New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-08
ADOPT THE SWIFT PLAN
BUILD SCHOOLS IN YEAR.
The Tribune Wins Half Its Crusade
for Enough SittingS.

The first half of The Tribune's crusade to
offer common school education to all its chill
dren has been won. The buildings committee
OF the Board of Education has adopted plan
for letting contracts that practically insures
the building Of schools within a year. The
second half OF the crusade is 10 have enough
OF these swiftly operating contracts let TO in
sittings for all pupils In the next year
and a hal:. The indications are that these
contracts will be let soon and that the money
will he forthcoming to meet them.
The committee on buildings Of the Board
OF Education has decided to advertise and
award all future contracts for school buildings
under the system known the alternate bid
proposition" Under the alternate bid propo-
stion." which has long been advocated as
practical solution Of the building problem by
Commissioner Samuel b. Donnelly the build
ings committee asks for two estimates when
advertising contracts for school work. one
figure. the higher. is for completing the contract
IN the shortest possible time; while the other
the low, allows considerable more time for the
undertaking. In case the higher figure is chosen,
the contractor receives what IS virtually
premium for speed. This the Board Of Educa-
tion. has power 10 give in no other known way.
This limitation Of the power TO offer premiums
is believed 10 be chiefly responsible for the
dilatory tactics employed by builders in the
erecti,n Of school structures.
THE PLAN HAS BEEN TRIED.
Under the alternative bid plan the -1nex
10 Public School No. 123. Brooklyn. built
within six days over eight months. although
the work was about equal TO that required for
an ordinary schoolhouse. Public School No.
145. Brooklyn. which Is a large. 4S-cIassroom
10 r-E 1.T q
plan within a year. Tho ordinary time Tor
erecting even a moderate sized school, here
tofore has been from two to three years. When
Superintendent c. B. J. Snyder OF the Depart
ment Of Buildings was seen yesterday he said:
The committee on buildings has decided 10
let hereafter the contracts for all buildings
practicable under this alternate bid PROPOSE
ton" When Chairman Adams told you that
be believed the plan would fail IN the end. he
referred only to the largest school buildings.
as the plan IS most serviceaule IN connection
with the erection OF small structures"
In n few days contracts will be advertised un-
der the alternate bid proposition" for the new
Commercial High School OF Brooklyn. 10 be sit
mated ir AIbany-ave between Bergen and Dean
SIS which Will accommodate two thousand
nupils: the addition to Public School No. -.
East Fourth-st between Avenues and d.
which will have thirty classroons: the annex
to Public School No. -. East observation-disclosures
foUrtecnth-st. near Third-ave-. which will have
sixteen classrooms, and the new Public School
No 14T. I'm Bushwicl,-ave., between Seigel and
McKibben sts.. Brooklyn, which will contain
eighty classrooms.
LONGEST TINE ALLOWANCE ONE YEAR.
In advertising these contracts the figures re-
uuested on the annexes will be for six and ten
months, and in the case Of the large structures
eight and twelve months. Even the longest
periods here mentioned are short. compared with
the number Of months usually required for I'm
ishing work on even the smallest school build
ings. The department is asking figures on such
short periods as an experiment, to learn whether
or not there is any possibility Of properly hous-
ing all the children of school age In the next
year and a half without recourse to the tenn
porary park structures
In the ordinary course OF events only 54.NO
slttings could be completed by September l9o".
At that time at least $1,000 new pupils VIII de-
mand seats in the schools Work Will soon start
on 1850 sittings, for which the contracts are
now being let. After the next meeting OF the
Beard Of Education, when the $3JO0OOO granted
last Friday by the Board Of Estimate and Ap-
portionment Will be made available for the
Buildings Department. contracts VIII be adver-
tised for more than $500 sittings- Consequent
ly. before the close Of the present school term
work should have begun on more than 44OJO !
sittings.
Much of this work will be on small additions
and schools of an ordinary size Further. most
OF the contracts from present Indications VIII
be let on the alternate bid proposition
Further. 10000 more Fittings will be contract /
81 for ia the remainder Of the year. 1t IS be- !
lfeved that The Board Of Estimate and Appor- |
tonueilt and the Board OF Aldermen Will aP- ]
uror,riata for ,bts object the remainder OF the
SI2 IG1 OOo asked for the building OF schools this
wear OF these 10000 additional sittings, many |
are 10 D., IN annexes and small buildings. and /
should be ready by the opening or the school 1
,-ear az 10O5 or at least at the time Of the mid
sa-ra1 into them without serious disorganiZa- /
ton.
ASKS INJUNCTION AGAINST WIFE.