The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-19
NORMAL SCHOOL s
new BUILDINGS
Elegant Modern Dormi-
tory, Light, Airy, Safe.
CARNEGIE LIBRARY.
Description of Spencer Building Ac
copied by Executive Committee.
Meets all Needs, is ingeniOusly
Fire-Proof. How Carnegie's
PhiIanthrophy is Fig
ured Out.

SUPERINTENDENT j. L. Joy0ef ana
Mr.. II. r. Gray, of the Executive Com
mittee of the Board of Trustees ,of
the State Normal and Industrial Col
lege at Greensboro, returned to me
city yesterday morning after attending
Il meeting of the committee at Green's
boro. at which the new Spence, Bund-
ing was practically accepted for The
college.
Thus building, it will be remember
ed was built to take the place OF the
buildings which were destroyed ny the
disastrous fire of last January. It's
cost was about $4,000 and it is two
stories and 400 to 40 feet long. There
are one hundred and fifty rooms which
are designed 10 accommodate two
students each. Although the building
is now just about completed, it has
been occupied as dormitory since the
sixth of October. its practical compile
ton having therefore been accomp-
lshed in Il little over five months, the
work having started in April. OWNS
TO the care to detail insisted upon by
the committee and admirably carried
out by the architects there were none
of the ordinary extras which follow
upon contract after specifications have
been submitted. In speaking of this
yesterday. Mr.. Jovner said that there
was a difference between the cost of
the building estimated by the archi-
tect and the actual amount paid TO
the contractor of less than $40
Both Mr.. Joyner and Mr. Gray ex-
pressed themselves as being delighted
with the new building which they say
is one of the best in the South. 1t is
a model dormitory in every respect.
In it the girl students are as safe ana
as comfortable as modern ingenuity
fences can make them. The great
length of the building resulted from
the desire to obtain two important adj
Vantages of dormitory construction
nearness OF rooms to the ground ana
outside windows. A long hall runs from
end to end the rooms being on either
side and each having at least one out
side window which admits the sunlight
every day. In addition to the windows
of the rooms. special attention has
been given to the lighting of all parts
of the buildine which has been admir-
ably secured by the plans.
Especial attention was paid to pro
lection from fire and the dormitory is
as nearly fire-proof as it could be
made. The construction for this rea-
son has been by sections, each section
consisting of ten or more rooms ana
each being divided from the other by
a heavy brick fire-wall. In each wall
ef steel which operates automatically.
At a certain heat the melting of a fine
wire causes these doors to slide to-
gether, thus completely 1solating the
section in which the fire may have
originated. In each section OF rooms
there are bath and dressing rooms for
the use of the occupants of the rooms
included in the sectional division.
An elbow to the building contains
one of the prettiest halls and dining
rooms to be found III any college in
the country.
The building was also erected with
an eye to the future, its enlargement
by lengthening or by wing or by the
addition of another story being entire
" easibIe-aithough the latter is not
desired 1t will be occupied by about
three hundred students. although
more than that number can be &C
commodated in case the college be-
comes unduly crowded.
While at Greensboro the Executive
Committee also accepted the plans Tor
the new library building which Will
be erected on the east side of College
Avenue North of the Administration
building and opposite to the students
building
The library will cost when complet-
ed somewhat over $4,000 alt eXpen
ses of its erection to be paid by Mr.
"a
was obtained some months ago Ds
President Chas. d. McIver
AS illuminating example or the 'Iaf-
negie method it is interesting TO note
the fact that before he would comml
himself as to the amount he would '9S
willing to expend on the gift, MI
Carnegie required that full details o.
the college and attendance, the bUlld'
ings and grounds and their cost be
submitted to his agent with photo'
graphs of the same. The agent thef
examined the data furnished by the
college authorities and decided upor
the sum of $4,000 as the amour
adequate for the erection of a bulid
ing which would be in taste an,
Keeping with the size and eaulpmen'
of the institution. This sum, now
ever. is only approximate, 1t paih'E un
derstood that if the amount IS mot
cratelv exceeded in construction, lns
bills will still be cheerfully paid ron
the Carneeie Golfers.
While Mr.. Carnegie PAYS filC
freight in every particular, the decls
ion as to the plans and speclhcauoI's
the selection of the architect ana TIT
supervision of the construction are
matters which are left entirety 10 TN
college authorities
Work on the building is - com
mence promptly and the new Ib1ar,
Will be opened and in use Dy II,
beginning of the school year next 1ail