The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-26
WHOLE SQUARE
FOR HIGH SCHOOL
People, Represented By Progress
i've Organizations, Will Urge
| Council to Buy Block.
MATTER COMES UP MONDAY
Council Will Then Be Almost
Overwhelmed With Petitions
From Property-Owilers.

That the proposed now High School be
built on practically the entire block bound
cd by Clay, Marshall and Eighth and
Ninth Streets, soems to be tho wish
of every one who has been heard to ex-
press an opinion.
Interest in the effort to secure the addi-
tlonal half block as q site for tho school
and Fairgrounds Is widespread and thou
sands Of names have already been signed
to the petitions that are now making
their way from house to house OF TINS
city. The educational association Is work
ing hard to bring this result about and It
looks very much as II they are going
to succeed
Tho City Council has already bought
one half OF the block, and the new school
viii be built as the matter stands at
bounded by Eighth and Ninth Streets,
and with the edifice facing on Clay. II IS
this that the City School Board. the Edtlr
cational Association and the CIVIC I'M
provement League arc combating, ana II
must be said that they arc putting up a
stiff struggle to get the best possible schooi
for the city with the best possible sltua-
ton.
These organizations are at tho head OF
reserving tho residence of Chief Justice
Marshall for the use Of offices. and OF hav-
Ing the High School face on Marshall
Street They argyle that by tho old plan
the school would face down tho hill and
be two miles from the heart of the city,
as DR.. S. c. Mitchell strongly but truly
put 1t recently. They say there would
be no room for possible future extension s,.'1,
OF the school. and that the rear VIII
face on, an alley and lot of back yards.
Will Come Up Monday.
At the Council meeting next Monday
evening, the matter Of the purchase Of
the additional half of the block will
be discussed and it Ia expected that proml-
nent members Of the association will APP
pear before the body and urge their
objections to q school built on only
half block and facing Clay Street. They
will be backed by q number Of petitions
that have the names Of several Thousand
citizens OF Richmond attached to them.
The half block will not, It is believed,
cost the city over SIS. 900. and it'can be
gotten either by direct purchase aoraby
condemnat ton proceedings. The ultimate
result Of the meeting is awaited with the
greatest interest by every citizen OF F0ch-
mond.
Alderman Belrne Blair has a proposition
regarding the site Of the now High school.
which he will probably bring before the
council next Monday night 1t Is his idear
to have the school face on Eight street.
and occupy the whole block with the eS-
oeption Of the old Marshall home. The
fronting on Eighth thinks Mr.. Blair Will
be more Advantageous to the school than
ifit faced either Clay or Marshall streets,
and he provides for large playground,
and for the setting out of trees and flo"-
ers to ornament the school. It Is possible
that the Educational ASSOCIATION may
adopt his compromise. However, 1t Is
thought that they will appear before the
council with their original plan In view
having the school facing Marshall street.