New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-31
Prall Urges
38 Millions for
New Schools
Board of Education Head.
in Letter TO Mayor, Points
Out Necessity for Appro-
priations for Next Year
lll,OO0 Seats Needed
Questions ACCESSIBILITY of
Erecting New Buildings
in Congested Districts

AIMING S. Prail, President of the
Bosrd of Education, made public yes
,srday letter, addressed to Mayor
Hysn, urging upon the city admins
;rstion the necessity of appropriating
,sSsso,alo for school housing relief
IN 1921 and the erection of a new
headquarters building for the Depart
ment of Education. The letter SAYS
ul,oo0 additional seats will be needed
10 give every child class accommoda-
ton.
President Prall questions the advisa-
bility of erecting school buildings in
the thickly cougested portions of the
city. saying: If we continue to build
schools in the thickiy congested por-
tons Of the city the people will not move
out to those neighbo-hoods where their
children may have proper surroundings
and into which the subways have been
built for the purpose OF relieving con-
gestion."
1t is pointed out in the presidents
request that the present city admins
tration has had to bear t>.e burden
Of school construction not provided
for by the preceding administrations
and has been most liberal IN an
propriating funds for new school build
ings. The letter is qualified BY the
statement that while it is very evident
that all requests for new buildings
cannot be complied with, We must be
prepared squarely to face the situation.
due IN large measure to the neglect
OF past administrations to keep pace
with the increased school population"
The letter says. in part:
Urgent Need for Buildings
The Department of Education will
seen present to the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment for its considera-
non the busget request for the wear
is2l and included therein will be an
item for sites and buildings.
The urgent need of additional sites
and new school buildings is of such
Importance that | deem it advisable,
before submitting our request TO the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment
to present 10 you the facts regarding
school housing conditions in this city'
10 provide elementary schools alone
Exclusive of portables) in localities
where the greatest congestion exists
would require the expenditure of an
proxlmately $4,000 900 for BUILDINGS
and 100000 for sites.
In the estimate for cost of sites the
assessed value of the land alone is
slolo,l00, but in nearly ali cases it
Will be necessary to buy costly build
ings located on the land at an approx
mate cost of 100000 more.
Many Congested Places
Most Of the congested places in
GUIDED II our list are in Harlem. the
Bronx, Brownsville, Borough Park,
COney Island, Williamsburg and the
Vicinity of East Twelfth Street and
First Avenue, Manhattan
1T IS absolutely necessary that the
taxpayers of the City of New York
provide adequate buildings for their
ever Increasing school population. and
l am certain that there would not be
as much complaint about the payment
Of taxes for this purpose as there will
be about lack OF school buildings and
the consequent inability OF the city
10 properly educate its future citizens
The city of New York during nor
NAL times requires from $4,000 to 90
700 additional school sittings per an
mum, and 1t must not be forgotten that
during the years 1915. 1916, .917 and
1918 there were practically no add
uonal schools built. During those
years the taxpayers were not called
upon to pay for additional schools and
there should be no hesitancy about
ASKING them to make up d part of the
deficlency now through an increase in
the tax rate.
Increased Tax Small
The tax rate for the city at large
lor this year varies from S2.4S a S1Oo
valuation in Manhattan to $3.50 a 500
valuation in the Bronx and Richmond.
ms Is computed on a total valuation
OF 1892, 627 ,892 on real and, personal
property. and if 10000 600 was raised
In bonds under Chapter 658 of the
AVS OF 1918, and S30,O0O.00O was in
GUIDED IN the tax budget for 1921, the
increase would be less than four
'enths of | per cent in the tax rate
over that Of this year.
The Board OF Education requested
soV,o0O for portable buildings in the
oudgef Tor the year 1920. but funds
were not authorized for this purpose.
After conferring with contractors,
'he superintendent of Buildings and
representative Of the Board of Fs-
innate and Apportionment l am salts
t'ed that it viii be possible TO relieve
.Ie situation during the year 1921 to
'he following extent:
Pralfs Proposed Program
NoF eighteen now elementary
SCHOOLS and additions $50, sos, 900
VI t"elVe new sites for ele-
o5 ms n schools .,.,.......,. 1000. Goo