Evening star., 1931-10-09
PURCHASE OF RENO
| SCHOOL SITE TO Be
PRESSED ON ROBB
Education Board Fears Con-
gestion Will Result From
Delays.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE
TO BUY PROPERTY
Conference Arranged Between
Engineer and Committee to
Speed Building.

Apprehensive over possible results of
delay in securing the site for a senior
high school in the Reno section of
Chevy Chase, the Board of Education S
Committee on Buildings. Grounds and
Equipment will confer with Mai. H. L.
Robb, U. S. A, Assistant Engineer Com
missioner, to urge the acceleration of
efforts to purchase the land. Daniel C.
Roper. former commissioner of internal
revenue. who now is chairman of the
Buildings. Grounds and Equipment
Committee of the School Board, has
been authorized by the board to take
his committee to the Commissioners
themselves to make a personal appeal
for the purchase of the land. for which
funds have been available through con-
gressional appropriation since the sign
ing of the 1882 appropriation act by the
President last Spring
Mr.. Roper requested a conference
with Maj. Robb today for tomorrow
morning, and Maj. Robb announced
early this afternoon that he would hear
the committee at that time. Besides
Mr.. Roper, the school board members
who will plead for the purchase of the
site are Mrs. Philip Sidney Smith and
Rev. F. I. A. Bennett, members of Mr..
Roper's committee.
An acute situation in the senior high
school section of the public school sys-
tenn was outlined in school circles to-
day when 1t was pointed out that
Western High School is definitely
scheduled to go on a double-shift pro-
gram again by September, 1893. This
prophecy is based on the mathematical
projection Of elementary and junior
high school enrollmentS now in the
schools in Westerns territory and the
addition of very conservative number
of students estimated for normal an
nual increase.
School Delay Seen.
Even If the new Senior High School
site is purchased Immediately. it was
pointed out at the Franklin Building.
the much-needed school itself could not
be ready for occupancy before Febru-
ary !. 1895. Thus, it was shown. West
ern is destined to be on the double
shift program, which allows only half
days schooling for its students, for at
least one and half school years.
The school people pointed out that
the appropriation estimates for 1888
include an item of $50, 900 for the prep
aration of plans and specifications and
the completion Of preliminary studies
necessary to let the contract for the
building. Under the most speedy prog
resS these plans, If the item is appro-
priated for by Congress during its COM
ing session, could not be ready and the
contract let before July, 1888. From
that time, 1t was said. at least 18
months would elapSe before the build
ing IS completed, which would place the
occupancy date as February l, 1895
In authorizing Mr.. Roper's committee
TO outline the urgency of the senior
nigh school situation, several board
members expressed fear that in the face
OF the apparent delay in spending ap-
propriated money for sites, Congress
may feel that the conditions described
by school authorities in the hearings
last year are not as acute as they had
contended. Mrs. Henry Grattan DOYLE
declared that unless we can 60 to Con-
gfcss this Fall with the site actually
purchased, We probably will not have
much of a case on which to base our
plea for funds with which to begin
construction of this critically needed
school,"
RObb Says Sites Considered.
Maj. Robb said today that Several
sites" were under consideration in his
office for the senior high school. He
said there was no actual agreement
reached yet on any one, but gave as
surance that efforts were under way
to complete the purchase. The school
people, on the other hand, said that
both they and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission were
In complete agreement on a specific
site in the immediate vicinity of the
Alice Deal Junior High School.
Maj. Robb said today that the tract
at Thirty-ninth and Fesscnden stree1s.
which the District wanted as a site for
an elementary school, was now being
condemned for that purpose Purchase
of this site had been opposed vigorously
by group of property owners whose
homes adjoin the wanted land It was
said in school circles today, however.
that the property owners who opposed
the Thirty-ninth and Fessenden streets
site for an elementary school now were
favoring it as Local ton for the pro-
posed senior high school. The school
authorities, however, say this land is not
large enough for senior high school
and its accompanying athletic field, and
that they, therefore, could not ap-
prove it.