Evening star., 1951-11-06
New Board Gets
Progress Report
On Two Schools
Presses Falls Church
OfficiuIs for Water
And Sewer Lines

ana sewer Lines
The new Falls Church School
Board, with a full progress report
before it on construction of two
new schools, is pressing for COM
pletion of water and sewer lines
to hasten the projects.
The board last night held its
first business session since ap-
pointment of six new members
last month. Architects, engineers
and the builder were on hand to
present reports and answer ques-
tions.
The B. & j. Construction Co. is
building a new primary school on
Mount Daniel on North Oak street
and new junior-senior high
school on Leesburg pike at Hay
cock road in West Falls Church.
Edwin w. Jones of the construc-
ton firm predicted completion of
the primary school by the end of
the year, except perhaps for some
grading and paving work which
would not delay opening of the
school.
First Steel Arrives.
The first shipment of structural
steel for the high school arrived
on the site yesterday, Mr.. Jones
said, and all the steel for the job
has been obtained and is being
fabricated at Bladensburg, Md.
John Graham, jr., of the firm
of Graham & Dickey. architects
of the primary school, said the
failure of the city utilities depart
ment to provide water with ade-
quate pressure was threatening a
delay. City Councilman Samuel
E. McCrary, who attended the
meeting. said City Manager w.
Rhodes Woodbury. has assured
him an adequate water supply will
be provided within day or two.
The city also is scheduled to
install about $50 feet of sewer
line to fill a gap between the end
of the city line in Falls Church
and the point where the school
contractors line ends at the city
boundary. Engineers said further
delay in this work might endanger
the line already installed by the
contractor.
Mr.. Jones said the firms rec
ord on construction of the high
school is excellent. considering the
obstacles faced. Although con-
struction Of the high school was
first authorized in a 1949 bond is
sue, Mr.. Jones told the board, his
firm was not awarded contract
until January of this year.
Wait for Steel Priority.
It was May % before a Gov
ernment priority to obtain steel
could be obtained, he added.
1.-THE school board, in the past.
has done everything possible to
get STEEL" Mr.. Jones said. AT
the time they got steel. there were
plenty of other schools not getting
it. Falls Church was in the first
group"
Board Member Oliver J. Cald-
we'll questioned why commercial
buildings seem to be going up
rapidly. Mr.. Jones replied that
very rigid construction standards
set by the State must be met in
building schools, while the COM
mercial builder must meet only
local building code requirements.
Another reason why large stores
and shopping centers are being
built is because they are some
times not limited by contract
in bidding for scarce materials,
Mr.. Jones added.
The builder attributed some of
his difficulties to vandalism, and
also told the board:
'I will be very happy if we
don't lose more than $4,000 on
the elementary school. We have
kept men on the job to satisfy
the citizens who keep on our neck.
That has cost us money"
Cline Presides.
John H. Cline, vice chairman
of the board. presided over the
meeting, in the absence of Chair
man John A. Johnson, who is
still in Europe.
Mr.. Cline said a bill for attor-
ney's fees has been paid by the
old board. All available bills
for improvements to two tenn
porary school buildings also have
been met, he said.
Douglas A. Clark, attorney or
the Falls Church School Emer-
gency Committee, had questioned
the legality Of expenditures for
these items. Attorney Andrew w.
Clarke represented the old board
when it was investigated by the
City Council.
At the suggestion of Board
Member Richard l.. Saintsing. it
was agreed to ask City Attorney
Lytton H. Gibson for an opinion
on the legality OF expenditures Tor
the Improvements.
Mr.. Gibson also will be asked
to determine whether $174.50 paid
since the opening of school for use
of bottled water can be deducted
from rent for the Thompson
house. being used for temporary
classrooms. Supt. Irwin H. Schmitt
said the State Health Department,
had ruled that well water at the
house could not be used until the
well is covered and the water
passes State tests.
The board ordered an audit o1
School Board accounts as of the
date the new members TOOK Office