Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-20
SCHOOL BUILDING
PROGRAM REVISION
|SURGED IN HOUSE
Appropriation Amendments
and 1888 Estimate Are
Sent by Hoover.
WILSON TEACHER COLLEGE.
REPAIR MONEY REQUESTED
Fund to Correct Threat of Collapse
Of Structure Adjoining Ross
Elementary Is Asked.

Changes in public school construction
programs, including repairs to the Will
son Teachers College and the Ross
elementary School, adjoining build
ingsfat Eleventh and Harvard streets,
which are feared to be in danger of COL
lapse, would be provided in amendments
to the 1881 and 1892 appropriation acts
and in supplemental estimate for the
1888 appropriation bill now in Congress
which were transmitted to the House
yesterday by President Hoover
The amendment to the 1882 appro-
priation act would make available a
sum not to exceed 100000 of expended
balances for the repair Of the Wilson
Teachers and the Ross Schools.
Would Provide $4,000.
The amendment to the 1881 appro-
priation act would make available until
June 80, 1888, a sum not to exceed
5000 for the purchase Of additional
land needed for the new Jefferson
Junior High School site in southwest
Washington.
The substitute provision in the 1888
bill would transfer an item Of $315 900
from use for the completion Of the
new Jefferson Junior High School, to
use for the construction of a new trade
school for colored boys, at Twenty
fourth street and Benning road north
east,
The director of the budget, ]. Claw
son Roop, explains that since the pre-
paration Of the 1898 budget, the Dis
trict Commissioners have found that
the funds remaining available for pur-
chase of a site for the Jefferson build
ing are insufficient, and that it win be
necessary to obtain an additional ap-
preparation of $4,000 for this purpose.
1882 Fund Held Sufficient.
He points out that in view of the
delay in securing site for the Jeffer-
son Junior High School building, and
of the resulting delay in beginning
construction Of that building, the 1892
appropriation Of 100000 for this pur-
pose, which viii continue avavilable
during the fiscal year 1898, win be SUI
ficient for all construction needs dur
ing the fiscal year 1893, and there will
be no necessity during that fiscal year
for an additional appropriation of
$315,o00 for completion of the build
ing as proposed In the 1888 budget.
The director Of the budget calls at
tention to the fact that the present
trade school for colored boys Is To-
Gated in the Phelps School building on
Vermont avenue between T and U
streets northwest. This building is
overcrowded, and is inadequate to meet
future needs for vocational education
of the colored boys of the District of
Columbia. There Is also need for the
return of this building to It's former
status as an elementary school build
ing In order to relieve existing con-
geStion In nearby elementary schools,
and at the same time provide addi-
tional facilities for an increasing ele-
mentary school population in this
neighborhood.
Substitution Suggested.
In order to provide for an adequate
trade school building and for the use
Of the Phelps Building for elementary
school purposes, 1t Is recommended that
in lieu Of the 1888 budget item of $315,-
900 for completion Of the construction
OF the jefferson Junior High School be
substituted the item of $315,000 for
erection Of the trade school for boys
on the site already purchased at
Twenty fourth street and Benntng road
northeast.
In regard to the Wilson Teachers
College and the Ross Elementary School
Building, the budget director reminds
the House that the Wilson Building was
abandoned for school use on February
IL as q result Of examination made by
the Engineer Department Of the Dis
trict. which disclosed a dangerous set
Ting Of portions Of the structure. The
Ross Building, adjacent to the Wilson
Building, while not in dangerous con-
dition, nevertheless shows signs Of foun-
dalton troubles, a condition which 1t is
desirable to have remedied at the same
time with the rehabilitation Of the Will
son Building. In view Of the Difficult
ties that may be encountered in the
work of providing adequate foundations
for these buildings, provision is made
for the employment Of such professional
and other engineering services as the
Commissioners may deem necessary.