Swarthmorean 1930 January 10

              II,    No. 1
!W COUNCILMEN
(DUCTED; REITZEL
NEW PRESIDENT
Swarthmore, Pa., January  10, 1930
$2.50 Per Yeai
ice Officers and Other Borough
Employees Reappointed
To Serve
IRING  SOLONS  PRAISED
Irank S. Reitzel was elected president
[Swarthmore Borough council  at the
[rganization  meeting  Monday  evening
four   new   councilmen   were   in
to  office.   The   new  councilmen
Leonard C. Ashton, Joseph S. Bates,
Jliam  Sproui  Lewis,  and  H.   Roger
eman.   Mr.   Reitzel,   T.   E.   Hessen
eh,   J.   Kirk   MeCurdy   carry   over
the old council.
be most important business transacted
ne meeting was the election of Mr.
zel as president and the selection of
i o r o u g h employees.   Walter L.
brpe was reelected borough treasurer
I two years and Albert N. Garrett, Jr.,
reelected secretary  for a period of
years.    Albert N. Garrett, Sr., was
fected solicitor for a period of four
tie reorganization of the police force
pi ted in the appointment of John Rog-
as captain of police, John McNully,
|jeant  of   police,  and  Thomas   Bate-
and   Charles   Manata,   patrolman.
office of sergeant was created a few
ks ago by council and carries with it
ilary of $5 a month more than the
Irolmen.
following   committees   were   an-
iccd by President Reitzel at the close
be meeting: Public Safety, MeCurdy,
and    Lewis;   Finance,    Ashton,
ris and  MeCurdy;   Sewers,   Hessen-
ch,   Bates,  and   Coleman;   Accounts,
^is, Hessenbruch and Ashton; Public
perty, Coleman, MeCurdy, and Bates;
Highway, Bates, Hessenbruch and
fcman.
meeting   opened    with    Burgess
lis who had previously been sworn
Magistrate Ulrich, acting aschair-
The   new    members    of   council
then sworn in by Burgess Landis
a committee consisting of Council-
Reitzel, Hessenbruch and MeCurdy
ainted to examine their credentials,
/hen these  had   been  reported   upon
orably  thc   roll  of   the  new  council
called and  the new members  took
seats.   Frank   Reitzel   was    then
I president without opposition and
ied charge of the meeting.
a brief address to council the new
(iident thanked the members for the
t>r of electing him to such a respons-
position and asked their cooperation
Ml times.
Ir. Reitzel spoke at length upon the
k done by the retiring member of
icil and was particularly eloquent in
sing Mr. Walter for his ten years as
icmber of council.
never knew that a man could be so
ring and conscientious in his work,"
Mr. Reitzel referring to Mr. Walter.
i president of council he always show-
remarkable poise and tolerance."
h. Reitzel asked the -members of
icil to forget personalities and never
Jlow politics to enter into their opin-
•
Forget criticism and let your own
i judgment be your guide at all
s," was the advice of the new pres-
 +«»
RTNIGHTLY WILL
MEET MONDAY, JAN. 13
Monday, January 13, at 2.30
5<:k, the Fortnightly will meet with
>• John H. Fawcett at her home on
tii  Chester road.
■rs. Fawcett will play: (a) Medita-
by  Tscharkowsky;   (b)   Scherzo
Sonate,    by    Rheinberger;    (c)
de, by Sternberg,
rs. Burton Alva Konkle will read
ne-act  play  written   by  Paul  and
ma   Green  of  the   North   Carolina
rers, entitled "Fixins".
rs. Arthur Wickham will sing: (a)
Love is a  Fisherman, by Strick-
;   (b)   Devotion,   by   Strauss;   (c)
Summer Fields, Brahms,
rs. Konkle will read a comedy by
f M. Cobb: "Gains and Gains, Jr."
rs.  Fawcett  will  play:   (a)   Noc-
c, by Paderewski; (b) Standchen,
Strauss; (c) Gavotte, by Hopfkirk.
+ •»
jss Lydia Bacon, of Wallingford en-
ined at luncheon and cards last Fri-
r. and Mrs. Carl H. Chaffee, of
Ihmore avenue entertained on New
* Eve.
WOMANS' CLUB SPONSORS
RECITAL NEXT WED.
A concert will be sponsored by the
Swarthmore Woman's Club next Wednesday evening when Catherine de Vogel
will offer a program of folk songs of
Holland, France, England and Germany.
