The Washington times., 1921-10-23
WORK TOBEG|N
0ND, E. SCHOOL
BUILDINGS SOON
Plans Ready for $1.5oo,ooo
Constructive Program to
Start on January I.
MANY NEW CLASS ROOMS
Three Complete Structures.
With Additions to Nine Others.
Are Contemplated.

Work on the 1880. 900 District
school building program VIII start
January /, IL was announced yes
tsrday.
The school program includes sixty
-FOUR additional class rooms 10 nine
schools. a school for tubercular
children and two junior high schools.
Plans and specifications for the work
have been completed by the District
architect and bids have been asked
for the work. 1t is expected that
all bids win be in by November 1.
and that the work or remodeling the
nine schools and the other construc-
ton work will begin soon after.
Six tentative plans have been sub
mitted TO District Health officer
William C. Foyler by A. L. Harris.
District architect, for the proposed
school for tubercular children. This
proposed school has met with criti-
cism from prominent physicians and
experts on tuberculosis. as well as
citizens of the District, and this is
given as the reason for the numerous
specifications and plans being sub
mitted to DR.. Fowler.
Plans for the new Eastern High
School have been completed by Mr..
Harris, the District architect, and bids
for it's construction will be opened on
October rs next. 1t is planned to have
the school open for occupancy by
for the two Junior high schools pro-
vided In the bill appropriating the
81 100000 have not been prepared,
the commissioners have asked for
information" from the School Board
as to the general requirements for
them.
Other improvements.
The nine other schools which will
have classrooms added and undergo
other improvements are: Monroe,
Smothers, Deanwood, Lincoln Park,
Mott, Wheatley, Eaton. Buchanan.
Bell.
Since Aprfl IT, when he was ap-
pointed District architect, Mr.. Harris
and his corps Of assistants, have been
overtaxed In preparing plans and
specifications for plumbing. heating,
drainage and electrical work to other
schools Of the District. In that Pc
riod tho District Commissioners have
expended 420, for the repair and
construction work as set out by Mr..
Harris and his assistants.
Plans for the additional classrooms
to the nine schools were not drawn in
Mr.. Harris office because Of his
small force of architects. When he
took office Mr.. Harris was told that
he would be required to prepare draw
ing and specifications for the proposed
new school program, that involving
$1,600.000 appropriation by Congress
for the two junior high schools, the |
school for tubercular children. and the
additions to the nine schools men,
toned.
Office Space Lacking.
'The office space and force was
absolutely inadequate to do this work"
said Mr.. Harris yesterday. IT i'm
mediately asked the Commissioners to
provide mo with space for about thirty
craftsmen. After carefully investi
eating the conditions in the District
Building, II was found that the space |
allotted to my office could not be in |
creased. Some other plan then had to |
be devised to meet the projected school |
building program"
IT then suggested the alternate
proposition that the District employ
outside architects to relieve the al
ready overburdened force in my Of |
flee. The Commissioners approved
my plan. Now the plans and speci- |
will soon begin on the construction |
Of the schools and other improve
ments."
Mr.. Harris made this statement in |
response to criticism directed to his
office for apparent failure in speed |
ing UP the plans and specifications |
of several Of the schools, particu-
larly the one for tubercular children. |
Following this criticism, e. c. Kem- |
per. secretry of the American Insti- |
tute Of Architects, made an investi- |
CATION of the charges Of unnecessary |
delay of Mr.. Harris at the request |
of the local chamber Of the institute.
Mr.. Kemper's Report.
HIS report, which was approved
by the institute. was:
"My conclusions are that the office
Of the Municipal Architect. Of the
District Of Columbia, is totally in
adequate in extent OF personnel and
In office quarters to handle the build
Ing program of the District Of Co
lumbia with which Il has been
charged recently. The action OF the
Architect, which was ap.
proved by the Commissioners in en-
ploying outside architects. was a far
sighted and wise action to take.