New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-04
MODEL SCHOOL-HOUSES.

LETTER FROM MR. I. b. THURBER-PRACTICAL
RESULTS OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
WHICH WERE DEMONSTRATED BY IT.
To the Edttor or The Tribune.
SIR: referring to your editorial of the Goth
ut, the report Of the Committee of Award in the
model schoohouse competition. think that in some
respects It is liable to misinterpreaon and calculated
TO njure a cause with which sure The TRIBUNE 10
in full sympathy.
The editorial says that " competitions which do nos
lead any practical results TO be commended =
a sentiment which all Will ndorse, but stated in that
wey average would infer that this cOmpcti
ton was of that character, which, think, upon
examination will he found One OF the chief
ends Of the gentleman who offered these prizes both
last year in the tenementhOuse competition and in tho
present competition, was to attract public attention
1e mpractcabty OF obtaining proper sanitary results
IN existing types of tenementhouses and choolhOuses
This idea IN the tenement-hOuse competition
Of its most valuable features and the Board OF Health
city testify to the value Of the practical
suits arising therefrom The practical end which tho
present competition had in demonstrate to
public the absurdty OF herdng $500 children in
building erected upon lOt 100 feet square, IN the middle
Of tie block. The conditions restricted the number Of
pupils the space to sOO oneihrd Of the pres
ent maximum accommodation, and the result has dem
onstrated that safe, cOmmodious and properly lighted
school FOR 500 pupils cannot be built on an in
closed lot 1OON1OO.
The inference plain that II 500 children cannot 10
accommodated under the existing conditions, then h
criminal to crowd than 1000 children in the
insufficient space. Again, would ask you note that
the committee explicitly state ia their report that
Of the plans received in competition would make excel
lent school buildings placed where they could have
sufficient clear space around them. This also
the verdict OF O number Of school superintendent
and teachers In this other cities who inspected the
plans during the public exhibition, and will probably
suit 10 great extent IN lots being hereafter
lccted for the erection OF school buildings No one,
Think can deny thar the plans whole showed many
admirable uuaiIes that they failed to meet the con-
dltons prescribed "a dcnsey crowded city where land
Is high and where mistaken economy las led The pub
lie 10 consider the saving Of few thousand dollars OF
more importance than the health of 10000 children,
Is certainly nothing 10 their dscredit.
Regarding your statement that II cannot be very
satisfactory to young architects 10 have impossible
conditions imposed" would say that It ght lead the
reader TO infer that only young architects competed and
avoiding the payment OF pIZcs Tbs Is especially tho
case as you did publish the judges report. As
matter met may SKATE that there were more han
100 plans submitted, OF them the best known
trchects m TINS counlryi that there no limit TO the
award ~ the prizes, and lat they were promptly PAID
to the persons drawing the plans which the nen
emeu composing the Board vi Judges decided were thd
best
than isued with the result, and IL The TRIBUNE and
the rest Cf the press viii cooperate heartily IN
forming The sanitary condition OF the schools as hey
did in the tenement-houso movement similar practical
results Will be obtained Respectfully, etc,
Netc. York. March o 1880