The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-10-15
CONDEMN CONDITION
OF SCHOOLCROUNDS
Business League of Avondale
Takes Action-Text OF
Resolutions.

Tho Avondale Business league, which
has recently reorganized. met Thurs
day night in the school building Their,
was a large attendance and thirteer
new members were placed on the rolls
The conditions OF the school grounds
constituted the main discussion ant
action, and preambles and resolutions
detailing the work that the community
wanted were adopted, and a committee
was appointed to lay the matter before
The county and school authorities. The
committee consists of Barney Strick-
land. Avondale, chairman: S. J. Harrill
George II. Bailey and James +. Stanfiel
The following preambles and resolu-
tons were adopted unanimously:
whereas, the members of the Avon
ode Business league feel that the time
has come when all good citizens who
have interests In AVohdae and East
Chattanooga should avail themselves Of
economic conditions and take upon
themselves obligations to work for the
bettermcnt OF certain conditions; and,
Whereas, we feel that our community
has been neglected by county authori-
ties, who have failed to see wherein
we need their attention. We wish to
call special attention to conditions In
the vicinity OF the Avondale grammar
school; and.
Whereas, our members TO n great ex-
tent are patrons of this school, and we
regret that dangers exist on the prem
ises where our children must necessarily
be great part Of their play-time; and,
Whereas. one danger is that OF a great
excavation In front Of the school build
Ing, in places fully sixteen feet deem
where at tir'es water stands several
feet deem. There Is at this noint ner-
pcndiCular cliff, over which a child
70 n &c Innth n
injury We claim that the county Is
responsible for this as It is In n public
street and has constantly neglected to
remedy the menace. although attention
has been called to the dangers AT va
Iious times bv citizens Another dan
ger is the apnroximat'on Of the Belt
railroad, which cuts off one corner or
the school grounds. and over this rail-
road freight trains pass MT any and all
hours Of the dav. child to fall down
this embanl,ment as train masses
would be killed or mangled, We be-
lieVe these dangers could be eliminated
il nrOner action was taken by those in
authority, whoever they may be-. We
are taxpayers and claim we have the
right to demand that something be done
looking to the safety OF the more than
COO children who attend this school. We
believe that it would not cost a great
fortune If the woodworking forces or
the county were placed in this vicinity.
we belleNe II would be rCaSOnaDIe ana
practical to use the following sugCes-
tions as way to solve the problem:
Let OcoeC street, from the old Harrison
pike to Arlington avenue, 1.-TWO blOcks)
be graded to n level, The dirt and stoneI
thus removed could be dumped into the
excavation. The school grounds could
also be cut down on a declining grade
toward the excavation and Camden
street with a drain to carry off the |
water when 1t rains. BY this plan the
great pile Of dirt that was deposited |
on the west side OF the grounds when
the annex was built a few years ago
could be removed and the grade levcled. |
Grade down the school grounds adioir- |
ing the Belt railroad and let that dirt
he used in the excavation. Along this |
railroad and along Camden street many
carloads Of dirt and rock could be OBJ
tained which could be used In filling |
the hole. We believe enough dirt and
rocks could be obtained on the premises
to answer all purposes without going
any further. Now therefore, be II
Resolved. by the Avondale business
league, that we rcsnectfu'lv request that
some action be taken looking to the
Of this great monaco to the
lives and limbs Of our children,
Resolved, That these prcamhles md
resolutions be laid before the county
court Of Hamilton county and the board
Of school commissioners. and that thew
be urged to take action at once; and
that they be invited TO survey the
grounds as soon as possible.