Madame de Vogel comes very highly
recommended by music critics of large
cities and has a reputation for completely
enchanting her audiences. She will sing
her numbers dressed in native costumes
appropriate to her different songs.
Members of the Woman's Club will be
admitted by showing their membership
card. The general public is also invited
and may secure tickets for fifty cents.
'TIGS" IS PLAYERS'
CLUB PRODUCTION
Robert W. Graham Directs Light
Comedy Which Pleases
Club Members
OLDTIMERS WIN APPLAUSE
The Players' Club performances seem
to have developed a habit—a habit of
pleasing all audiences. "Pigs" proved
to  be  another ten   strike.
This human and wholesome comedy
by Anne Morrison and Patterson Mc-
Nutt was most acceptably produced by
a well balanced cast under the direction of Robert W. Graham, who played
thc juvenile lead as Tommy Atkins,
Jr., shrewd investor in Pork on the
Hoof. The first three performances,
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of this
week were greeted by full and enthusiastic houses. Thc last performance will be tonight.
The curtain parted on a scene showing Thomas Atkins Sr., a small town
lawyer, and Tommy Atkins, Jr., his
younger son, in the Atkins living room
in their Indiana home. The audience,
sure of what was in store for them
at the hands of these two players, gave
them an immediate welcome.
Thomas Atkins, Sr., played by Frederic A. Child, and his son, quickly set
forth the theme of the play, which
hinges around Tommy's veterinary interests, and his ardent desire to invest
$250.00, which he does not have, in
250 pigs that are "just a little bit sick"
and which he feels he can cure promptly and sell at current market prices
for pork-on-the-hoof.
His father not only lacks the funds,
but is not interested in xthe idea of
financing a sanitorium for hogs.
This opening picture is now expanded to bring in Hector Spencer, Tommy's
worthless uncle, and Grandma Spencer,
blind to Hector's faults, both of whom
are the bane of Tommy's existence
and for whom he is a constant thorn
in thc flesh. The exceedingly difficult
role of Hector Spencer was admirably
done by Herbert L. Walton, and Mrs.
(Continued on Page Two)
SCHOOL BOARD
STUDIES PLANS
Public   Citizens   Ask   Questions
About Rutgers Ave. Site and
Bond Issue Election
PREP       SITE       SUGGESTED
The Swarthinore Scliool board met
Tuesday evening and studied new plans
for improving and enlarging the school
facilities of the borough. Questions by
public citizens at the nieeting also
brought up a discussion of the bond issue and the Rutgers avenue site.
Arthur E. Bassett, one of the new
members of the board said that he had
talked with the officials of the Swarthmore Prep school and that it might be
possible to buy the Prep school to be
used as a grade school south of the R.
K. . .
The board members agreed that this
would be an ideal location but said they
doubted if the state Department of Education would approve of the buddings.
It was decided to have Hubert C. Eicher,
director of school biuldings, of the state
Department of Education at Harrisburg,
visit Swarthniore and inspect the Prep
building for its possible use as a public
school building.
Mr. Bassett said that he had also
talked with officials of Swarthmore College who declared that the college would
be willing to sell land adjoining the College avenue school site at a much lower
figure than that of $67,000 an acre originally given.
School Board Head Tells        COUNCIL LEARNS
Why New Site was Chosen j  HOW SCHOOL SITE
WAS PURCHASED
Based    Decision
On     Survey    Which    Showed
Needs    Of   Borough
Future
By FRANK N. SMITH
President of the Swarthmore School Board
No Action Taken On Admission
Of Yale Avenue Tract
To Borough
(This article deals primarily with the selection of the Rutgers avenue site. PERMIT STILL OUTSTANDING
Mr. Smith regrets that he has not adequate space to tell in detail how the
purchase of the land was consummated, but says that the transaction will be
described in a later issue.)
The purchase of the new athletic field and school site at Rutgers and
Westdale avenues culminated a study of the school needs of the borough that
occupied almost three years. The negotiations for the site took seventeen
months, most of which were consumed in a vain effort to secure a smaller tract
(5.97 acres) at a concession from the owner's price of $45,000, or $7540. per acre.
The final purchases includes 8.78 acres, in two parcels, as follows:
From John J. Tyler 8.436 acres   $36,000.
