The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-04-18
WILL HAVE new
SCHOOL BUILDING
PaIatka Gets a Magnificent
Property for Its High
School Building.
Through the Persistent Efforts of Presi-
dent Board of Trade and Liberality
of the A. c. L. R'y Co.

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Dating back to September 14th,
1912, Just seven months ago, efforts
were begun to procure f"ym the At
lantic Coast Line Railway Company
block of ground known as Block
No. SO, located between Seventh and
! Eighth streets, and Laurel and Oak
streets, in this city, for the purpose
Of erecting handsome, modern high
school building.
Correspondence covering the entire
transaction was submitted to The
News by Hon. Howell A. Davis, pres
ident of the Palatka Board of Trade,
and also chairman of the board Of
school trustees, which indicates that
persistency and a conviction that he
was right finally won. During the
irst part Of this voiuminous CORES
pOndence, which extended over seven
months of time, the prospects for OBJ
tanning this valuable property was
very poor, and less persistent per-
son would have abandoned the idea.
Not so with Mr.. Davis. He received
letter stating that the general
manager had advised that the railroad
company could not dispose of this
property. In answer to which, Mr..
CaviS strongly represented the condi-
ions existing in Palatka and the de-
nand for this specific location. The
abroad company argued undesira-
)ility on account of railroad trains,
md Mr.. Davis argued that any avail
able property in Palatka would abut
either railroad, business street, cem-
2tery or swamp, and that this could
not be tenable objection on the part
If the railroad company.
The matter rested with Mr.. J. R.
Kenly, third vice e-president of the
road and he finally submitted that
f the trustees would make a fair Of
fer for the property, it would be con-
Sldered. The property was appraised
)y two of Palatka'S leading real es-
cate men and thereupon an offer for
The entire block was made and finally
went to a great deal of trouble and
expense in having the property re-
leased of record and forwarded the
deed drawn as directed by the trus-
tees. The fact that the property was
to be used for school purposes was
the only thing that induced the rail-
road company to part with it. The
transaction was closed on the 14th
lay of April.
The people of Palatka and Putnam
county can scarcely realize the i'm
mense advantage this long delayed
Improvement will give the city and
county. Education being the basis
upon which character is built, and
'ecognition of this fact, evidenced by
handsome facilities for educating the
children, is one Of the finest assets
that any community can have.
We understand that throughout
,hlS entire transaction, the chairman
If the board of school trustees has
lad the undivided support of the bal
lnce Of the board, which is composed
If Messrs. D. w. Ramsaur and George
E. Gay.
The deed to the property is made
to Messrs. p. ]. Becks, E. R. Conway
and j. H. Green, who compose the
Board Of PubI'c destruction for Put
nam county, or successors in office,
and it was the check of these gentle
men which went to pay for the prop
arty.
This transaction is but another
evidence Of the cementing of the
friendship which has existed so long
between Palatka and the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad Company, whose
eo-opertiOn and friendly offices are
highly appreciated by the citizens of
PaIatka and Putnam county.
Under the recent amendment to the
State Constitution, this school dis
rict having the right to bond for
school purposes, an issue will be asked
for $4,000 school bonds with which to
erect a new high school building and
repair and put in frst-class shape the
present school building for coIored
pupils