Omaha daily bee., 1918-04-27
BOARD DIFFERS
ON new SITE FOR
COMMERCE HIGH
Discuss Abandonment of Tract
en- Chicago; Question Use
of School Bonds Voted
Recently.

Members OF the Board OF Eoucanon
lave informally discussed the PROPOSE
tion OF abandoning the new High
School of Commerce site on Chicago
street, Twenty-second to Twenty
third streets, and buying another site
tor a proposed commercial-technical
nigh school
The members, however, are not
agreed as to the advisability OF this
plan, some contending that the recent
bonds were voted for on the specific
understanding that new High School
Of Commerce would be built
There are other reasons offered why
The proposed plan would be inadvis-
able. The Chicago street site is
tract l32x280 feet, fronting on Chicago
street and extending from Twenty
second to Twenty-third streets. The
cost was 5000 and the purchase was
made during May, 1916, with the un-
dcrstanding that High School OF
Commerce Should be erected on the
ground. 1t was further agreed at
hat time that the new commercial high
school could be heated from large
heating plant at Central High school
and, accordingly, the Central High
heating plant was remodeled and en-
larged at q cost Of 500, 900. the last of
the work to be done during the next
summer vacation. -Four Heine type
boilers, each Of 2s0-horse power, were
Installed, and the plant was planned
with the idea Of caring for the new
High School Of Commerce, which was
to be only short distance northward.
Anderson and BENEFIT, engineers for
the school board, installed the new
heating plant with the thought Of dual
service.
Another consideration in acquiring
the Chicago street site was the possi-
bility Of interchange of certain studies
between the Central High and the new
commercial ligh schools.
The report of the building and
grounds committee, recommending
The purchase Of the Chicago street
site was signed by Robert Cowell,
chairman, and c. v. Warfeld, Dr.. E.
Holovtchiner and r. F. Williams, all
except Warfcld having since retired
from the board.
Mr.. War6eid, pesent chairman Of
the building and grounds committee.
said: when we voted for the 81 ,000,-
600 school bonds on April 9 II was my
understanding that II was for 4 new
High School of Commerce, and when
! signed tho committee report in 1916
for the Chicago street site II was un
derstood at that time that. the tract
would meet every requirement Of the |
building. ! understood that
the matter Of new site has been dis
cusscd by some of the members. It
was further understood that the new
commercial high would be heated
IRON the new plant Of the Central
High school,
Cowell Favors Proposition.
Mr.. Coveil, former chairman Of the
buildings and grounds committee,
said: we thought it was very good
purchase. 1t was near Central High
and the interchange of some classes
was regarded as favorable to the loca-
ton. We went into the matter thor
soughly at that time"
Superintendent Beveridge has, on
several occasions, expressed himself
in favor Of q commercial-technicai
high school, but as to the present
move to obtain new site he Is non-
conmittal. He regards his recent
conversation with members 40 conf
dental and said he would prefer the
members Of the board to express
themselves on the matter OF site.
This matter has not been brought
before the board yet In any formal
manner. Members have discussed II
Informally at ! round table meeting
held At the Chamber OF Commerce.
Al ! meeting Of the board In January
! resolution was adopted committing
tho members 10 the erection OF new
commercial hibh, but it is stated that
the manner in which the recent bond
proposition was submitted to the vot-
ers few weeks ago the way 10 open
for the boatd to change its policy
from 4 strictly commercial high to
commerciai-technical high school. If
the latter should be built, II is con-
tended that the Chicago street site
would not be large enough.