Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19
PUT UP TO ASHFORD
School Officials Blame Him
for Delayed Repairs.
CAPT. OYSTER AS CRITIC
Declares Municipal Architect Is
Unfit for His Job.
CHANGES AMONG TEACHERS
Appointments, Transfers and Pro-
motions Announced at the
Board Meeting.

If folks ears Jingle when other people
say things about them, then Snowden
Ashford, municipal architect. may have
thought that some one was massaging his
ears with red pepper yesterday afternoon
about the time the board of education
was in session at the Franklin School. A
dull and uninteresting but necessary
meeting was enlivened by expressions
from various members OF the board on
the subject of what they thought ABOUT
the way the repair work in the schools
had been conducted this summer, and what
they thought about the condition at the
Garfield School, where, as has been pub
lished in The Star, there is a situation
almost as bad as existed when a certain
country school board wanted to build
new schoolhouse out of the bricks In the
old one, but tried not to tear down the
old one until the new one was finished.
1.-The man selected for the office of mu-
nicipal architect is unfit for the job, SAID
Capt. James F. Oyster. president OF the
board He has managed the school re-
pair work this summer most abominably.
That was one of the compliments paid
to the municipal architect. Further along
in the meeting there was suggestion to
place statue of Mr.. Ashford upon a ped
might know him when he came around.
According to those on the board, Mr.. Ash
ford has not made much Of an inspection
of the schools where his work is going on.
The men doing the repair work on the
schools have in some instances messed
the school lawns and yards to a consid-
cradle extent. The delays in much Of the
work and its unsatisfactoriness are laid
at Mr.. Ashford's door. In consequence
of which the board is going to make the
endeavor to have Mr.. Ashford meet one
of the committees of the board and let
it know once and for all just what the
schools can expect from him. Small re-
pairs, like extra closet room. etc. which
have been promised for perhaps two
years have not been completed. or even
started, and the general situation Is far
from the liking of the board
Capt. Oysters Letter.
The correspondence between the board
of education and the Commissioners
regarding this matter Of the Garfield
School was made public yesterday after
noon. Capt. Oyster. as president of the
board, had written this letter to the
Commissioners regarding the work under
the general supervision Of Mr.. Ashford
at the Garfield School:
September 10 l inspected certain
school buildings to learn their condi-
ton for the opening of school Septem-
Der 20. Among these was the new school
at Garfield, D. c. To my surprise, this
building was found to be far from fin
ished. and its completion and acceptance
by the above date seems Impossible.
In this situation 1 was astounded to
find that part of the old building had
been torn down and taken away. This is
in direct opposition to the repeated eau
ton of the board Of education. The posi-
the old building was to be dependent
on the completion of the new in time
for the opening Of school was made
very clear.
1.-The following facts made this evident.
I'm June a request reached the board
missioner recommended that the super
intendent of the Home for the Aged and
Infirm at Blue Plains, d. c.. be authorize
ed to remove the old frame school build
buildings, ETC., to which the request was
referred. reported favorably, provided
the new building would be ready for oc-
cupancy September 20. The board con-
curing. it was so authorized and this
Endorsement, together with the papers
in the case, was forwarded to the Com
mdSSionerS early in July.
July II. in response to a direct inquiry,
a letter bearing on this matter was sent
to you advising you that the board APP
proved the above request. provided the
new building be ready for. occupancy by
September 20
about August % a telephone inquiry
was made of the secretary of the board Of
education as to whether the furniture in
part of the old building could not be
moved into the other part so that the
work of dismantling could be FASTENED.
To this favorable reply was made. re-
minder being added Of the conditions i'm
posed by the board before demolition and
removal could begin.
August 81 DR.. Tindall, your secretary.
forwarded similar request Gn writing)
for action on our part for the lifting of
the furniture. informing the board that
1T is expected that the new school build
ing at Garfield. D. C.. will be completed
on or about September IL next On this
assurance the furniture in one part was
taken up and placed in the other.
This disregard of the expressed wishes
of the board of education places the school
officials in a most embarrassing position.
The opening of schools is set for Septem-
Der 20. The new structure at Garfield Is
not ready. notwithstanding the assurances
of the Commissioners. The old one has
been torn down and removed. despite the
fact that caution was repeatedly urged by
the board of education. In this unfortu-
| nate strait in which 1t has been placed by
the haste to remove the old building and
the delay in completing the new the board
of education asks that 1t be authorized to
place school furniture in at least four
classrooms in the new Garfield building
not later than Saturday, September 49, in
this will necessitate halliday school for
all classes.
In this connection the board of educa-
ton also desires to inquire whether the
parties having the contract for supplying
the furniture for this building have COM
piled with their obligations to furnish the
same"
The Commissioners Reply.
The reply from the secretary to the
Commissioners contained the following:
1.-The Commissioners direct me to state
that the new Garfield School building is
in condition to receive the furniture and
can be used for school purposes any day
next week. The Commissioners will per-
NIT the building to be used before its
formal acceptance in order to accommo-
date the board of education, as the old
building has been partially removed, as
agreed to by the board of education
in its letter of September 3. last, and ar
rangements have been made with the con-
| tractor to permit the furniture from the
old building to be transferred to the new
building. With reference to the furniture
for the new building. 1 am directed to
inform you that definite information as
to the furniture was not received from
the board of education until August t.