New Britain herald., 1917-01-09

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 present there are no adequate ac- comm odauons.
 According to Architect M. J. Unke1- bach of New Britain, who drew the plans for the brick school house, an addition of four rooms. two of which are to be equipped at once, can be constructed MT. Rogers explained, for $17,0O0 while a new building of similar size would cost $22,0O0, ex- elusive of what would have to be paid Tor the site. Then there would be difference of several hundred dollars Tn favor of the addition in tho cost of maintenance.
 He gave figures to show that there are 379 school children east of the railroad crossing. 77 of which come rom the White Oak district and PAY west of the tracks The school board, he explained. is of the one mind on tho matter of providing additional room and the members strongly fa Vor the four-room addition.
 John E. Lamb moved that a com mittee of five. two from the school board, the first selectman, and two citizens to be named by the meeting, be appointed to investigate the mat ter and report at a session to be called later. He thought such a body might get figures from con- tractors and other information with in week or so that would enable the voters to take intelligent action.
 MT. Rogers disagreed with him regarding the time it would require to get the information and he elaine ed that the adoption of the motion would simply delay matters.
 MT. Lambs motion was lost
 Through Frederick Bullen, the school board then introduced a reso- 1ution that $17,0OO be appropriated for the construction and equipmen ent of a four-room addition to the brick school house on Broad street. A. H. Condell called attention to the fact that omething should be done re- garding the raising of the necessary money before the improvement was voted. He doubted if the town could borrow it under the existing condi- ton of its finances. Peter Brock thought there were enough public per cent. bonds for the expense of the building. He was willing to con- tribute $500 on that basis.
 Henry Trumbull also made a plea that the town look after the means for raising the revenue.
 The school boards suggestion was turned down. with but few voting.
 After c. H. Calor and L. H. Mills had given their opinion to the effect that something should be done by the meeting. MT. Benzon expressed his regret over the defeat of the motion and by changing the phraseology and adding clause for the laying of a tax of four mills to cover part of the expense he re-introduced it. In this form 1t was finally passed. r. r. wheeler's strong plea for its adoption seemingly having a most favorable effect on the voters.
 Who Will Do the Work?
 While the meeting authorized the construction of the addition and made the necessary appropriation, besides making start towards the raising of the money required to cover the ex- penses, it failed to give any instruc- uons as to who Is to award the con- tracts and supervise the work.
 It was seemingly the sense of the meeting that the school board should handle the proposition but no men 
 the resolution as passed and there were many questions raised today as to the present status of the case. Has the school board the right to take the initiative in awarding the con- tracts? That question was asked re- peatedly around the streets today and in some circles the opinion prevailed that another meeting will have to be called to give them instructions be- fore the improvement can legally be made.
 While the handling of school af- fairs Is within the province of the board after the buildings are pro- v1ding, the erection of school houses is matter left entirely in the hands of the voters and the resolution passed last night seemingly gives the committee no more right to proceed with the work than it does to the tree warden or one of the constah1es.
 The omission is of course but a minor detail in the school addition proposition but in view of the fact that there Is apparently some opposi- ton to the special tax Its correction may be insisted on before the work is arranged for.
 To Spend Last Days Here.
 Charles H. Norton of Worcester, son of the late John c. Norton. has purchased a tract of forty-three acres of land in the Red Stone Hill district from the estate of F.. N. Pierce, and will eventually make it a site for the home in which he proposes 10 spend his last days. The sale was made through M. o. Ryder.
 The property is ideally located for a home site and it is MT Norton's 1 intention to construct a rather pre- l tentious dwelling on it.
 MT. Norton is connected with the l Norton Grinding and Machine com