Evening star., 1922-11-25
SEES HOME SITES
.TAKENFOR SCHOOLS
Dr.. BaIIou Thinks Many Resi-
dences in Northwest Soon
Will Be Displaced.

Improved property in some of the
best residential sections Of the north
west section OF the city will have to
be condemned in the near future to
provide sites for school buildings.
DR.. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent
Of schools, declared today in discuss
ing the scarcity of available prop
critics for new schools
Supt Ballou painted vivid verbal
picture of the seriousness of the
problem facing school authorities.
due to the inability to find suitable
sites in the congested sections Of the
northwest for schoolhouses:. The
only solution. he said. will be the con-
demnation of some of the houses re-
Gently constructed in Petworth. Ingle-
side, Fourteenth Street Highlands.
Fourteenth Street Heights and other
subdivisions. where increased popula-
ton demands additional school ac-
commodation.
Land Already Occupied.
It was pointed out bv DR.. Ballou
that virtually all of the land in
these sections which would provide
been built upon He referred par
ticularly to property in Ingleside. Sc
lected by the authorities for school
building. but which was improved
before an appropriation was obtained
from Congress to purchase 1t.
turned from Philadelphia. where he
inspected some of the public schools
of that city, in addition to Girard
College. He emphasized that a COM
prehensive school building program
covering a period of three years and
calling for an expenditure OF approx
mately $36,000,00O or more. If neces-
sary, is now under way there.
The scarcity Of school sites in Phil
adelphia, he said, also was a problem
to the authorities. but they solved it
by condemning improved residence
and business properties in the sec
tions of the city where the new
schools are needed.
Sees "Nothing Else to Do"
Congress, however" said Dr. Bal
lou, has not been willing to con
school sites; But now there is moth
ing else to do"
Conditions Of the public schools in
Philadelphia, DR.. Ballou said. are
somewhat similar to those in Wash
ington. The Philadelphia schools have
antiquated building problems. he de-
clared, but they are destined to be
eliminated by the building program,
while in Washington there Is no ap-
parent hope of remedying the situa-
After spending a day inspecting
Girard College. at the request Of
President Cheeseman A. Herrick, and
addressing the faculty and employees,
DR.. Ballou, accompanied by Superin-
tendent Broome of the Philadelphia
public schools, made an inspection
tour of some of the city's new school
buildings A new high school in Ger
mantown, a junior high school now
under construction and a new ele-
mentary school were among the
buildings visited by DR.. Ballou.
Contrasts the Appropriations.
The new junior high school, the su-
perintendent said, is being erected at
q cost of 100000, while only $780,
900 has been appropriated for each
of washington's new junior high
schools-the Langley and Macfarland.
He emphasized that Philadelphia Is
paying approximately $4,000 a room
for its new buildings. while Wash
ington is paying about $4,000.
A report on his trip will be made
to the board of education by DR..
Ballou at its next meeting.