The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-11
THE SCHOOL SCARE.
The Cost for Cleaning Stoves, Stove Pipes, &c.
One Hundred Thousand Children En-
trusted to Incompetents-RealCa Cause
fer Alarm in This City.


fer Alarm in This City.
The recent successful efforts OF 1.-THE Fire King,n
who is so often alluded to, and of the 1.-THE Fire
Bug" whose title ia used in connection with every
fire that bears any evidence OF incendiary origin,
together with the most recent report of the IN
spectors OF the Board Of Health have naturally
caused great deal Of excitement among the pa
rents and others interested in the one hundred
thousand children who daily attend the public
schools in this city.
1t is the simple truth to say that the people Of
the metropolis have just reason to be proud OF the
system Of public education in the city of New York
but Of what service can be the best method OF de-
vclopng the mind II there be any just to be-
heve that the body is in danger should occur,
or even an alarm Of fire be given, when such occur
renee or alarm would jeOpardze, not sacrifice,
the lives OF hundreds Of children
There is certainly no place in which the hopes
and fears and wishes of fathers and mothers are
centred as in the schoolhouse; and no precaution
can be too much to. satisfy their minds that all
possible means have been exhausted to insure be-
yond doubt the safety OF those who look to them
Tor support, and whose safety and welfare they
trust to others under the law.
Under existing circumstances therefore, 1t is Of
more than ordinary Importance to know just how
the schoohouses In this city have been looked
after and safety provided for by those to whom the
people, as their representatives, have entrusted
the care OF the rising youth Of the metropolis.
The recent report OF the Sanitary Police
together with the note from Mr.. Mackay, In
spectOr for the Third School district to the effect
that in the two wards OF which he has supervision
the persons having charge of the boilers and heat
'their retention may result dsastrously to the
scholars in the schools In which they are en-
pioyed," has opened the eyes OF many who relied
implicitly on the good sense and experience Of
the members Of the Board OF Public Instruction
and their well known endeavors to place the
CONTAINS, ahead Of that OF any city in the Union.
The efforts OF the members OF the present Board of
Public Instruction are undoubtedly very commend
able in many ways, but 1t Is not to the credit OF
that Board that the post OF Chief Engineer-an
officer who has full control OF the heating and ven-
tilatng of all the schOols-shOuld be given to any
politicians relative without regard to thorough
competency.
1t IS certainly very strange that, with superin.
tendent OF Buildings at $4,000 per annum (who has
acted as architect for number of years., with a
competent Foreman Of Repairs at IS per diem
there should be anything left undone e. on Which
cause for complaint could be founded as to the
safety Of all or any q the schools in case Of
at a large salary anything should be lett undone
to secure proper ventilation and means for healthy
exercise for the attendants at the schools. Such,
however, ia the fact
THE ENGINEERS REPORT,
as published by the Board of Public Instruction,
shows that during the year ending May, 1871 the
or under his direction, Tor "repairs to
cleaning Of stoves, stove pipes nnes, &c. but no
e,.nt at details is given, and for radiators in
nve schools the SUM 9! s22 $50 has been expended
under the supervision OF this same ehsine9r. who
to certain extent has in his keeping the lives OF
hundreds OF thousands OF the children of this
metropolis. In his last report to the Commiss..vn-
ers he says that he ''made thorough exaTlnaton
into the
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE JANrToRs,n
and sOund that In most cases the persons en-
nor mechanical skill" but he naively states that
he communicates these facts ION account OF hav
ing received notice from Captain Yue, supern-
tendent OF Steam Boilers, &c., that all jantors
M en Of On they III aayp posi-
the statute may no longer rest upon the Board''ee
the Commissioners of Public instruction issued
on Of BooSs
Hygenics, as f0llOws:-
That the Local Boards Of sssr be
hay.ng charge re %
ana Chat
Snesea furnish esc engineer e@poyed as anor
with duplicate certificate Of qualification one Of said
Board.
How many janitors have complied with this Or
der does not appear, but owing to the peculiar
complication of the school laws, the Board Of pub
lie instruction has little or no control over the
janitOrS or their assistants to whom are
entrusted the care and maintenance OF the steam
"Loca Boards'' control the appointment OF jan-
tor, and as "the place" is one which is supposed to
have some little perquisites attached to it (gener
ally the suppOstiOn IL the heaviest part, 1t be-
comes bone of contention. In one of the lower
wards recently the struggle for janitOr was very
active between liquor dealers brother, boatman
and the driver OF snight-owl'' hack Alter several
quent and otherwise, the 'liquor Dealers brother"
won the prize and now 'runs the machine" His
certificate is not in view.
In many wards the condition OF things, in re-
spec to the qualification OF janitors, is better
In fact there are o few janitors who are better
who, it is supposed, has charge and knows all
about the heating and ventilating OF all the schools
1t Is needless to enlarge upon this subject at
present. The public has been forced to take cog.
niZance OF the fact that buildings considered fire.
proof In other cities proved to be anything but
freprooi, and that fire escapes have generally
proved to be OF no effect or merely man-traps to
add to the danger In buildings to which, as under
the present laws, they are attached. The fact
that the public has been thus aroused VIII I'M
d0ubtedly cause the proper authorities to
bestir themselves 80 as to show that they have
become alive to the necessities Of the situa-
ton than they have shown themselves to be here
tofore, and alay to great extent the alarm which
now pervades the public mind. There is not a
school house In this city provided with fire escape
and In majority OF the schools the means OF
egress would prove to be only extraordinary aids
In the work OF human slaughter in case Of fire or
panic.
COMMERCE. AND NAVIGATION.
The ryor,thIv g1cuorf or thu Ruroun nf