The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-14

FERRIS OF PILGRIMS TO PARNAssys.

Schools-The Officials Aroused to q Sense Of
Disqualification Of the Schools in the Up
per Wards-Confessedly Incompetent
officials in Charge Everywhere.
The disclosures In the HERALD OF yesterday in re-
iaton to the heating and general condition OF the
schoohousesi in many Of the wards throughout the
city have caused no little ALARM II results In the
way Of diminished attendance of scholars and
extra care and precaution on the part OF teachers
tanitors and others In charge OF the scholars and
schools be taken as safe indces OF the feeling
aroused on all Sides The Board OF Health, through
its inspectors, Is now engaged in making a COM
plete survey OF the schools; the department for
the inspection OF public buildings Is similarly en-
gagged, and the Fire Department inspectors, 1t Is
reported, will cause a careful and detailed invest
CATION to be made as soon as the inspection OF
theatres and churches has been completed. While
II cannot be gansald that the care OF the heat
ing and ventilating OF the schools, on
which the health and lives OF 90 many
thousands depend, cannot be too carefully
attended to it is but simple justice to state that
the Board OF Public Instruction and its officers
have done all that can be done, considering the
difflcultes under which they labor, to render the
buildings safe and avert any serious calamity
arising from fire or panic in the schools. THAT
many OF those entrusted with the care Of the boil
ers and heating apparatus would be found incOm-
petent cannot be denied, as several have confessed
concerning themselves; but If the boilers be kept
rs thoy seem to be at present-gencrally carrying
not more than from three to five pounds of steam
there win be little for fearing an explosion.
The stoves are carefully fastened to the floor by
wires and cannot be overturned, SO that from
them Is scarcely probable the buildings would be
fred, especially the teachers and janitOrs have
been 80 thoroughly aroused to q sense OF their
situation by recent calamties and the structures OF
the press.
The department for the inspection Of buildings
are now examining the condition Of the fues; but
II seems rather strange that so important q duty
should be left until this time, wien the work could
just as well have been done last Spring and the
needed repairs attended to during the seven weeks
Of the vacation during the Summer months.
great deal OF the trouble in connection with the
schools arises. undoubtedly. from the interference
OF the local Boards of School Trustees AS a gen.
oral thing these Boards are composed of the most
ordinary kind of local politicians, graduates of gin
mills, some OF whom regard the office as merely
stepping stone to some higher "hOnor," while
others, having accepted an office to which no sal
airy was attached, must needs make money out OF
IL In some way and accordingly taxed the poor
teachers on their salaries, method Of business
with which some OF the present "City Fathcrs' are
well acquainted. When the appointment OF teach
ers and anltors is regulated by such officials 1t is
almost needless to look for competency competing
with close relationship to prominent politicians for
positions OF responsibility Or trust. The Commits
sioner 0fPublic Instruction tacity acknowledged the
fnefncenCy Of certain officials to whom should have
been entrusted the care of the heating and venti-
latng Of the schools when they appointed SAM
tary superintendent and charged him with the
Guiding the ventilation OF the schoolh0uses. This
aforementioned Official has made
MOST GRATIFYING EXHIBIT,
showing that during the late smallpox scare mp
wards OF 40, 900 children attending the schools were
complaint from the teachers or parents or comma
ton among the children, and that Of the hundreds
OF thousands Of children attending the schools not
o single case OF death from smallpox occurred The
physician, together with the members Of the Com
mittee on the Course Of Studies and Hygienics, as
above stated have commenced an active inspec-
ton into the sanitary condition OF the Schools and
the result Of their iabors will be made public in
The inspection which was undertaken by the
HERALD SHOWS that such inspection cannot be too
speedily or too carefully made 1t Is well to know
ntes, and that the teachers have received partcu-
lar instructions in relation to drilling the pupils so
that they can be dismissed in perfect order, but 1t
has been demonstrated In the cases OF several
theatres and churches that sudden panic would
upset all rules and practices for the preservation
oil order and the cultivation Of GOODNESS.
The further findings OF the HERALD Commits
siOners at the schools in the upper wards show
very clearly that some means OF rapid transit are
sadly needed for the purpose Of enabling helpers
70 reach the schools IN case OF sudden necessity;
and also, OF giving excuse to the officials OF the
.Board" to see that the apparatus under their care
Ii in good repair.
Below will be found the results of the continued
investigation by the HERALD Commissioners, above
GRAMMAR SCHOOL NO. So
This scho0lhOuse, situated on the Kingsbridge
road and 206th street, is small two story brick
building, the first floor OF which is used for school
purposes. The premises are heated by wood fires
and Mr. Miller, the principal, says that in case .
fire should occur, all the children, about one hun
dred and forty In number, could be dismissed IN
danger OF fire occurring unless it originates in the
school. which Is in an isolated position on top Of
hill
PRIMARY SCHOOL NO. 49,
The class rooms In this school are heated by
stoves and the attendance Is small. 1t Is situated
on the Klngsbrdge road and 1S2d street.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL NO. 43.
In this school there are about three hundred and
nifty pupils The class rooms are warmed like
those OF school No. 49, and should fire occur there
are ample means OF escape by the front and wing
entrances. The yard, which occupies the corner
OF 10Th street and Tenth avenue Is very small and
lncOnvenient
NEW YORK JUVENILE ASYLUM
In this building, situated near Tenth avenue, in
176th street, 500 souls are domicied. IL is built
. prominence eighty feet above the water level in
she water used in the building has to be pumped
into tanks the capacity Of which is very small, and
only capable OF supplying the culinary wants OF the
institution. Should fire break out in this build
ing IL would inevitably be RACED to the ground for
three reasons-frst, on account of an insuni-
cheney Of water on the premises; secondly, ON &C.
count Of its exposed position, and thirdly, owing
20 the distance the fire engines wsuld be obliged to
travel after the alarm had been given, the nearest
engine house being In Carmansville and the next
available one In Manhattanvle. The parties in
charge informed the reporter that they had hose
attached, and should q fire break out they
could Immediately bring them to bear on the
names; but when he compared this hopeful talk
with the capacity Of the tanks he could not sup.
press Q SMILE for 1t was evident that In case the
hose were turned on they would only be able to
breathe q light dew from their muzzes which
would be converted into steam before it ever
reached the fire, II Ii had stamina enough to give
Is direction. There arc no fire escapes on the