The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-14
ORANEW SCHOOL
One Will Be Erected on North
Side at Once.
Board of Education Decides to
Ask for Bids.
FOR NEGRO CHILDREN
Building to Be a Modern Up-tO-
Date One.
State Street Building Will Be
Completed.
FOR NEGRO CHILDREN

How to build a s23 900 school house
with only s9,4oO available for the pur-
pose was the problem that confronted
the members of the board of education
at a special meeting which was held
last night.
Being gentlemen of considerable
eruditfon the problem was an easy one,
much easier than that which con-
fronted the Irishnan who desired to
build a new school house on the site
of an old school house and with the
materials in the old school house but
who did not want to tear down the old
school house until the new one was
built.
The problem was solved, however.
and its solution means that when an
other school year rolls around the ne
gro children in North Topeka will have
as fine a school house as there is in
the city. 1t will take the place of the
present one used by them which Is en-
tirely inadequate for their needs, and
the location of which right near the
railroad tracks is most undesirable.
When the board decided to build this
new school house Mr.. L. NJ Wood, the
architect was selected to draw plans
for it. A four room school house was
about the only specification given by
the board to Mr.. Wood to work and he
went ahead and drew the plans for
modern and up to date building, the
Bonds to the amount of only $9,400 had
been voted for this proposed school
house.
But with only SO, 400 available the
members of the board of education had
card up their sleeves in the shape or
the material in the old Quincy school
building in North Topeka, which is be-
ing torn down. The members of the
board and the architect got busy hgur-
ing with Mr. Wood and they found that
thzr he TlRnfV o brick
inside walls and stone for the foundation
as we'll as all the heavy timbers needed
for the new school house in the old
school house When they got through
with their figuring they found that the
500. 900 school house could be built for
a trife less than Sc, 400 with the mater
ial on hand ana the decision was arrived
at last night to go ahead with the build
ing according to the original pIaHs
drawn by Mr.. Wood
1t was decided to advertise at once for
bids for the construction or the new
house but the bids will call for merely
the work of construction, as the board
decided it would furnish all the mater
iaI both new and old for the building
1t is estimated that bids for the cost OF
construction will be well within the
SO. 400 that there will be plenty left for
purchasing such new material as Is
needed. Among this material will be
new bricks to face the walls and wood
work for the interior of the rooms
This new school house will be erect
ed on property that was purchased by
the school board before the hood. IL
is situated on Taylor street, which is
three blocks west of the railroad
tracks and about a half of a block
south of Gordon street
The building will be substantial
that at any time in the future, when
necessity demands, another story may
he erected on the building. On the
main floor. which will be at a con-
siderable elevation above the street
level will be four large recitation
rooms and a room for the principal
and rest rooms for the teachers. Inc
basement which will practically De
above the street level, will have three
large light and airy rooms, in addl-
tio5 +o the furnace and boiler and
ianitor's rooms, which may be devoted
to the purposes of manual training
The exterior design of the bullolng is
rather ornate and the school mouse
when completed will be one of the
most attractive in the city
No name has been selected as yet
for the new school house.
1t was also determined at the meet
ing last night to go ahead and finish
the state street school house Accord
ing to the plans adopted a large as
sembIv room will be provided on the
ton floor off of which there will be
eood sized recitation room Te cost
Of these improvements Will amount 10
about $4,000 according to the plans OF
Mr. Wood the architect, and the work
will be done under Mr. Holloway, the
chief engineer of the schools
Decision was also reached TO nave
the walls of the Potwin school house,
which were cracked as the result OF
an earthquake in that section year
school season closes. This work Will
he done under the direction OF MT
Holloway and it is estimated that IL
will cost about $500.