Council Proceedings: July 19, 1901

Fort Worth Texas 6/7 1901

To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Alderman of the City of Fort Worth.

We the ccolored citizens of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth wards, by these presents, petition for the establishment of a school for the children in the wards mentioned or else to so inlarge School No 13 so as to accommo date the 250 youths of legal age, whose homes are in the wards mentioned

If there was no other reason, the over-crowded condition of School No. 10 with the absolute impossiblity of properly instructing them would be sufficient to demand other facilities, but not only is No. 10 over- crowded, but the inconve nience of getting to No 10 - crossing the railroads and passing through the business streets-the danger of moving trains, of wagons, of buggies and other

2

traffic, makes it imperative that better school facilities be providedfor on the South Side of the railroads and the business streets.

In deciding to ask the council to provide these better facilities, we have investigated to see whether conditions would warrant the City making the investment. We find that the greater number of families in the wards mentioned own their homes, and are tax payers. We have had committees out taking the census, and, by actual count find 216 children between the ages of seven and eighteen, years within these wards. When properly graded these will make a full four room school.

We know that you will agree with us that the investment of the amount necessary for the purchase

3

of grounds and erecting a four room building is very small when compared to the danger and inconvenience of sending these children across town to School No. 10. There are only three places to cross the Texas and Pacific Railway tracks - Boaz street, Main Street and Jennings Avenue, and at these, as you know, it is often hard for grown people to get by safely, and it is much more dangerous for children. Not only the railway crossings with an almost continual switching of cars, but there are buggies, wagons, hacks and street cars, which they must come in contact with at all times.

Leaving the railway crossings and Main street, these children must pass through that desruptable part of town know as "The Acre," there

to see and hear more nice and bad language than the law allows in public places.

Then before arriving at No. 10, the children have to cross the Santa Fe and Rock Island railway tracks with continual switching on Ninth Street which is the only place they can cross, making it all the more dangerous.

We feel that we are entitled to better school facilities for the South Side, than we have at present. The City may not have any money on hand for this purpose, but we hope it can get it and we think the City Council can, without a great expenditure of money provide us with the school facilities herein applied for, and we trust the Council will agree with us and act acccordingly.

Respectfully submitted.

Jay W. Taylor chairman G W Watkins Secretary Committee} Jay W Taylor A G Sims Lee Brooks James Wiggins Lee Brook E Rollins Col H Robinson J. W. Harris W M W[e?]lls Walter Berlimer Solan [?] Henry Presscott Lee Andsom Same Boans P J Johnson R. C. Houston Jr C H McCay O M Simms L G Gordon