Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-08
TAKE NO CHANCES
WITH SCHOOL SITE
Summit Board Wants to Buy In
Land Before Majority Goes
Out of Office.
Special TO the Evening Star.

SUMMIT, Dec. s.-That the present
Board of Education hopes to make
certain the requirement of the tract
of land in Maple street owned by the
Summit Home Land Company for a
high school site before the terms of
the majority OF the members shall
have expired on January 81, 1915, was
made clear at last nights session of
the board President James W.
Cromwell announced that negotis-
tons are pending for the closing Of q
contract between the board and the
owners of the proposed high school
site for the taking Of title to the
property by the school board on a
date farther removed than the date
on which the present option will ex-
pire" The date of the expiration Of
the option now held by the school
board is December II.
Tho statement of President Crom-
we'll was not quite clear to the two
reporters who make up the usual au-
dience at the boards meetings, nor
to at least some of Mr.. cromwells
colleagues. The president made his
announcement just prior to the adj
journment of the meeting, and when
the reporters requested him to make
his statement somewhat clearer Mr..
Cromwell expressed his regret at
having mentioned the matter.
He declared that he didn't consider
that the public should be apprised Of
the negotiations at this time, but
finally explained that IAN effort is
being made to secure the property
without friction with the Common
Council"
Following his statement, Commits
sioner Franklin D. Peale asked Mr..
Cromwell IL the negotiations for the
contract for title to the proposed high
school site twill be satisfactory TO
higher quarters"
az have ascertained that they are
President Cromwell replied.
THAT will suit US fine, for we can
go ahead with our plsns," said Mr..
Peale.
Mr.. Peale's allusion to higher quar-
ters," il was understood meant Mayor
Francis H. Bergen and the members
of Common Council who have sue
ceeded in holding up the purchase Of
the property. The ordinance provid-
ing for q bond issue to obtain $40, 1000,
the amount certified by the Board Of
School Estimate as necessary to Sc
cure the property, awaits only Sec
ond and third readings for adoption
by council, but ii was made clear sew
eral months ago that Mayor Bergen
and the councilmen opposed to the
land purchase did not propose to have
the ordinance passed before January
IL. Just how Mayor Bergen and the
council will regard the latest move on
the part of the School Board to bind
the city to take over the property is
a question.
President Cromwell has stated pre-
vious to last nights session that
Mayor Bergen entertains no objec-
tons to purchase the land for high
school next year. but Just why the
necessity for the present School
Board, of which the terms of Presi-
dent Cromwell, Peale and Morgan will
expire January u, to arrange to bind
a new board to the requirement OF
| the Maple street site has not beer
made clear, as there are many citi.
gems who believe that IL more schoo
room Is absolutely necessary a build
ing for grammar grades might better
be erected than a costly high school
| for the next few years at least.