New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1920-03-06
SITE FOR HIGH SCHOOL.

Dame rumOr has it that a few
members of the Iberia Parish
School Board are thinking Of ne
gotiating for the purchase of the
Iberia Park Race Track site, be
cause Of it vast acreage, to be used
as the location for the new High
School. Whether there IS any
ground for the rumor we have not
yet ascertained. There being 50
many cOnfic ting impressions as
to the best site for the contem-
plated public building, it was not
our intention to even attempt to
influence a single member of the
Board. We preferred, like many
other interested citizens, to leave
the matter solely to the judgment
of those who have its erection in
charge. On the other hand we
sincerely hope the members Of
the School Board are not enter
tanning intention to put build
ing Of that kind in such a remote
section of New Iberia. Public
buildings, and especially school
buildings should be as near the
central portion of New Iberia as
is possible under the circumStan-
ces. The school should not be
placed on a site solely for the rea.
son of the small outlay for
grounds. There are many avail
able locations, so much better
suited where the school children
and teachers can walk in a few
minutes than the one above men,
toned. In the first place the Ibe-
ria Park site is in very low spot
where the drainage is far from
perfect, even though it is only
few acres from the canal basin.
This school should he erected on
a site where visitors will be in po-
sition to see it as they move about
the City. Bank Avenue leads to
no where, unless it be to the
Prairie Carlin section. and then
Center Street is used by ninety
nine per, cent of the people who
travel in the Southern portion of
the Parish. Tt would be far bet
ter to purchase the Main to ST.
Peter block on Railroad Avenue,
running back to st. Peter. 1t is
true some thirty or probably
forty thousand dollars will be re-
quired to take over that property i
but it is a far better advertise :
ment for New Iberia and it is
worth the price. There are num-
erous other blocks in our City
more appropriate for the proposed !
school. If we had street car
service it would not matter much |
where the school is located, bat
when taking into consideration
that the teachers and children
have to walk to the school build
ing, it would work a hardship of
them and also mean a great loss Of
time.
Personally we would prefer Sec
ing the building erected on Cen
ter Street between Washington
Avenue and Pershing Street, even
though it does not meet with the
sanction of the State Board Of
Education. These grounds are
amply large and certainly much /,
easier access to the children Of New
Iberia. As far as danger Of cross
ing the tracks, that does not enter
the question at all at this time. If
the Park site is purchased two
tracks will have to be crossed by
all of the children who live on the
North and East Side of the rail-
roads. Another site nearer the
center of the City is the block on
Pershing from Center to Bank. 1t
would be far better to use it as a
location than to drop back another
square.
We appreciate that whatever
attitude the members of the
School Board take will be with
The best intentions, as they have
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