The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-23
|C|TY Toby TRACT
ION LESTER STREET
Cheaper to Purchase Now and
Sell Later Than to Pay
Damages.
NEW SCHOOL HEADQUARTERS
Number of Pupils Far Exceeds
Capacity of Present
Buildings.
NEW SCHOOL HEADQUARTERS

Acquisition by the city of the prop.
erty fronting on the north side Of
old Lester Street. from Poplar Street
to Gillie's Creek, at a cost of approx.
imately $4,000. was recommended to
the Council by the Committee on Fin.
nance last night. Tie allowances
made by commissioners Of condemna-
ton were lower by approximately 49,
200 than those made in condemna-
ton two years ago, which were re-
jected by the city as excessive.
Purchase Of the property allows the
city to close the old street when tEe
new high level driveway is completed.
to fill in the old street. now a deep
ravine. and eventually to sell off lots
fronting on the north side of the new
street. 1t is claimed that in this way
the city will be reimbursed for . por-
ton of the cost of this extensive i'm
provement.
New school Headquarters.
An appropriation Of $4,000 was re-
commeded to the Council by the Com
mittee on Finance to remodel the old
High School building on Marshall
Street. between Eighth and Ninth. into
a general office building for TIE City
School Board and headquarters for the
school system Of the city. New fire.
proof staircases are to be installed
and the building thoroughly renovated.
For the present the upper floors may
still be used for class rooms. to re-
lieve congestion in other buildings.
An appropriation of $4,000 for School
Board expenses was also recommend
ed for adoption.
DR.. J. A. c. Chandler. Superinten-
nf
mittee that the buildings now in use
provide seats for $1,000 children, while
there are in attendance daily more
than 1900 pupils in the schools, many
Of tie rooms being operated In rented
quarters, and some on only half time.
He reported that the board had tax
en- an option at $50 per front foot on
a large lot at the Intersection or
Kensington and West Streets, in the
far West End, and recommended that
s25,e00 be provided In the annual bud.
get for its purchase as a school site.
opening of new Madison School in tLe
next few weeks. he stated, would. TO
some extent. relieve congestion, while
by another year it Is hoped to nave
the new Sidney and Bellevue Schools
ready for use.
Cost of Elections.
An appropriation of $4,000 was
recommended to the Council for adop-
ton to pay the cost of holding the
primary last August ana
the general election on November D.
The candidates for Congress In the
summer primary paid their assess
iments into the State treasury. and 1t
is held that under the law the city
must pay the bills for the cost OK
the primary in this city.
An appropriation of $1,000 was
recommended for the building depart
ment expenses and City Hall repairs.
Building Inspector Beck appeared be-
fore the committee. asking $2,o0o 1or
public buildings generally for main
tenance and special item OF so,ooo
for the City Hall. this latter item 10
complete the electric wiring OF tne
building, the painting and kalsomlnlns
of certain rooms and purchase OF iur-
piture for the offices of the Admins
trat;ve Board. The committee allowed
Cnly $4,000 Cor the two items.
Gas Works Maintenance.
An app opriation of $4,000 for main
tenance of the Gas Work for the re-
mainier of the year was recommended,
the item including purchase OF coal
and oil. expenses. extensions and pay
roll items. The report Of condemna-
ton commissioners on the cost OF
widening RoseHeath Road was laid on
the table. The request of H. NJ. Smith
and others to be allowed to advance
$4,000 to the city to grade certain
streets adjoining their property in
William Byrd Park. to be reimbursed
by the city in two annual fnstallments.
was referred to a subcommittee.