Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-20
SCHOOL ROW IN COURT
Suit to Enjoin Construction of
Building.
TROUBLE OVER OLD PLANS
Superintendent of Schools of Alex.
andria County Complainant.
FEARS STRUCTURE WILL FALL
Declares Laws Requirements Are
Not Net in Building Started at
Rosslyn Heights.

Alexandria county, at leas tthe upper end
of it, is all tangled up over the building
Of schoolhouse on the heights above
Rosslyn.
Superintendent of Schools J. E. Glenn
ents yesterday filed an injunction suit
against the trustees of Arlington district.
DR.. Charles E. Munson and William A. E.
| McShea. to prevent further work on the
proposed building. The contractors, John
F. Morris and H. Schuring. who began
excavations for the new school. are in
cluded as defendants to the suit.
Judge ]. B. T. Thornton, on this petit
ton, yesterday issued rule against the
trustees and contractors, citing them to
appear next Monday at 10 o'clock and
show cause why an absolute Injunction of
their building operations should not be
granted.
For years residents between the south end
of Aqueduct bridge and the courthouse at
Fort Myer Heights have been pleading
for school opportunities, especially for
younger children.
Those interested in other neighborhoods
contend that children SO close to Washing
ton could as well or better come to the
capital schools. The answer made by the
residents was that it was too far for
young children.
The Washington school board three
years ago exacted pay for all outside
pupils whose parents are not employed 'in
the District. Many could not afford to
pay for tuition in Washington. The near
est county school was at Ballston, over
two miles away.
Bids Twice Rejected.
Under these conditions the school au
thorities felt obliged to make some pro-
vision. Efforts to secure suitable tempo
rary school quarters at once were un-
successful. The use of the heights
chapel was proposed and generally favor
ed by church members, residents in the
vicinity. but was prevented by the trus-
tees, q majority Of whom live in Wash
ington.
The school trustees went to the owners
Of the Colonial Heights subdivision, 1t is
stated. and were offered q lot. This Of
fer was accepted, the price for little
more than an acre being nearly $500.
Supt. Clements called a meeting of citi-
zens and endeavored to set aside the pur-
chase on the ground that the price was
too high. He finally approved the pur-
chase Of the lot.
No school was built. however, nor any
additional provision made for education.
because Of alleged lack of money. In
crease Of school tax was proposed. At a
special election last fall the proposition
was carried with little opposition.
In his bill fled yesterday Clements says
the trustees first employed N. r. Grimm
of Washington to prepare plans for a
school building. Upon these plans, as ap-
advertised for. but all rejected because
not enough money was at hand.
Notifications were made in the plans
and upon advertisement all bids were
again rejected
'.After further consideration of these
approved plans the school board suddenly
switched away" says the petition. land
brought out a set Of old plans proposed
some eight years ago. when Columbia
schoolhouse in the same district was
erected but rejected and ever since pig
eonholed: and the board adopted these
old plans for the proposed new and mod
ern schoolhouse."
Clements protested against this change
and warned the board that the state
board of education would not pass the
plans because they did not come up to
the requirements Of the state law as to
ventilation and lighting He finally yield
ed however. and gave his approval.
AS he predicted, the proposed building
was rejected at Richmond. Certain modi-
fications were then made and July q sub
mitted to Supt Clements for his approval.
He refused. alleging:
Fears Building Will Fall.
"The attempted alterations and amend
ments do not embrace the statutory re-
ouirements, and, if followed, would fur
nish a building lacking in symmetry and
permanence. clumsy and insanitary and
unsafe and dangerous; and the figures
laid down in the specifications and the
scale Of measurements in the plans do not
agree, but are in fatal variance
Clements explained he was really
afraid the building would fall down and
kill somebody.
When ground was broken early this
/ erection nf a hni1Hiu
under these rejected proposals Glenn
ents was advised, 1t is stated. that June
| 6 last a contract had been awarded to
Morris & SchurinE without advertise
ment, and nineteen days before the old
plans were first submitted for ap-
proval
The price of the building Was $500.
June 20 the American Bonding Com
| pany Of Baltimore furnished bond for
| the contractors in the sum of $4,000,
providing. however. that the contrac-
tors should indemnify the company