The Pensacola Journal

SCHOOL SITE IS DISCUSSED AT MASS MEETING

LARGE NUMBER GATHER AND HEAR DISCUSSION OF NEW SCHOOL, AND APPOINT NEW COMMITTEE.

Between ninety and one hundred citizens gathered last night at the court house and discussed the matter of a new grammar school, for the erection of which the school board has borrowed money. The general opinion seemed to be that it would be unwise to rent the old Classical school building owing to its general undesirability for a school building and the cost necessary to place it in condition, and that since the school board has borrowed the funds it should proceed with its plans and erect a school building to be used as a grammar school for pupils living in the western section of the city. In making the selection of a site the board should have a view to the future growth of the city.

When the meeting convened R. M. Cary nominated T. A. Jennings as chairman and the latter presided, calling for a report of the special committee named at the last meeting. J. G. Pace as one of this committee said the proposed site in the Maxent tract had been looked into and that the committee was not impressed with it. The other site visited was on West Chase street which the committee thought very desirable, being surrounded by good families. This committee also believed the Armstrong building could be repaired at a small cost.

Chairman J. H. Sherrill of the school board addressed the meeting and told the gathering that the school board had not selected a site and desired the co-operation of the citizens in securing one desirable and satisfactory. He impressed upon his hearers the fact that the present accommodations are unsatisfactory and insufficient. Mr. Sherrill went into the matter of finances at length, stating that the money borrowed by the board for new buildings is on hand and cannot be used otherwise.

R. W. Goodhart did not favor repairing the Armstrong building. He referred to it as being a fire trap and spoke of the good to a community that comes from having proper public school facilities and well conducted schools.

Rev. John H. Brown did not favor the Armstrong building or the site out at Maxent tract, which he referred to as being near the ball park.

W. C. Diffenderfer believed that the public school teachers were the proper parties to consult in the selection of a site and moved for the appointment of a committee composed of P. K. Yonge, Jas. A. White and T. A. Jennings to consult with the teachers and school board and recommend a site. Mr. Jennings withdrew and Dr. Blocker was added to the committee, which will consult with the school board and teachers and recommend a site for the new building.

Judge E. D. Beggs spoke in an optimistic manner of the future of Pensacola and her schools and the necessity of keeping the latter up to their present high standard. He believed an additional school building is necessary.

Dr. Kennedy asked if the selection of the committee named would be final, whereupon Mr. Sherrill said the school board would be glad to work with the committee in securing a proper site.

J. S. Reese said that he believed the site should be east of DeVillier street and offered a motion to this effect, but it was defeated.

E. P. Preston spoke of the necessity of having the school building located at some point that would be convenient to the pupils living down town, while R. P. Stout said that large families living on West Hill had been neglected and should receive consideration.