Evening star., 1917-11-28
SCHOOLS
PLAN SUGGESTED
d. C. Commissioners May Ask
Congress to Construct
Fifty Buildings.

Construction Of at least fifty portable
schools to take the place temporarily of
permanent addition appropriated for.
which are threatened with delay on ac-
count of the high prices of labor and
materials. and to relieve Immediately
congestion in the schools caused by
the increase in the capitals population.
may be recommended to Congress early
during the coming session.
The District Commissioners have
written to the board of education sug-
gesting this plan as a means of meet
ing the unusual conditions created by
the war and requesting the board for
an opinion in the matter.
School Additions on Program.
Seven school additions. for which
mately half a million dollars. are on
this years building program. and it
is considered likely that none of them
can be built for the respective amounts
designated under the prevailing war
prices. This was indicated by bids sub
mitted October 81 for the eight-room
addition and assembly hall for the Pet
worth School. The lowest bid was for
S15S.00o. while the amount available
for the improvement is but $4,000. This
would indicate a jump of 81 per cent
in cost of labor and materials between
the time the estimate for the improve
ment was made and bids were submit
ted
1t is the opinion of the Commissioners
that similar results will obtain when
bids are opened for the other improve
ments, plans and specifications for
which are completed in several in
stances.
Cost Of Portable Schools.
The portable school plan could be put
through at a total cost of about $780,
080 or $4,000 to a building, it is esti-
mated. These structures, according To
Municipal Architect Snowden Ashford
could be completed during the summer
and would be ready for the coming
school year, which would not be the
case with the permanent additions,
even IL it were possible to build them
gestion IN the schools, which is be-
coming acute with the steady expan-
sion Of Washington's population.
Another argument advanced for the
plan is that the appropriations for the
permanent improvements do not revert
into the Treasury at the end of the As
cal year. but continue indefinitely and
may be sufficient eventually to meet the
purposes for which they are designed
when normal conditions are restored
after the war.
Building Program for Year.
The building program for this year
comprises the Petworth improvement
referred to: a four-room addition and
assembly hall for the Deanwood School
Whittingham and Lane and 45th and
46th streets northeast, $4,000: four
room addition and assembly hall for
Gage School, I'd near U street north
west. $4,000: assembly hall and gym
nasium. for Phelps School. Vermont
avenue between T and u streets north
west, $4,000; eight-room addition and
assembly hall for Wheatley School.
Montello avenue and Neale place
northeast, $4,000. and eight-room ad-
dition and assembly hall for Takoma
School. 5th and Dahlia streets north
west. $4,000.
In addition, there remains to be built
from last years schedule an addition to
the Langdon School, between 18th and
Goth and Newton and Monroe streets
northeast. at a cost of $4,000.
Fifty Portable Schools Enough.
Fifty portable schools, municipal off,
cials point out, would provide sufficient
room to include that covered in the ad-
ditions authorized. It Is stated that the
portable buildings are comfortable and
sanitary. and could be employed with
good results in meeting the unusual
conditions now obtaining.