From Estate of Dolty McGinley       .344     " 4,000.
$30,000 per acre
20,000   "
10,000   "
4,315   "
4,556   "
8.780     "      $40,000.
A comparison of prices paid by various school districts recently is of in
terest:
Upper Darb3% unimproved        6 acres
Yeadon,   improved 4x/£     "
Springfield  Township 9     "
Swarthmore, large tract alone
Swarthmore, total tract
It may be proper to mention here that Swarthniore College recently offered to sell to the Board additional ground adjoining the High School grounds
at $66,000. per acre; and that reliable verbal information has been obtained
that about 2J^ acres, within 800 feet of the Rutgers avenue site sold for
$31,000.00 (lump sum) some years ago.
The new school site provides space for the following athletic facilities:
1.   A full sized football field, surrounded by
A quarter-mile track.
140 yard straight-away (for 100 yd. dashes).
Baseball diamond, with left field foul line 427 feet; right field 412
feet; center field 305 feet; considerably larger than Shibe Park.
Six tennis courts.
Jumping pits.
Standard hockey field (using football  field).
Space for school buildings 200 feet x 400 feet, which will also provide
separate play grounds for kindergarten and other classes.
Space for grand-stands and field house.
The site includes the highest ground in the entire tract.    Drainage is good,
the survey proving that the surrounding ground falls away on three sides.
Rough grading has been done, and final grading and seeding will be done
in the Spring, in the expectation of securing a satisfactory turf for football in
1930.
Elevation of the College avenue building, at the Auditorium entrance,
is 127 feet above sea level; the Rutgers avenue building entrance will be 123
feet above sea level.
The First Survey
Immediately upon the organization of the School Board in December, 1925,
a survey was initiated to determine exactly what were thc present and future
needs of the Swarthmore School District. The survey revealed startling and
disquieting facts, and is here quoted in part. The parts not printed herewith
are largely calculations and memoranda pertaining to the High School Auditorium building:
"GENERAL  REPORT  SCHOOL  BUILDING  PROGRAM
FOR SWARTHMORE, PA."
May 10, 1926.
"Purpose:
"The purpose of this report, and the accompanying charts and figures,
is to develop a complete school building program for Swarthmore,
allowing for a reasonable degree of expansion in the borough area
(Continued  on page five)
2.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
NEW BOOKS FOR
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following books have been added to
the public library in Borough hall:
Krehbiel—"Book of the Operas"
O. Henry—"Four Million"
McCutcheon—"The Merivales"
Wharton—"Age of Innocence", "November Night"
Locke—"Wonderful Year"
Parmeuter—"Silver Ribbons"
Nesbit—"Incomplete Amorist"
Reynolds—"Green Valley"
Singmaster—"What Everybody Wanted"
Marquis—"Almost Perfect State"
Wiggin—"Homespun tales"
Juvenile
Sawyer—"This Way to Christmas"
Field—"Hitty, Her First 100 Years"
Hader—"What'Il   You   Do   When   You
Grow Up?"
Wallace—"Ungava    Bob",    "Book    of
Wonders"
Twain—"Tom Sawyer"
RECITAL AT COLLEGE BY
SOMMERVILLE FORUM
Miss Gretta Don, a native of Scotland
will give a recital on January 16 at 7:45
in Collection Hall. Miss Don who will
sing Scottish and Hebredian songs in costume is presented under the auspices of
the Sommcrvillc Forum.
e*»	
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Barnes and
family, of Montclair, New Jersey, will
•move to Cleveland, Ohio next month.
Final reading of the proposed ordinance annexing part of Springfield and Ridley Townships south of Yale avenue between Cornell and Michigan avenues including thc nine acre Rutgers avenue
.school site, was postponed at the final
meeting of the old borough council last
Thursday evening and remains as the
first big problem facing the new borough council which met for the first
time Monday evening.
The motion that the ordinance be held
over for the new council for final approval was made by J. Kirk MeCurdy
after Paul Freedley said he felt the
matter should not be rushed through and
that he was insufficiently informed to vote
on the subject.
Decision to hold over the ordinance
for final opproval or rejection by the
new council was reached after a report
by Claude C. Smith, .solicitor of the
school board, and remarks by Frank N.
Smith president and Robert Erskine,
vice-president of the school board.
