The New York herald., 1875-12-23
A SCHOOL THAT KAY BIZ BROKEN Up.

THE CHILDREN OF SCHOOL NO. WHO ARE
LIKELY TO PUT THEIR ANGEL PINIoNs ON.
HERALD reporter was Yesterday sent TO examine
and make inquiry concerning the condition OF Primary
Public School No 7, situated at No 274 West Tenth
street without preliminary information concerning
the conditions there the reporter entered boys
side OF the ordinary three story dwelling in which the
school is kept he received with courtesy by
OF tho teachers, and shown 20 the second story,
where because Of the sickness Of the principal
OF the school, he 10 the Vice
Principal Miss p. A. Brdsal There was delay
OF perhaps five minutes before Miss Brdsall was at
liberty receive the reporter, and that i've minutes
enabled him to form opinion through personal ex-
perenca Of the ventilation OF the building, rather
the entire absence OF IL There single person
on floor the time excepting the reporter for
the children were at play in the basement and the
teachers caring for them there; yet the atmos-
phere OF the vacant rooms was dense with mpurity,
and, IN the language Of distinguished Western poet,
''thick enough to cut with q spoon" II fully ac-
the sickness Of the principal OF the school
When the vice principal appeared and was informed
Of the reporters desire visit the several floors and
Of the structure she consented to show them to
him
The reporter noticed in the wall what had
doubtless by architect intended for yentila-
not attached either OF them any string wire or
other appliance by which they could be opened Pass
ing TO the third floor IN company OF the lady the re-
porter found conditions which few who send their
younger children to the primary public schools can
suppose for moment could be witnessed there There
Is a three and half feet wide hall running through
the central portion of the floor in this building and
either side OF this hallway for the classes
which, with the exception OF the one IN front, are only
feet width by sixteen In length and twelve feet
10 height and all OF these other than those al the ont
and rear, arc
WITHOUT LIGHT OR VENTILATION
other than is possible through unused ventilators
IN the ceiling Into Of these narrow, unvcntilated
spaces, more like ordinary Railways IN an ordinary
house than hall bedroom let the reader imagine
cightythree little girls and beys packed ironbound
benches to receive instruction, and he will have
mental view OF what the reporter saw yesterday In
each Of the other spaces this hoor of ordinary
dwelling size, sx Of them In all packed from forty
years 70 sWeve In addition to The little boys and girls
that forced to remain in this space during all the
hours OF school time are the Principal Miss E E Mead
Vice PRINCIPAL Miss p A. Bircsall; Miss ]. Emmons,
Miss NJ j. Chalmers and others teachers; and all OF
them Of course both teachers and children show most
unmistakably the effect OF the crampcd space and
poisoned atmosphere In which they live and learn
When about 10 leave the building, the reporter, feel
below through the several floors OF this densey
plcd, dark and unventillaed structure asked TO be
shown 10
THE BOILER ROOM.
He was escorted below to small room, In which
the furnaces and boiler placed, and in which both
washing and ironing being done, for there was
The reporter inquired for the engineer and Miss Bird
sail pointed to her
REPoRrER-Are you in charge OF the furnaces, steam
boiler and other apparatus for heating here, ma'amf
ENGINEER AND FIREMAN OF Primary No. IL am sir;
but you know when woman is busy either washing or
ironing, and has ashes flying around from the boiler
furnace it's not easy to keep everything just as neat
and clean as 1t might be
RBPoRTER-Well, maam the "engine and boiler
room IL Is called steamers not as dirty
it might be- but arc you the engineer, and, II SO,
what is your nameY
ESGIxEER AND FIRExAS--My name IS Catherine
Ackerson, sir; and hope youn excuse my appearance,
for II Is not easy to do washing and ironing and en-
gincering and dress yourself nice besides
The reporter complimcnted her on her personal ap-
pearance and the really cleany condition Of tho
boiler room, and then asked the lady engineer and
washerwoman how she gauged her hres, water and SO
order - avoid explosionsf !
Miss AcKERMASohl there is the gauge, up there, and
when the hand goes around too far s too much
steam, and If see II when it's TOO far around slack
off the fire. turn the cock TO see how the water Isl
and thcn when all Is right according to the pointer
go with something else
Returning To a somewhat less heated atmosphere
the ground floor hall the reporter asked the prn-
cpal who accompanied him, whether 1t was consd-
safe TO entrust the furnaces and steam boiler TO
woman VINO was engaged II wssnng aIo 9sner mousse
familiar with the work. and as she was there only To
teach she did not care to give an opinion.
She then inquired Of as TO what the trustees,
superintendent and others had to say OF the dangers
from explosion and the overhcated aud otherwise bad
atmosphere OF the building
She responded that DR. Dcnnson had protested against
having than forty pupils put into any oil the
spaces spoken OF above and believed that when Messr
Kddle, Cakins, Jones, Tanning, Jasper and McMullen
called they were not well pleased with the existing
conditions, and we're not inclined to stay For her.
self however she did not desire to give any opinion,
she not there for that purpose
Its clear, may be seen by any one, that the build
ing is not Of sufficient size TO properly accommodate
one half the number OF children who attend
there that It IS practically almost entirely without
ventilation, and that the boiler in the heating de-
partment has woman in charge, who while respect
able appearance has too much else 10 do TO render
the furnace and boiler as safe as they should be- even
there not multitude Of sickly children there