New-York tribune., 1873-02-17
VENTILATION OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

To the EditOr Of The Tribune
SIR: Nothing more important or proper
could be undertaken by the Board OF Health or the
Board of Public Instruction than the purifying OF the
buildings used for public schools. and supplying the
children with pure fresh air well as setting them an
example of the best means OF obtaining It, Strange as
the proposition may at first seem, think it will be
found 10 be toe nearly true that man. in our metopo
tan cities is the flthlest animal that breathes or
moves on the face OF the earth. a grown
person. in health, eats and drinks between
two and three pounds, while hs breathes
about so pounds of air daily Now we would consider
how this pounds OF air is supplied and used we may
begin to see why is the lthiest of all animals. No
other animal endowed by the Creator with the
capacty 20 build places for crOwding in one or
two thousand of offspring for the purpose Of educa
tlon The neglect TO supply them with fresh air ana 10
remove from them the refuse air that has been eected
from their lungs is sufficient cause for the fact that one
half Of the children killed Is there any other ami
NAL that thus by bthness, destroys bO per cent OI S
offspring before maturity
II has been well known TO intelligent observers that
the City of New York contains greater number OF un
wholesome buildings philadelphia, perhaps, excepted
than any other city in the Union. But local influences
seemed to exert such a powerful influence In many OF
the more crowded districts and among the poorer
classes that efforts of the Board Of Public Instrue
ton greatly paralyzed. II may be considered
circumstance that strenuous effort by the
Board Health rcmedying these defects has been
promptly seconded by the whole public press. To ac
cOInplish eectual and thorough reformation ~ now
most arleny 10 be desired. But IL is with feelings OF
sadness that perceive that the only recommendations
by Board OF Health for remedyng these great funda
mental deficiencies, totally inadequate and com
paratvey worthless. Perhaps should not say worth
less, because any device that would allow two square
OF fresh TO enter where but before Is
10 answer the whole requirements Of the situation
that / should think they might better have been
omitted than TO have been assigned such prom
unence. II TO me like attempting TO cure
the smallpox by sticking little pieces OF cOurt-plaster
eruption. sincerely hope the Board OF Public
Instruction Will take hold OF the subject broader
and comprehensive scale aud be guided by good
sense and not have their attention diverted ny
any little patent twirlYbObs or childish toys Good
ventilation does consist In producing little jets OF
rapidly moving air at few points, but in first re-
moving completely as possible all sources OF CON
taminatiOn, ana secondly In securing the gen
tie movements OF large masses OF air. The
whole air of dcd room should he kept In constant
motion, but in such "a manner as 10 be impercepuDc
The arrangement OF the warming apparatus IS the basis
Of all good ventilation for large portion Of the time
when the school buildings are occupied But it Is to De
hoped that the Board OF Public Instruction may be
spared from catching the grand engineering fever that
is 70 attack the young and ambitous students OF
ventilation. Perhaps greater junction could be put
upon schools than 10 have them subjected TO sue
system OF fan ventilation has been forced upon many
OF large public institutions and IN some school
houses The proper adjustment Of much simpler ar
| Tangements is all that is needed. LEWIS W. LEEDS
| HeW York. Feb. ., 1873.