Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-17
The s,exeu, sehoo, uou.. Fire.

INSPECTOR PLoWhASs THEORY As TO ITS
ORIGIN.
Inspector Plowman has made a report to
Assistant Engineer b. Oertly of the condi-
tion OF the stevens school house, recently on
fire He states that ION the 1lth instant (the
day on which the fire occurred) / visited the
building at go O'Clock, and made a careful
and minute inspection of the same. The
rOem in which the fire occurred is on the
second floor, the northwest room. This
building is heated with steam by indirect
radiation; the radiatiDg surface for this room
is attached 10 the ceiling, under the floor,
and cased on the sides and underneath with
wood, and lined with tin, and opening into
the room with register Immediately over
the IadiatiDg surface. The cause of the fire
without any doubt or question in my mInd)
was, that IN sweeping the floor the radiating
surface has been made a receptacle. and
kinds accumulated In a school room and
settling upon the top OF the radiating sur
face, and by the intense heat had become
very combusuole. and that some time in the
past, or perhaps recently. q match or
matches has been swept in, and coming
in contact with the heating surface and pa
per, has ignited at the southeast corner of
the hot-air cham Der, Immediately under the
tioor or joists; the deposits had apparently
been so great as TO make heat sufficient to
melt the solder or tin OF the lining, causing
an aperture for draft, setting fire To the joist
ard floor, and charriDg twoOf them to a con-
siderable extent, as well a. the lining to the
chamber.
II is fortunate for all concerned that the
alarm was given promptly and the fire so
quickly checked with but so little damage.
Aside from the damage sustained by the fire
and in addition thereto the rail of the stairs
was broken down by the pressure of the chill
dren during the excitement That there was
no loss OF life was attributable chiefly to the
cool and deliberate manner in which the
teachers controlled the children during the
excite ment; and TO the citizens who were at
tracted to the building by the valuable as
sistar &c rendered by them. The inspection
of this building was made by me, with Mr..
Superintendent Cook, Mr.. Johnson, of the
trustees, who fully agree with me as TO the
cause OF the fire. The loss will not exceed
$50 or SEQ, which is fully covered by insur-
aDce.
Under the emergency of the case, imme-
diately proceeded with repairs, and have
cor suited with the representatives of the in
suTaDce companies, who will paw the bills.
IN Re gard to the construction OF the Stevens
SchOO! house building, which was erected
some twelve years ago, under what supervi-
sion / am not informed, the capacity OF
which is about $50 children, and is composed
of wood, except the exterior walls, and
gress from the upper floors are Insufficient,
having but one staircase, and that of limited
proportions. The interior indicates unmis-
fakeable evidences of weakness, and should
during the summer vacation have brick par
tition walls constructed in lieu of the pre-
sent wood ones, and an additional staircase,
which i recommend. l further recommend
that the chambers inclOsiDg the radiating
surface be reconstructed in such manner as
10 allow circulation of air between surfaces
and enclosure; and further recommend that
IL all school buildings where registers are
placed under the floor that there be suspend
cd shield or a conical pan under the regis
ter as a receptacle box for sweepings, to pre-
vent fire il the future from the aforestated
cause."