The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-08
ENSLEY PLANNING
LARGE BOND ISSUE
Something Must Be Done TO
Expand Schools
COUNCIL HOLDS SESSION
Pastors of Ensley Will Make Fervent
Appeal for Funds to Aid Famine
Sufferers In China-Other
Ensey News.
COUNCIL HOLDS SESSION

Ensley, March 7--(SpeclaL)-The City
Council met in regular session at the city
hall tonight, and as matters of vital In
terest to the town were to be brought
to the attention of the board iarge num-
Der of the representative citizens were
present.
The minutes Of the last meeting were
read and adopted, and reports from sew
eral outstanding committees were heard,
but as committee from the board Oh
education was present to read COM
munication that had been prepared touch
ing on the absolute necessity of some
provision being made for more school
room in order to take care of the rapid
increase in population. the discussions and
recommendations that it brought forth
from the various members took up most
of the evening. The communication In
question was a petition to the City Coun-
cial to call an election for a vote from
the people of Ensley on a bond issue,
whereby funds could be obtained for
building a new grammar school in the
Fifth ward, and new high school build
ing as near the central portion OF the
city as possible. In the communication
a full estimate was outlined as to the
kind of buildings that should be erected
in order that they might be in keeping
with the marvellous growth of the city,
and that the educational advantages
would not be behind other towns of equal
population.
The grammar school that is to be erect
ed in the Fifth ward will be a modern
brick structure with at least eight large
class rooms, cloak rooms, Railways, Office,
1.,,fI lf,,.r hot -
600 to $4,000. The high schoor, as shown
in the estimate, should be a tWo-story
modern structure, to consist OF SIX OF
eight large class rooms, an assembly nail,
laboratory gymnasium workshop ana
the necessary cloak rooms, ETC., to cost
from $35, 900 to So, O00
After the reading of the communication
several of Ensley's most prominent clti-
zens made strong talks on this being the
most important issue that could be
brought before the people, and empha-
sized the fact that the town had grown
far beyond its schooling capacity ana
that it was imperative that immediate
steps be taken to provide for the educa-
ton of the children.
Among the speakers were DR.. w. II.
Hendon, w. B. Phillips. ex-Mayor N. w.
Scott. w. l.. Settle and Prof. Thomas r.
Walker. superintendent of the schools.
In addition the building of the two
new schools it was shown that the Moore
school would have to be enlarged, as
would also the Davis school, tcoiored)
1t has been the policy of the board here
tofore to make provisions for year each
time the school improvement question
was brought up, but the rapid influx OIL
people and the growth of the town has
far exceeded everyone's expectation, and
it will be necessary to make their esti-
mates for two or three years in order to
keep the education standard up to where
1t should be.
The improvements have always been
made out of the regular school income,
but 1t is thought best that this be ex-
pended for running expenses and that
bonds be issued for the new schools that
are necessary.
The matter was referred to the judi
ciary committee and the sanitary COM
| mittee. who were instructed to invesu-
gate. and to fix the amount of the bono
issue that VIII be voted on. and as CITY
Attorney Boyd Is one of the members oil
the judiciary committee 1t rs very PROB
able that he will draw up an ordinance
| and it Is highly probable that the amount
| of the bond issue will be very close tc
$780, 900. half of which will be for schoo
| purposes, and the other to be expended
| on sanitary and storm sewerage.