New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-07
RESULTS OF OFFICIAL INSPECTION.

There are under the control of the Depart
partment 81 Public Instruction OF this city 2n schools.
including Il colOred and Il corporate schools. which
share in the common fund The expenses OF the depart
cni 1871 Che date OF the last published repor
t.26l 256 c. The number OF buildings used for school
purposes was iO6 which during that 235 IO5 pu
pls were taught: the average daily attendance being
im4H large proportion OF the children of the city
are thus for several hours each day. exposed 10 the at
mosphe~c and other conditions imposed upon them by
the public officers having these matters in charge aud
this too at an ace when the most heahul physical as
wolf As moral surroundings are demanded for the most
complete development Of mind and body. The inspect
ors OF the Board Of Health have recently made careful
examination OF all the public school buildings in the
city the results of which embodied in sworn com
plants which they have fled with the Board Of
Education In these the condition 10 which they found
each building given in detail and the general state
inent made regard to all, that they are "tna con-
dillon dau gerous to life and detrimental to health" The
following facts and statistics in relation TO the unhealth
ful condition Of the school buildings have been taken
from these complaints and from The Report Of the Board
~ Education FOR 1871:
MOpEL MoRCUEs RATHER THAN SCHOOLS.
School W. l. ia Vandewater-st. has average attend
ancc ~ lC2i pupils divided usual into the boys
Girls, and primary departments. and employs sc teach
crs The inspectors found outhOuses utterly without
ventilation, and emitting very offensive odor. The
ca.sruoms were close and OvercTOwded and the atmos
pherc was impure Ventilation was chiefly by means Of
windows opening on the street and yard
schoo No. @ in Henry-st.. Pike, has an average
attendance OF 226 pupils, with 20 teachers This build
inc Is 10 much the same condition. The brick walls Of
the schools sinks are old and dlapdaed, aud liable TO
give way at any time The ceilings OF the halls and
royns have fallen The sinks without raps and tbs
1dnr from them escapes into the building The atmos
phere OF the school-rooms is described very impure
and unwholesome. The principal means OF ventilation
are by windows and windows opening INFO the
street and yard
school Nc in Hudson-st. Grove has an average
attendance Of 1762 pupils with 40 teachers. The
faults are found In this building in No. l. The walls
and ceilings OF the rooms are dirty The Tagging
of the ward Is sunken allowing stagnant water to settle
IN pools The classrooms are ventilated by fues In the
walls as well as by transom lights and windows but the
nues are imperfect and fail TO carry of the bad air
There is one classroom In the basement which is dark
DAMP and unfit for school purposes.
School No L. in Rivingtonst, has an average attend
ance OF $50 pupils with a teachers 1t is In the same
condition az the school just mentioned. The pavement
OF the basement is caving IN; the cellar is in hlthy
condition from dirt and rubbish the ceiling is cTumb-
ling the roof leaks and some OF the upper rooms are
damp One room In the basement is used for school
purposes and is dark and unheslthfu The cassrOoms
are close aud the atmosphere very impure.
School No in Mott-st has an average attendance OF
Ge pupils and teachers In addition 70 the dirt com
mon TO most the offices connected with the schools,
the floors and seats Of the boys closets exceedingly
filthy There is watersupply above the first floor.
The are dark and close and the atmosphere
very impure The hues are useless, and ventilation is
only obtained by opening the windows. There is no
water.suppy above the first oor and the sinks have
traps. -
In all the school buildings examined the defects COM
mon TO those described found exist Not OF
the outhOuses has adequate means OF ventilation and
she walls and floors being constructed OF wood, soon
become very offensive In every instance 10 Is recon-
uended that slate zinc be employed In almost every
case the situated either within the school
buildings in such Close proximity TO the cassrooms
that offensive odOrs readily find to the interior OF
the rooms. Some Of the schoOroOms-indeed. most OF
theI-have ventilating hues constructed in the walls
but not appears 10 be OF practical benefit owing
either TO obstruction the want OF revolving turret
the top OF the wall produce continuous current
air Tho Health Inspectors in one OF their reports say
Its apparent 10 the most casual observer that without
heat mechanical appliance u Is impossible TO
stSssteS IN the walls OF building Where fues are al
ready placed in the walls we have recommended two
iuches from the floor, with revolving turret placed
upon top OF the outer wall 70 produce cross current
egress OF foul and impure air and the ngress Of fresh air.
II 10 the iByarabe and pernicious practice whenever
impure nd offensive 10 open the windows from the top
thus allowing current Of cold air 10 rush in upon the
aaectOns without any perceptble benefit or apparent
change In the mpurity of the la tue cassrooms
where proper anes not placed IN the walls we have
the adoption Of rotating ventilaOrs TO be
placed ia tho windows, which will establish a
continuous cross current Of air without creating
draught or causing any Of the unpleasant eOnse
auenoss resulting from the present method OF ventat
lug the opening of the windows II Ia OF paramount
importance that some prompt and decisive measures DC
adOpted whereby the cassroOmB be provided with
proper ventilation and In very many Of the lower
ground floor ROOMS with sufhcency OF light. Some OF
tie groundhoor classfoOns without any supeenaI ana
.are fha Of
mended be vacated totally unit for occupation One
OF these basement rooms, with 100 children, has
only one window and that opens into space only eight
feef IA width between tho school building and three
story brick building in rear.
POISONED AIR FOR TENDER LUNGS.
The useessness OF the present yeOtilaing cues was
..,t.,t. .,ovod nv a Rs,f.s az eEoestmcDts made by