Evening star., 1919-09-24
Situation at Central.


tricting of pupils now in prospect will
divert an appreciable number, but any
room thus gained will be filled quick
" by the natural increase from Cen
trails present territory. With due al
lowance for this districting. con-
servative estimate would give net
increase for Central. 1922, of some-
where near 500 pupils. Whatever
provision can be made for this over
flow temporarily, some entirely new
high school project is necessary for
permanent relief. Any relief to be
ing of the new Eastern would be
slight at best, nor would any probable
development of the Smallwood idea
have any large effect on Centrars en-
rollment. Any permanent increase in
the size of Central itself is hardly to
be regarded as practicable or admin
istratively desirable.
due partly to the great density of
high school population close to Cen
trail and partly to the drawing there
of pupils from a number of more dis
tant sections which have no separate
high school. A study made during
the past year indicates that about
half of the enrolment comes from
what can be called Centrafs immedi-
ate territory (the compact group OF
suburbs running north to Spring
husiness section). The other half is
scattered. but the largest definite
groups in it are the following: North
Capitol, lexington and suburbs be.
yond. 500 pupils; suburbs north OF
Spring road, 800 pupils; eastern sec
ton of the city (to be affected by
districting). 200 pupils; Connecticut
avenue suburbs. $50 pupils. 1t is
evident from these figures that the
only section now calculated to meet
the congestion problem is the North
Capitol and lexington section. The
northern group of suburbs Petworth.
Pinev Branch, Brightwood and be-
yond) has also a considerable num-
ber O. pupils and is rapidly growing
a small school in this section. capable
of subsequent extension. might be
part of a permanent policy. but is not
SO urgent.
Available Land.
you cannot request a building
without having in mind available
land upon which to locate it. The
best high school site within the sec
tion under consideration would ap-
parently be in West lexington, In
the large undeveloped tract lmmedl-
ately northeast of the present Emery
School site. A site even as large as
twenty-five acres could be obtained
here without prohibitive cost. Ine
location has many advantages. 1t is
within easy walking distance or
large, compact territory, and IS also
close to three car lines. In fair
weather students from the Brookland
and Langdon areas could easily walk
to this site. while in stormy seasons
| the Rrookland pupils could use the
North Capitol line, and those from
Langdon the Maryland line. when
runs through Langdon and WOOD
ridge to Hyattsville and Laurel. The
transfers from the Hayes, Blair and
Wheatley. in the northeast section
| adjacent to Florida avenue and north
| of II street east, are within easier
walking distance of the proposed site
| than they are of any other existing
high school. In bad weather the
Florida avenue cars Wouio pFiHs the"
close to the building.
| Eleven new members were elected TO
\ membership in the association as 1ol-
| lows: Daniel p. Myers, George A. Grill,
George A. Lippert, NJ. r. Pollock. John
T Allen. O. C. Ballard. William H. Cor
| w. J. Ryan and n. A. Eaton.
| G. NJ. Kookegey, former secretary,
was appointed to represent the asso-
! citation in the drive now being helo
| by member associations OF the Feder-
| alton of Citizens Associations for new
members. Approval OF steps now Pc
| ing taken for popular election Of the
board of education was voted by the
association on recommendation OF
Martin Solen, chairman of the school
committee. A committee Of five. COM
posed of Martin Solen, chairman; Rev.
DIR. Mclean. Charles A. Bowman. c. A.
Henderson and Selden M. Ely, was ap-
pointed to advise with the board of
education on construction of the pro-
posed new high school,