The Washington herald., 1914-03-09

High. School right on the bank Of >
river"
Mr.. curriden reminded The committee
that they were all living for the future.
and that the canaiization u the Eastern
branch Is cure to come.
Senator Gallinser-''However worthy Il
may be. It is great dig scheme. Is II
Irot?"
Senator Smith, should like to ask q
question for information. As under
stand, this reservation consists Of forty
acres to start with. Is that right?
Mr.. Curriden-Yes. over forty acres.
BuiIdinss Not Adapted.
Senator smith-Then I understand
further. that there are various properties
on that ground that have cost 100000 or
500. 900?
Senator Gallinger-No; much more than
that The brick buildings cost that much.
Senator Smith-Yes: the brick buildings
cost that much. On that property there
Is a jail and a workhouse. Am right
about that?
Mr.. Curriden-Two segments OF a work
house, and the jail structure.
Senator Smith-And almshouse build
ings.
Mr.. Curriden- II these are old build
ings.
Senator GaIIinger-And smallpox hos
pital and a crematorium.
Senator Smith-Quite a number Of
buildings They are : ling used.
Mr.. Curriden-Not all of them.
Senator Smith-Do you not believe that
property could be utilized to greater ad-
vantage for some other purpose than to
take 1t for a high school? Would II
rot handicap a high school institution to
try to utilize property Of that kind?
Could II not be used for some better
purpose, and more economically for some
other purpose, than II could for q high
school? Would 1t not handicap the high
school to say: I'VE are going to utilize
this building for such a purpose. and
that building for such a purpose?" When
you build high schools now. you know.
you are building them for children. and
you are. looking after their health. and
all of that. Would Il not in a way
handicap the erection OF a proper insti-
tuition Of that character?
Mr.. Curriden-I will answer you frank
ly and conscientiously. no. A couple OF
Sundays ago / went over to Anacostia,
and saw the work progressing In the
canalization of the Eastern Branch. That
will be continued upl north Of the Con-
gressional Cemetery, then continue on to
the District line. Then, to this forty acres
will be added about ten acres Of riparian
land, by reason Of the Improvement of
the river frontage.
Senator Smith-Have you use for that
much land for q high school?
Mr.. Curriden-By many State institu-
tions OF like character far greater areas
are occupied. There seems to be no end
to the possibilities OF their growth. and
likewise of our Eastern High School.
Senator Gallinger-Before building q
high school on that site We certainly
would have to build q new jail and a
new hospital.
Senator Smith-And we would have to
appropriate for them.
Senator Gallinger-We would have to
appropriate for all those things.
Mr.. Curriden-You do not need a new
jail, rather name 1t q house of deten-
ton.
Senator Gallinger-well. IT is the same
thing.
Mr.. Curriden-why not put it on Ju-
dietary square or west of that square?
VIII Take Matter Up.
Senator Gallinger-1 hope it will never
go on Judiciary square
Mr.. Curriden-Well, hope not, too.
Senator Gallinger-We have too many
buildings there now.
Senator Smith-My only object in ask
ing the question was that 1t struck me
that IL you are going to build q high
school you would need a clean. clear
space to build II, according to The mod
ern ideas OF a high school. rather than
handicap 10 with lot of buildings that
probably are not suitable for purposes
to a high school.
Mr.. Curriden-There are the two work
house buildings and the jail structure.
Mr. Chairman, which could be soon
adapted at small expense to school uses.
Senator Smith-Well, sir, we shall be
very glad to take up this matter.
Senator Gallinger-Ths Commissioners
made an estimate, Mr.. Curriden-perhaps
you are familiar with it-of 5000 for
the purchase OF a site for a new Eastern
High School, to be located east of Tenth
street and north of d street south. That
was their estimate. It came to Congress,
I suppose. through the Board of Educa-
lion.
Mr.. Curriden-Yes. and my object Is to
iivert that large sum from purchase of
site, small and inadequate, to the erec-
lion of buildings on a plan In which all
sections would concur ultimately.