Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-19
REPORT IS SOUGHT
ON SCHOOL DELAY
D. C. Commissioners viii Get
Inquiry on Deal for Site
From Education Board.

The Board of Education will con-
tinue its struggle to secure the pur-
chase of senior high school site in the
Fort Reno section of Chevy Chase
when, in accordance with its decision
at yesterdays meeting, it dispatches q
letter to the Commissioners requesting
statement on the status of the pend
ing deal.
The school authorities became exer-
cised over the delay when it was re-
ported that the Commissioners had no
intention OF buying any site IN that To-
cation until Congress convened, despite
the fact that the $4,000 for the pur-
chase of the land has been available
since last February. Congress, recog-
nizing the need for accelerating the
purchase Of school sites and the con-
struction of buildings, made money for
these items Immediately available"
in the 1882 appropriation act so that
the District authorities would not have
to wait until the beginning OF the 1882
fiscal year on July /, last.
Opposes Fessenden Site.
At least one other effort has been
made by the school authorities to con-
vince the District Building officials that
they should take immediate action
The School Boards Committee on
Buildings, Grounds and Equipment
made personal appear 10 the COM
missionerS on October 10 for the pur-
chase Of the site. On that same day
The Star learned that the reason the
site had not been bought was because
Senator Gerald p. Nye land another
member or members of Congress" had
gotten Mai. John G.. Gotwals. U. S. A..
Engineer Commissioner, to "agree" tC
purchase a site at Thirty-seventh ano
Fessenden streets.
Nothing had been done up to that
| time because Mai. GotWalS had gone on
sick leave and the execution of his enc
| of the agreement" was left hanging
| in the air. The Thirty-seventh ane
! Fessenden streets site has been opposed
/ by the school authorities as too small
| for a senior high school plant. They
are seeking its purchase, however, toi
an elementary school site.
1t is definitely known that MAJ. II. L
Robb, Assistant Engineer Commissioner
has made definite recommendation II
the Commissioners for the purchase o
| site farther south than the Thirty
seventh and FeSsenden streets tract
Despite the fact that the land recon-
mended by Maj. Robb Is approved bott
by the school authorities and by Charlie
w. Eliot, I'd, director of planning Il
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, the Commissioners haV
not yet made any purchase.
Written Statement Asked.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, vice presi
dent of the board, brought the purchas
subject into yesterdays board session
when she proposed that the board as
the Commissioners for written state
ment status of the whole deal and def
nitely whether they are deliberately
awaiting the new Congress before the
act The board is anxious that tn
site be purchased so that it can petition
Congress this session for money wit
which to begin construction on nel
school. The sixth white senior hg
, school will be desperately needed eve
before it can be completed, even II con
struction we're pushed through in recon
! time, and the school authorities ar
. making this new direct appeal to tn
: Commissioners In an effort to ward OF
the highly unsatisfactory congestio
which rapidly is being built up as
result OF the need FOR new senior hig
! school accommodations.
Western High School may take owe