The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-13
Available Resources Insufficient to
Carry Out Programme at Contrac-
tors Increased Prices.
sHoRTRIDGE WILL SUFFER
OTHER SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO BE
NEGLECTED AT PRESENT.
Builders Say Material Has Gone Up
and Labor Is Uncertain, So They
Must BE High.

engaged last night for the greater part or
the session in going over the plans ana
specifications prepared by T. A. Winterowd,
architect for the new public school build
ing to be known as No. 40, to be located at
Senate avenue and Walnut street, in an
effort to reduce the estimates so that the
contract may be let and the school built
at something near the original estimate.
The figures first furnished the board
showed that for $4,000 a school building
suitable to the requirements and Including
the costs of plumbing and heating could
be erected. When the bids for the contract
were opened last week it was found that
of the five bidders the lowest proposal was
for the erection of the building according
to specifications for s2S.S7S, while to COM
plete 1t the lowest bids for plumbing and
heating were $3.50 and $500. making the
total cost OF the building $30.353.
An investigation Of the causes of this
surprise showed that the high prices of
building material and the uncertain condi-
ton of the labor market, as the contractors
put it, were responsible. The contractors
declared the bricklayers and other artisans,
in demanding unusually high prices for
their labor, made them hesitate to engage
in large contracts as long as strikes might
be ordered at any time and which would
defeat their purpose to erect the building
at the contract price.
SITUATION A SURPRISE.
This knowledge coming to the board was
a surprise and all of the bids were re-
jected. The School Board has in round
numbers $3S0,OO0 with which to erect new
buildings. OF this fund 100000 will be de-
rived from the sale Of bonds authorized
by the last Legislature. s65. 600 possible by
borrowing on notes under the law provid-
ing for loans based on the taxable property
of the school system, and $4,000 cash on
hand. From this sum the board contem-
plated spending much money for improve
ments on buildings as well as the erection
of new buildings. According to the informa-
tion received in the bids on the North Sen
ate-avenue school, 1t is estimated that the
cost of work contemplated will be $l50,OVO
for the additions to the Shortridge High
School, $50, 200 for the Manual Training High
School. $4,000 for the Irvington school.
apolis. and $4,000 for school No. 40. For
real estate necessary for the building S22,VOO
will have to be expended. These costs ag-
gregate approximately Sil3,OO, leaving
deficit Of about $33 900.
Even with the strictest economy and the
altering of the plans TO the elimination OF
decorative work in the architecture, sub
stitution of common building brick for
pressed brick and the doing away with
much stone work, the buildings cannot all
be erected What the board will do when
it faces the proposition in an entirety is
unknown, but it is probable that Shortricge
High School will have to be neglected
Shortridge High School has capacity or
600 pupils and is furnishing study room for
LOO while the South Side school, the Man
ual Training, is attended by l,5O0 pupils
and has eI It is Of
Abandoning the contemplated additions TO
the two high schools and the work can best
be postponed at the North Side school.
HEATING PLANS.
Herbert w. Foltz, architect of the new
Irvington school, was before the board last
night with representatives of various heat
ing plans showing the commissioners the
possibilities of heating the new building.
The board was shown two systems, radi-
ators and fans and the intricacies of steam
and hot water heating explained to the
members. No action was taken on the
subject, and the matter was referred TO
The board acted on the recommendauon
of superintendent Kendall on account OF
the prevalence of smallpox in indianapolis
and the enforced idleness of many public
school pupils that the three weeks OF half
sessions be shortened to two weeks. Super
jntendent Kendalls suggestion that teach
ers of the two high schools be rented
school building for nominal sum In winch
TO Conduct q summer school for high
school pupils, was referred to the business
director.
Business Director Clelland reported the
school enumeration of 1903. The report
shows q net gain of 1,072 children in the
There are 42.606 children of school age
in the city over 41.534 in 1902. OF this num-
ber 39.02l are white and 3.5S2 colored. The
greatest gain in the city was Shown In the
district of indianapolis north of Tenth
street and east of the Monon railroad, in
which 2S5 more children were enumerated.
LIBRARY EQUIPMENT.
Librarian Browning reported that the IL
brary is now equipped with 1oo.513 volumes.
She also reported a gift from Judge d. w.
Howe of 5S4 books and fifty-two pamphlets
of Indiana history and law, part of the
library to be donated to the city by Judge
Howe. Miss Browning reported that Albert
Johnson, Of Irvingtdh, had loaned to the
library for exhibition in its reading room
the certificate of appointment of John john
son. his grandfather to the superintendency
of the Greenlawn Cemetery. The document
was dated in 1924. and signed by seventy
one pioneer citizens of the commandery.
The commissioners approved of bills
amounting to $11 097.51 for the month, and
referred to the business director the request
of Hilton u Brown. O. III. Badger. Thomas
C. Howe Amos w. Butler Grace Julian
Clarke and Vida L. Cottman, members OF
the art committee of the Irvington public
schools. that Mrs. Harriet Noble be reim-
bursed with $40 for photographs owned by
her which were destroyed by the fire In the
Irvington school. The gentlemen said the