Mr. Smith, the solicitor for the school
board, reported that the permit for an
apartment house on the corner of Cornell and Yale avenues which is in the
tract being considered for annexation,
was still in effect and that Mrs. H. B.
Green, owner of the property stated that
she expected to keep the permit in effect for an indefinite time.
It is chiefly the existance of this permit
which is causing council to delay taking
j the tract into the borough. If the permit
j as granted by Springfield township is
! used and an apartment house erected, af-
■ ter the land has been taken into Swarth-
j more, it will be in direct violation of
; the zoning ordinance.
Mr. Smith further reported that he had
I appealed to thc commissioners of Spring-
I field township not to issue any more per-
I inits until the annexation question was
j settled but that they refused to agree to
this.
It was following this report of the
school board solicitor that Frank Smith,
president of thc school board, described
in detail the purchase of thc nine acre
Rutgers avenue tract by the school board.
"It was prior to March 1927," said Mr.
Sniith, "that j.'.rtii J. Tyler was asked to
set a price on six acres of the highest
and best land in his entire tract. His
,irig;nal price was $60,000 but after .some
j 'Ifsciission he agreed  to cut  it  to $45,-
! ooo."
j Early in March Mr. Smith wrote to
i the school board inuinerating and dwell-
I ing upon the defects of the Yale avenue
| school, the absence of desirable school
I ground within the borough, and the re-
i suit of the survey. He recommended
I that the board purchase the six acres
— | from Mr. Tyler for $40,000. The board
j set about following his recommendation
but   were   unsuccessful  in   getting   Mr.
Tyler to accept less than $45,000 for the
Thc   Swarthmore   Presbyterian; s'x acres. ,,.,,,
_.       . t ,       , ...,. , !    Shortly thereafter the board decided the
Church  welcomed a large addition o.r^ acrcs wouW not ^ adequate and tJjat
new members   last   Sunday    By  con-||line   acres   shm]J(,   be   ptirdiascd-    Mr.
fession of faith, John Reid Hanna A as- , Ty,er wag nevcr approached on the mat.
sar avenue;  Miss  Florence /.  Miner, !ter of n)-ne acres however bnt Mr. smjth
Park avenue; Mr. and Mrs. James H.   points om that jf he wantC(, $45000 for
NEW MEMBERS JOIN
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Miner, Park avenue. By letter from
other churches, Mr. and Mrs. James J.
Miller,  Miss  Isabella   M.  Craigie  and
six acres he would probably have wanted
at least $60,000 for lu'ne acres.
Since Xlr. Tyler was particularly des-
Miss Jean A. Craigie, of Dartmouth j jrous of se|i,ng the tract as a whole the
avenue, from thc Community Church j board saw a passible way out of the
in Oakmont. Pa.; Mrs. Merle W. Sim- situation by getting someone else to buy
pers, Providence road, Chester, from | the entire property and sell the amount
the First Presbyterian Church, York, | wanted by thc school board at a low
Pa.; Mrs. Paul K. Alger, Park avenue, j figure. Mr. Smith declares that he spoke
from the Mill Creek M. E. Church,; to Charles Sniith on thc matter of cre-
Mill Creek, Pa.; Mrs. Burt P. McKinnie, Ogden avenue, from the Congregational Church, Pocatello, Idaho; Mrs.
Robert E. Sharpies, Swarthmore and
Yale avenues, from the Christian
Church, Redfield, Iowa. It is interesting to note that among those uniting
by letter four Christian denominations
were represented.
At the morning service, also, the sacrament of baptism was administered to
George Pierce, Junior, infant son of
Dr. and Mrs. George Pierce Warren,
South Chester road.
♦ «♦»	
BIRTHS
' Mr. and Mrs. George Place, of Prospect Park are being congratulated on the
birth of a son.
(Continued  on  Page  Six)
 ■»»»
SERIES OF SERMONS
AT TRINITY CHURCH
The Reverend J. Jardcn Guenther,
rector in charge of Trinity Church,
Swarthmore, will preach the first of a
series of three sermons on Sunday,
January twelfth, at eleven o'clock, on
thc general subject "What Is Christianity?" The sermons are based on a
paper which the Reverend Mr. Guenther recently read before the Fellowship of Faith. The Fellowship was
founded by K. N. DasGupta, a Hindu,
who is endeavoring to bring, together
the representatives of present day religions for the discussion of world
peace  and brotherhood.
L
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