel Webster School, by
| order of the board