Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
Compromise
|Sousa School
Site Favored
Commissioners, Civic
Groups Urge Location
At 9th and EIy @

At 9th and Ely @
The Commissioners and spokes-
men for Southeast Citizen and
Parent Teacher groups today agreed
to press for location of the new
John Philip Sousa Junior High
School on Hand at Thirty-seventh
street and Ely place Sc.
The location was selected as a
compromise over three other sug-
gestions on recommendation Of
Assistant Engineer Commissioner
Joseph D. Arthur, jr., at a hearing
today at which the civic leaders
protested delay in acquiring a site
for the proposed new $780, Junior
high school.
The compromise will have to be
approved by the Board of Education
ana hinges on the granting by the
Interior Department of section of
Fort Dupont Park, across the street.
Tor recreation purposes for the
school.
AAPSSto DOdIu W approve.
Asst. Supt. of Schools Lawson J.
Cantrell said he thought the School
Board would accept the compromise
location provided the recreation
space was allotted.
Mr.. Cantrell said the board had
abandoned plans to locate on the
Fort Dupont tract to avoid two or
three years of argument with the
Interior Department, which plans a
golf course there. The board had
sought as site for the school the
old CCC camp in Fort Dupont Park,
not far from the Kimball School at
Minnesota avenue and Ely place
Sc.
The Commissioners were told by
T. C. LETTERS of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission that
plans for the transfer of the Fort
Dupont site to the District had been
blocked by the Interior Department
because it would interfere with a tee
and green In proposed golf course
10 be built as a part of Recreation
Unit D of the Anacostia recreation
area.
Suggests Moving Tee.
This disclosure drew a complaint
from E. L. Merzereau of North RAN
Ole Community Association, that the
Interior Department is saying in
effect, We want a golf course-the
hell with education
1t was suggested by the group
that moving of the tee would pro-
vide enough ground for recreation
purposes for school across the
street. Efforts would be made. It
was indicated. to seek Interior De-
partment agreement for such a
move.
Mr.. Jeffers suggested use OF a
site at Ridge road Sc. already
acquired by the District for recre-
atlonal purposes, as good location
Tor the Sousa School. He commended
this would better meet the future
needs of the area as foreseen by his
Office.
This proposal. however, was at
tackled by F. P. Randolph. president
Iof the Bradbury Heights Citizens
Association, who said it did not
meet the legislative requirement that
the school be lin the vicinity of
Thirty-fourth street and Minnesota
avenue Sc" Mr.. Randolph also
argued that 10 per cent of the future
pupils at Sousa will come from the
area near the Kimball School,
Calls Cost Excessive.
Inc most recent site, under con-
sideration until today's compromise.
was at Thirty-fourth street and Du
Bots place Sc, but Col. Arthur said
the District hesitated to acquire it
because of excessive cost and the
fact that it contains 10 dwelling
units which would have to be de-
stroyed.
Col. Arthur explained $4,000 had
been appropriated to buy the school
site and that the Du Bots place To-
cation would cost about 5000 900. He
said he had been advised by Budget
Ofhcer Walter L. Fowler that it was
questionable whether the Commits
sloners could take on a project
which so greatly exceeded the al
loted funds.
Need for the new school was EN-.
phasized by Mrs. Charles H. Hag-
erty, representing the Southeast
Council of Citizens Associations,
who told the Commissioners the
Kramer Junior High School at
Eighteenth and @ streets Sc. is on
the verge of part-time classes.
Raps Commissioners.
Mr.. Randolph charged that the
Commissioner had failed totally"
in not acquiring a site after having
the money for two and half years.
Earlier he had interrupted an open
ing statement by Col Arthur to de.
mand that the proceedings be halt
ed until all three Commissioners
were present. Engineer Commits
sioner Gordon R. Young was the
only member of the board on hand
at that moment.
William Benhoff of the Anacostia
Citizens Association told the Com
missioners there was too much plan.
ming going on and not enough &C.
ton.
About IS persons were on hand
| for the session.
HoIdup Victim Given