The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-26

WHY Nothing ReformatOrv has been done by
the Hon d of Education.

The minutes Of the Board of Educ alton
for 1874 show that the Com ssioners had IT In
their: power az early "a January in that year,
to take preliminary measures for the improve
ment Of the public school houses Comptroller
Green, In 1873, added to the appropriation for
educational purposes 5000 for examining and
reporting upon the subject OF ventilation In the
public school buildings" At meeting n tho
board. on Jan. 81, 1874. Commissioner Baker Of
fercd preamble and resolutions in which 1t was
stated that the ventilation Of the school houses
had engaged the serious attention Of that and
previous boards. and that as 5000 had been up
roitioncd for a practical investigation, pro-
posals for methods of ventilation and warming
the school houses should be received. aud $1,000
set apart for the purpose. The matter was re-
fcrred TO the Finance Committee, and Is not
again noticed In the records until April /. OF the
same year, when Commissioner Baker offered a
form Of advertisement. declining how the specii-
cations would be received The following pre-
mums were offered in the advertisement;
For The best method Of warming aud ventating, ,oo
F,r ne best method u ventllaiins pune school ooo
roy the he P me,sodo i yenntsng pc school
} buildings now erected ana warmed by hoair fur.
for hc best method Of yantiatine public school 400
hui dings erected and warmed ny steam. 200
For the second best method VI each OF the above, 900
For other, having, IN the estimation Of the com
initce, special merit each ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, 30
The President put the question whether the
hoard would adopt the resolution offered by
Commissioner Baker, and 1t was decided in tho
affirmative.
The matter was dropped and never afterward
revived. Architects and sanitarians were led to
prepare specifications and documents. illustrate
ing their theories of ventilation but II II nearly
two years since then. and they have been given
no opportunity for Offering them.
MIR. Baker is still a member OF the board. He
says the singular torpor Of the committee to
which the subject Of ventilation is intrusted, Is
the result OF want OF harmony. IL
the appropriation to benefit Lewis w.
Leeds, the samtarian by wnom 1t WIS
expected the examination and report upon the
subject would be made. Commissioner Baker
believed the better way was to have competition.
In thu board this plan met with APPROVAL but
| the committee were divided, aud after Commits
| soncr Robert Hoe sailed for Europe Mr.. u ilScr
found himself almost alone. III the original pur-
pose Of giving Mr. Leeds the entire field had
been observed, the committee might have
| worked together In harmony. but as u was, a
quorum could never be assembled.
| President Wood said yesterday that the effort
had been practically killed by the Comptroller,
who has ruled that uncXpended balances OF APP
| proprlations for any given year can only be used
| Tor the liquidation Of debts incurred In that
| year. The President endeavored to obtain a
small part Of the sum to assist IN an experiment
| upon "a badly ventilated school house. but dis
| covered that the Comt troller had turned the
| KEY against him. Mr.. Wood daily receives let
| tiers and visitors "brimful OF theories and
| Ideas " for the Improvement Of the sanitary CON
dtlon Of the schools. As a result. he calls him-
| self the best ventilated man In New York.