Evening star., 1933-12-17
Petworth Branch Library
and Roosevelt High School
Addition Involved,
c. W. A. IS UNABLE TO AID
ANY WORK ON CONTRACT
Statement by Commissioners Is
Made in Answer to Pleas
by Delegations.

Development of a branch library in
Petworth and enlargement of Roosevelt
High School will have to await appro-
priations by Congress unless grants for
the projects are made by the Public
Works Administration, the District
Commissioners informed a delegation Of
citizens yesterday.
These developments. in addition to a
vide program for improvements tc
school buildings and grounds, having a
total estimated cast of S55o.ooO, were
urged by group Of 80 spokesmen for
% citizens organizations in the north
ern section Of the District al a confer.
ence with the Commissioners.
C. w. A. Bars Contract Funds.
The delegation. headed by Edward r
Williams. president of the Roosevelt
Parent Teacher Association, asked that
the Commissioners adopt the projects
as a part of the civil works program
Engineer Commissioner John C. Gotwals
explained, however, that building con-
Struction programs for which Congress;
specifically acts could not be made q
explained that civil works funds can
not be used for contract work, such as
involved in building construction.
Maj. Gotwals expressed approval Of
the needs for the library development
and explained that proposals for both
this and the proposed enlargement OF
Roosevelt High School had been for
warded to the Public Works Admins
tration.
He added that the Commissioners
might consider making the preparation
of plans for the Petworth library a
project under the civil works program
although its construction would have
to be delayed.
The delegation asked for a program
of school building and ground repairs
and Improvements estimated to cost
$500 ,000 Maj. Gotwals estimated that
at least this sum was involved in civil
works programs already adopted.
Site Is Available.
The group, in urging development OF
S125000 PetWorth branch library
quoted the board of library trustees
declaring the project to be one Of the
important items in proposed extension
of the library system. They said site
forming a part of the grounds of the
Roosevelt High School and the Macfar-
land Junior High School was available
for the purpose.
The delegation estimated that such
a library would serve a total of 81 ,00C
persons, including students of schools
in the area. 1t would be more than q
mile distant from the Mount Pleasant
branch and more than miles from the
Takoma Park Branch Library, they said
AS to enlargement of the Roosevelt
High School, the group suggested con-
struction of seven additional class rooms
and a corridor on the east side of the
building. The hearing brought out that
the school was built for a capacity OF
l 500 students, but now has an enroll
ment of 1,750. One estimate was that
the enrolment would reach peak OF
$500 in a few years
Among principal speakers were Mr..
Williams, James G. Yaden, president of
the Federation of Citizens Associations;
Mrs. C. A. Norcross, chairman of the
Library Committee of the Petworth
Women's Club: DR. R. L. Wood, pastor
of the Petworth Methodist Church. and
Herman ]. Galloway, president. Mac
farlsnd Junior High School Parent
Teacher Association.