The Washington herald., 1921-11-29
Architect Ashford Say s
Changes Will Add to
Expenses.
KELLER ORDERS
AN INVESTIGATION
Work on E atom School
A d dition Will Be
Started Soon.

Two schooi Investigations one by
a Congressional committee. and an
other by the District Engineer
Commissioner, will be conducted dur
ing the week. and the erection of
the Eaton School addition will be
started in the near future, according
to announcements made yesterday.
The investigation by Engineer
Commissioner Keller has grown out
OF charges made by former Munich
pal Architect Snowden Ashford that
deviation from his plans in the erec-
tion of the new Eastern High School
would result in additional expenses.
The charges were made by Ash
ford before grievance board COM
posed of Municipal Architect Harris,
Maj. Cary II. Brown. assisting En-
gineer Commissioner. and Consult
ing engineers Mayo and Thompson,
OF the Treasury Department.
Electrical Plant Is Issue.
The plans for the school build
ing, which were drawn by Ashford
before his retirement last spring.
provided that the building b.,
equipped with private electrical
plant, on the grounds that IL would
De more economical than to pur-
chase power from the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Company The present
plans, which are being put into
enect. provide that the current for
the building shall be purchased
rather than manufactured by a plant
installed in the building.
Declaring that there may be some
grounds for Ashford's contention
that a private plant would be more
economical. Commissioner Keller
has ordered an Investigation.
other protests were made by Ash =
FORD. One against the removal of a
swimming pool, which was included
In his original plans. was dismissed d
by the board on the grounds that
the school authorities had urged the
abandonment OF the pool for sani-
tary reasons. Commissioner Keller
also stated that he agreed with the
authcrSties that the beneSts of a
swimming pool did not offset the
disease which might arise from its
use because OF inability to keep il
clean and free from germs.
Objects to Entrance Changes.
The former municipal architect t
also objected to the changing and
lowering of the front entrance, the
converting of the original assembly
hall into a theater, the enlargement
OF the lunchroom and changes in
the lecture rooms
At the close Of the meeting Commits
sioner Keller stated that while some
OF the suggestions made by Ashford
may be adopted. the majority of them
were merely differences of opinion and
therefore will not be changed from the
present plan.
Hearings on the Washington school
buildings situation will be resumed
Thursday or Friday by the Joint Con-
gressional Committee. providing there
are enough OF the committeeman in
the city, according to an announce
ment made by Senator Capper. chair
man Of the joint committee.
Senator Capper will determine how
many Of the committeeman are in the
city at the present time and. If the
number is sufficient. will call a meet
ing Immediately.
Despite the fact that the lowest bid
for the erection of the Eaton School
addition exceeds the Commissioners
estimate by $4,000. the work on the
addition will be begun in the neal
future. according to Engineer Commits
stoned Keller.
The lowest bid was submitted by the
NJ. Serette Company. Of Boston. Al
s15S.0Oo. including mechanical equip
ment The contract. however, will bs
awarded to the company, excluding
the mechanical equipment. for a sun
of s116.4o0 Commissioner Keller be
lieves the mechanical equipment car
be purchased for the s23,600 which
remains of the $4,000 appropriation
made for the erection of the addition
While the Eaton problem is now out
Of the way. Commissioner Keller SAID
frankly he was troubled by ths
Smothers addition. The bid on this
building, which is for the use OF
colored children, Is some $4,000 more
than the estimate. even without figur'
ing the cost Of mechanical equipment
With heat, electrical power. and ven
tilation provided, the bid exceeds the
estimates by $4,000. The Engineer
Commissioner is of the ,opinion that
the Smothers plans cannot be Sc
elaborate II any addition to the school
is to he made.