Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-01
CONTRACT FOR
FIRST JUNIOR
SCHOOL ISLET
Board Decides to Garry Out
Program Despite Higher
War Costs

The city school board Yesterday
afternoon awarded the contract for
the erection of the new Junior High
school, Nineteenth and Chestnut
streets, to Augustus Wildman, at his
bid of $272,90O. Mr.. Wildman at
present is in charge of the compile
tion of the work at the Federal
building, this city.
Seven contractors submitted bids
Tor the general contract, each one
having the opportunity of submitting
blds under six different specifications
of exterior finishing, under various
alternates. Mr.. Wildman's bid Of
S212,9O0 is under the specification
calling for Indiana limestone trim
mings and granite for the steps and
base course. Faced brick will be used.
The bid is $500 lower than the
nearest competitor under this alter
nate in the specifications. The con-
tract will also include twelve equip
ment items which will be furnished
for $1S,300.
The electrical wiring in the new
school will be done by Nelson &
Levin at a cost of $S,S91, while the
electrical clock and telephones will
be installed by the Jandous Electric
Company for s4,260. The plumbing
contract was let to ]. A. Hawley at
his bid of $25,093.
Bids For Heating
Bids for heating plants were re-
ceived from eight firms. Six followed
specifications for steam plants while
two were for hot air systems. OF the
steam heating bids Edwin p. Seager
had the lowest at $4,000, while the
Columbus Heating and Ventilating
Company submitted a proposal to in
stall a hot air system at $35,
rH will Y-I nj
the heating plant at the regular
meeting next Friday when the bids
for the remodeling of the Camp Cur
tin school will be opened.
Exclusive of the heating contract
which has not been awarded the cost
of the building, according to the bids
which have been accepted will be
$329, ,444. The construction work
must be done by April, 1919, accord
ing to the specifications
Director A. Carson Stamm was the
only one who opposed awarding the
contracts and going on with the
building program. In short address
to the members of the board he re-
viewed the situation existing in this
country because of the war and de-
clared the city school board should
not compete with the government at
this time, when all the money, labor
and materials available should be
used in the prosecution of the war.
He predicted an increased tax rate
and also called attention to the high
price of labor and materials under
present conditions. He concluded by
telling the directors that to award a
large building contract in the face of
these conditions approached the un-
patriotic. He was the only member
of the board to vote, against the
awards.
Downes' Plan Approved
The suggestion of City Superin-
tendent +. E. Downes, in part of his
annual report giving complete
statement of a change in the super
visory methods in the school system
which will be needed when the
junior High schools are used, was
called before the board. The plan as
outlined by DR.. Downes was APPROX
ed and will be worked out so that II
can be started when the Junior
schools are opened.
Other action by the board included
the granting of generations on two
properties in the Capitol Park eXten-
sion zone;s permission to use the
Technical High school auditorium,
December Is, by the Story Tellers
League; st. Augustine's Episcopal
Church, April 2; use of two vacant
rooms in Wickersham building for
colored auxiliary of the Red Cross;
acceptance of designations of Miss
Iva r. Friedman, as a substitute
teacher and Miss Sara Bannan,
teacher at the Penn building.
The school board reorganization
meeting will be held Monday after
noon when Directors William A.
Boil and Arthur d. Bacon retire, and
W. Frank Whitman and Cameron l..
Baer take office.
Harry A. Boyer, who was re-elect-
ed, will also take office for another
siX-year term. Mr.. Whitman attended
the meeting of the board yesterday
when the High school bids were
opened.