Evening journal., 1914-03-24
GYM IS FAVORED
BUT MONEYS SHY
Education Board Thinks I'M
prOvement Possible Only
With New School
MEMBERS IN FREE
DISCUSSION OF SUBJECT


in session last night, expressed them
selves as being heartily in favor of a
gymnasium for the Wilmington High
School, but added that at the present
time they could not see where the board
could get money to build a gymnasium
The matter came up last night when
communication was read from Frank j..
Horty, president and Florence NIclchoir,
secretary of the Senior Civics Class to
President Baynard OF the board, asking
that he try to do something toward
bringing the matter to the attention OF
the board and securing the gymnasium,
although they would not receive any
benefit from the gymnasium by reason
Of graduation.
The letter was referreds to the COM
mittce of the whole. DR. r. o. Cooper
said he had received a similar letter and
now that the gymnasium was before
the board it would allow those in sym
patly with the movement to come be-
fore the board instead OF going to the
individual members.
Il want to say ON this floor" said DR..
Cooper. 81 am heartily in favor of a
gymnasium, but how we are to build
one without the money is more than ]
can understand They will have to get
the money and come to us and we will,
think, be only too glad to give them
the gymnasium
AS evidence that the board did not
have money and was short OF funds.
DR.. Cooper cited Two instances that
had happened during the evening
where the board had given its notes
for two small bills.
George Rommell said that in his
opinion it was a question to be
brought before the people and If they
want the gym the only way for them
to get il is to raise the money. If
this could bo done he decalred the
board would lose no time in build
ing the gymnasium He said he
thought the matter should be referred
20 a special committee or to the new
building committee as il was a ques-
ton whether the gymnasium should
not be built in connection with a new
high school,
Edward r. Denny said the board
would engineer the work If the
money is forthcoming, but could do
nothing without money.
DR.. II. G.. Buckmaster said that
the board would certainly build the
gymnatum if its advocates would
furnish the money. He declared that
the board has the necessary ground
and would give it if the money for
the building is forthcoming and
would take care of the building af-
ter it is erected. At the present time,
he said, the only thing that he could
see is that the gymnasium will work
out with the new school building.
He declared that the gymnasium is
good not because other cities have it
but because it is good for the chill
dren in school.
Thomas f. ODOnnell said he was
heartily i'm favor of the gymnasium,
but felt as the other members did
regarding the money proposition.
At this point in the discussion, Col
onel c. NJ Leach asked how much
such a building would cost.
Judging from Mr.. Rommell's re-
marks it viii cost between S15OOOO
and S2OO.000 Mr.. Rommell said that
a new high school building with a
gymnasium would cost about that
much.
There are about 995 students in the
High School," said Dr. Cooper Il
understand that every room in the
building is occupied. The attic has
been turned into a room and has been
pressed into use It looks as if NC
will have TO build an addition to the
present building or a new building.
This will have to come in the near
future. 1t is not right to put the
children on the fourth floor of the
present building, not that I think
there is any danger of fire, but ] do
not approve of making them take that
long climb"
Dr. Cooper spoke of several of the
other schools being crowded. and
said that he thought the proper thing
to do would be to build new High
School and put two public school
grades in the building until the num-
Der of pupils is large enough to oc-
cupy all the rooms in the build
ing.
James Logue and Hiram Yerger
both spoke in favor of the project
and said they regretted that the
board did not have the money to build
the gymnasium.
President Baynard said that If the
public wanted a thing il usually gets
IL, and he believes that If the pub
lie really wants the gymnasium It
will be forthcoming He said he
thought it was within the power of
the board to give the people what
they want.
The High School students have
been working hard for gymnasium.
Every member of the board has re-
ceived calls from some OF them and
communications requesting them TO
support the project. Members OF
CITY Council also have received COM
municaticns and have been inter-
viewed by the students. However.
several OF them have remarked on
the apparent lack of interest beng
taken in the matter by the parents of
the children.