Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-04
sham sCf.n0l Houses,


Sham school Houses,
The destruction OF the jefferson school house by
IRE this morning should put an end to the mania
for erecting great snowy shams of school build
ingS OF sECt-tOwPr height and topped with an
tn1amm3ble lumber yard In the shape OF man
Sard rO0:. Fortunately tAe ire in the Jefferson
building diI not break out in school hours, other
wise the loss of life must have been fearful The
commission appointed TO examine the places OF
public assembly in the District, in their report
upon the public school houses, pointed out
at length the various defects in the
construction of the Jefferson building, making ft
particularly unsafe structure in of fire. 1t was
reported as having capacity for 600 pupils;
greater number than is crowded into any other
building in the District. The stairways, hall
noorS and landings were all Of rood The steam
boilers were located Immediately under the exit
hall The only passage from one end OF the build
Ing TO the other on the first and second floors, was
door in the partition between the two rear chool-
rooms in the center portion OF the structure. The
commission advised that proper doors be provided
% that in case OF fire at one end of the building
the pupils might pass freely to the other They
also advised that the boilers be removed
and placed in separate building at the rear
as soon as practicable; also that the
corridor floors, landings and stairwayS be con-
structed Of hre-proOf material, and that an H.
closed stairway be CONSTRUCTED outside the middle
OF the south wall OF the center building. Had
these recommendations OF the commission been
carried ont. something would have been aided TO
the safety of the inmates, but the radical defects
OF this ShamIny Structure,-the want Of fre-proOr
walls. the dangerous height OF the building, and
the tin1er-b1x rOOf,-couli not have been renetied
short OF a virtual recoEstr Uction of the whole
edifiCe. In : building OF this height the draft up
the Hue and Ventilat0FS is enormous, AMI takes
the Il amos IN to the inGam.aable mss OF lumber
IN the roof with fearful rap.Iity and the Intensity
or fuTnlee. When the fire once reaches the
ma1sari there Is no hope Tor The building. Again,
In structures Of this elevation there is a difficulty
In getting Water to the upper stories to be OF any
adequate service in putting out a fire.
TheSe are some OF the objections to school build
1ngS OF ttf5 height on the score OF dlnyer from
fire; but there other serious ones In regard 10
the effect upon the health OF pupils, especially
girls, who, for physiological reasons, shoIld never
be required 10 climb the many flights OF stairs
requisite TO reach their school rooms, which are
usually at the top OF the house. The verdict OF
MEDICAL authority is that very many school girls
are made invalits for life in this way.
The opinion OF school authorities where the ex-
pertinent has been most fully tried, Is that the
model school building should not be above two
stories in height, and should not contain more
than twelve school ro0sn az the most.
The fnaction OF the ways and means committee
upon the subject OF the tariff led to the suspicion
that IL hal decided to in.t tie its predecessor o:
the FCrty-siXta Congress and adopt the do
nothing policy. The announcement, however, by
member of the committee, during a debate in
the House, that some tariff measure would soon
Dc reported. relieves tae conmitte, OF this SuS-
pfcfon, anu shows that it purposes fair play. The
ways AMI means committee OF the last Congress
earned for itself most unenyiable distinction by
It's course Of sub'erviency 10 the interests of the
protectiontstS- The majority were not satisfied
Ia Il inn 4 IN, in
corporate their principles in all thrift legislation
referred t. the committee. They became bar to
legislation The c0mmittea room was the grave
OF all measures relating II tar H. from which there
was no resurrection Progress towards a correct
understanding OF the tariff by Congress and
the country was stopped By that committed Some
u the most uncompromising advocates OF protec-
ton admit that there are some inequalities and
mcongTuiticS IN the present tirfn, and that a
proper revision Is desirable All admit that It Is
subject which must be carefully studied and
that light from every source Is needed; but the
ways and means committee Of the FOrty-Sixth
Congress refused TO permit any light TO be shed
upon the question, and thus kept the country back
eWo years IN the solution OF the problem. 1t Is
gratifying 10 learn that the present committee has
no intention or setting itself up as the sole Judge
Of what Is needed In the way OF tariff legislation
Astrong plea for more stringent criminal laws
In the District of Columbia is made by correspond
ent In another column OF to-1ay's paper. Abundant
reasons therefor are most clearly shown I'm the
caiiy history OF the city, and 1t would seem that
nothing but the most inexcusable disregard for the
nights OF aw-abding people could longer defer
such legishtion at the hands OF Congress Mean
ome, II Is greatly to be regretted that the ex-
oemest penalties of such laws as we have ara not
enforced In every case. 1t Is tolerably apparent
mat the great prevalence OF crime In our commu
nifty Is as much due TO the mistaken leniency Of
fS1Sr1
iency we have never yet heard any good reason
advanced.
me pennsylvania papers are making harsh