New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-29
LOSS 100000 SAYS CIRCUIT
SCHOOL SITES NOT USED.
Report Says Education Board Has
NeedIessly Used S2,OOO,00O.

NeeGLeSSty CSeG p<,OOO,OOo'
Controller G-out Yesterday made TO the Board
OF Estimate and AppoTrfonment a report from
his clerks and examiners, tending to show waste
full methods on the part OF the Board OF Edu-
cation IN acquiring sites for school buildings
and falling promptly to build the sites. He
says that the city has suffered a direct loss OF
$4,000 in the last five or six years because
Of q lack OF coordinate action between land ac-
QUESTION and building. The report of his experts
tends to show that more than 100000 has
been ''needlessly employer by the Board Of
Education IN acquiring sites, and that a great
deal OF the overcroHsding in the schools at the
present time is due 20 the lack OF promptness
the part Of the board In acquiring sites and
building schoolhouses.
The Controllers investigators give figures to
show that the board had abundance of
money 10 carry out its plans. They find that
the city now owns forty-one sites for buildings
that the board has done nothing with since ac-
quirement. the delay in some cases covering
forty months.
z. E Schin. clerk TO the Controller. is the
ostensible author of the report, but It is under
stood that several OF the experts in the Finance
Department were detailed to the work to assist
Mr. Sehif
The Controllers formal letter 20 the board is
follows:
submit herewith two reports showing the
Ton Of land for school Snildinif and beginning
OF TIE construction OF me oiaings tosenf b Win YIN
by loss Of taxation and by payment Of interest
diton q sites sl standing idle the other .S as
70 sites where building contracts nave peen mace t
occurred I'm seventy-eight out OF the eighty-one
as ss as ike @ has 5ay ps other
departments than thae OF education. any remedy
Il would seem .reasq.lab that any, request for
oompahied with a clear and detailed statement Of
1e reasons When aks 1g can scuav use
the same for building That setsns to me 10 be
remedy. and subu1E a resolution to that effect
Tue loss to the city SHOWN in the Of the
sighty-one sites CONFINED in these two reports is
contract buildings in many cases are sun unhn-
been let. Twelve mote are uader contemplation.
and there are pending requests for the taking OF
suggested this board can prevent like loss of money
in the cases of these pending fbrtyfour sites and
careful study of the facts presented in these
appearing on the surfaea / e. the lack OF CO.
building For Instance. nsany Of these idle proper
ties are situated in secto as most in want Of addi-
haste IN acquiring more sites and the money and
relief to 1 the excluded or insufcientiy accommo-
dated scoo children Wht haze have been 3 RTqvdes
Doubtless largely due to the inability of the build
But this might be avoided and great economy made
n that f9e s c e es in " er Tsed For
tons OF the city instead az requiring entirely new
plans for every school building constructed. These
phases OF this matter are well worth further con-
federation
The report says IN part:
As TO the availability OF funds Il IS found by
Investigation OF the condition of the school build
sng fund. that January J. 1903 ample funds
available. The condition OF the school building
fund January !. 1913. shown by the books OF
this department follows:
boroul;hs. $40
Bonds fully authorized and uIassued...... 100000 90
Total ss752 $50 90
Contract liability s., LIS. as SO
land LIABILITY -.-----.-----s.---- SS.ooo 90
Available January !. 1908 for school sites
and the Improvement OF s5.549S34 rs
The condition OF this fund December g.
1903, was:
balances all borough $3.50 81 20
Ponds fully authorized and upissued H. $50 %
Total So SIS oel 70
Soltraet naoiiTy ~ 81, los %
4-and laDility ooo.11@eo
592s. $50 IS
Available January l. 1904. school sites
and the Improvement % sit S642S II
To summarize the investig ntion has developed the
FOR school purposes. forty one plots which have
been left idle and unimpro red. Most OF those in
Manhattan and Brooklyn well distributed and
n