How The School Of Music Site Was Chosen

It is due to the stockholders of the School of Music Building Association, and to all citizens interested in the project, that a statement be made giving the reasons why other locations were rejected, and the lot, No. 7 Maynard street, owned by the Latson heirs, was purchased. This is especially true since there has been some adverse criticism from persons whom the directors think have not given the matter as careful consideration as themseives. For obvious reasons the board deemed it extremely desirable that the School of Music should be located near the University, and also near the street car line. The following properties were taken into consideration, and the advantages and disadvantages discussed from every standpoint: Dr. W. H. Jackson's property, corner of Liberty and División sts., price $10,000, on account of location was not considered satisfactory for the purpose. Mr. C. H. Worden's residence and adjoining lot, corner of VVilliam and Thompson streets, price $9,000. The board wished only the vacant lot at $3,000, but could not purchase this without buying the entire property. This would burden the association, or the directors as individuals, with a residence worth $6,000 to be disposed of. Mrs. Margaret R. Clancy's residence and adjoining house, corner William and Maynard streets, price $8,000. The lot on which the smaller house is located would have been entirely satisfactory, but could not be purchased alone. As in the case above, the directors would be obliged to sell the residence, valued at $5,500. The property of Miss Rachel S. Smith, 16 South State street, price Í7,ooo, was examined; also lot of Mr. J. E. Beal, next to Newberry Hall, price $6,000; the residence of Mrs. W. D. Smith, west corner of North University avenue and South Thayer street, price $5,500; also lot of Dr. Winchell estáte, on opposite corner, which could not be purchased separate from the entire property; residence of Mrs. Mary Whiting, southeast corner of William and Maynard streets, price $5,000; also residence of Mr. Samuel Andrews, southwest corner of William and Maynard streets, price $4,100. The house belonging to Mr. O. L. Matthews, on the west side of Maynard street, between Liberty and VVilliam streets, price $2,950; also property, No. 7 Maynard Street, belonging to the Latson heirs, situated on the east side of Maynard Street, price $2,060, were both taken into consideration. The directors had about $12,000 in subscriptions with which to purchase a lot, erect a building of ampie dimensions, to include hall, office, a number of teaching rooms with deadened walls, sufficient not only for present use, but for the future growth of the school, tomaintain a guarantee fund, and also to purchase an organ, pianos, and whatever furnishings might be necessary. Had the board - whatever the sum subscribed - purchased property at 4,000 to $6,000, which would only be available as a site, it surely would have been subjected - and rightly, too - to the censure of persons of good business judgment. The association was not organized for the purpose of buying and selling real estáte, and the directors, therefore, would not be authorized to engage in such an enterprise. Certainly the directors, as individuals, could not be expected to assume such obligations for the association. This, consequently, would exclude the properties of Dr. Jackson, Mr. Worden and Mrs. Clancy. The prices asked for the properties of Miss Smith, Mr. Beal, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Whiting and Mr. Andrews were deemed altogether too high for the purpose, as the lots only were available, the houses themselves being of no consequence to the association. The last two properties, namely, that of Mr. Matthews and the Latson heirs, were the only ones which the directors could afford to purchase with the fund subscribed. The one selected is, however, only about 250 feet north from the corner of William and Maynard streets, where the board was extremely anxious to lócate the building, It is only this same distance from the street car line, and convenient to both University and High School. Probably the attendance at the school would not be affected one per cent simply from the building being located on any one of the sites named. After a thorough and careful canvass by the board, consisting of Messrs. H. S. Dean, Ottmar Eberbach, E. F. Mills, Moses Seabolt, L. D. Wines, G. F. Allmendinger, and A. L. Noble, also by the director, Prof. A. A. Stanley, all were well pleased with the location selected, and the decisión was unanimous. President Board of Directora.