National Republican., 1873-11-27
VeniilatinG School BuiidInss.
WAaufuaraN n n Nov as \.

To he Editor u the National Repsbiieaas
Sin: An article, under the above heading, ap-
pears In your paper THIS morning which Il cal
culated TO place our school buildings in an IN.
favorable attitude before the public, and which
Is directly opposed 70 certain facts In the case.
OF the Franklin building was sent 70 the great
worlds exposition at Vienna with the confident
expectation that II would take the premium
and then Adds: "lt Is TO be presumed that this
expectation has not been realized, as we learn
from the December number OF the Sdnitarian,
lying before US, that the said premium was
awarded 70 one Lewis W. Leeds, OF New YORK,
houses" &c. l do not for a moment dispute the
necessity OF Improvement In the mode Of heat
Ing and ventilating school-rooms and other
rooms OF public assembly, but It Is only fair that
the misstatements In the article referred TO
should be corrected.
In the oflicial list Of the awards to the Amer!-
can exhibitors at the Yienns Exposition made
found classified in the following order: First,
grand diplomas OF honor; second, medals OF
progress; third, medals for merit; fourth, medals
Tor nne arts; nfth, medals for good taste; sixth,
medals Tor co-operators; seventh and last, Ill
plomas Of merit or honorable mention.
Unuer tue second head, (" medals for pro-
gress,'l on page OF the report, nnd the follow
"washington city, D, c., progress In educa-
| ton and IN school architecture"
Under the seventh and last head, ("diplomas
o. merit or honorable mention,O on page 81 Of
Leeds, Lewis W., New York, drawings for
ventilation aud heating OF school-houses."
| IL will thus be seen that the expectation
that the buildings from Washington would
| take a nigh premium was realized. Who
ever ne be who wrote the article IN the
must have known that he took only one OF the
| lowest prizes, or n he failed to inform himself
upon all the facts he was not competent to write
upon the subject. The model OF the Franklin
building and photographs and full detailed plans
OF that and OF other school buildings In this city
were sent TO Vienna TO exhibit our school build
ings AZ whole, and not with special reference
10 ventilation or any other particular or peculiar
n, 1ture. As whole, Washington city received
nns nf the highest prizes. Mr.. Leeds sent
SIavip,' Of a system OF ventilation and heating,
dsmonstratea. On the other hand, the model
~ ine FrankIln, together with the drawings re-
terrina thereto and the drawing and plans OF
other school buildings In this city, demonstrated
systems that for years have beeal shown 70 be
practlcable, IL must be reinenbt RED also that
Warrington city obtained prize for school
Architecture" and that necessarily included the
system OF heating, light and ventlL ltion.
1 nave the authority OF Geloral Eaton, Com
m ssloner OF Education, (who was In vienna
during the Exposition, for the statement that the
model OF the Franklin building was one OF the
M, iial attractions in the American educational
maria OF Europe taking drawings OF It's exterior
and that, when permission was given 70 take III,
model apart, great interest was manifested II
examining the details OF It's arrangements
4 otipV and commencing the SAME, anil com
IA rina them with ,he photograpnic plans.
Trustee OF Public Schools.