National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-18
soME sENsInLE SUGGESTIONS.
reriIs rrom the Present Architecture of
pubIic Edi0ccs

10 the Editor Of TuE REpuRLiCANi
There seems to bel sort of mania here and else
where for the erection Of tfcgant and expensive
ediflces Tor places devoted to public worship cdu-
cation, and entertainment while ut the same time
there appears TO be phenomenal, if not ctimi-
nal, neglect Of the proper means Of preserving,
health and protecting life IN their architectural
arrangement. The late firo in the JeiIcr-
son School building points with much em-
phnsis to this fact IL is admitted on
all hands that n that conlagratlon had
occurred during school hours the loss Of life must
have been very sad, so defective was the means Of
cgrcss under anything like panic. In view Of
the circumstance that the fire occurred in the
night, when IL might have taken place while the
edifce was full OF children, and the rapidity with
which the flames spread, it is not strange that n
feeling Of alarm has been awakened in the public
mind, together with n serious dstrust OF the judg
ment and wisdom that have marked the nrchitec
tural construction OF our public buildings
THE DESIRE ron oREANENrATToN
seems to have captured all ideas ofproper ventia-
ton to guarantee health, protection against fire,
and the preservation OF life IN case of conhagrn-
ton while occupied. The ventilation is uniformly
bad, and the means, or want Of means, Of cgrcss
under excitement is still reprchensible, per-
haps Fortunately, no serious calamity has as yet
overtaken our city in the way Of connngration
with loss of lie, but our escape can be at
tributod more to the fact that no serious
fires have occurred than to tho SAFE
guards provided in the proper construc-
tion Of our public edifces For the defects that
occur In the construction Of our public buildings
our municipal authorities are alone responsible
as our school-hOuses are constructed precisely M
they determine and direct. If loss Of life shall
occur in our school-buldings under panic Gre
ated by fire the blood of the little ones sacrificed
architectural arrangements of those ediiices
WASHINGTON Is JUSTLY PROUD
of Its Ere department. for II is among the most
effective, under full supply of water. of any IN
the country; but the duty Of our District govern.
ment does not end with that provision. 1t Is
equally important that II shall provide through
severe requirement for henlthful ventilation TO
our public ediaces, and ample means of egress
from all public places where multitudes of our
people assemble for the purposes of worship odu-
cation, entertainment, or toll Those In authority
can only acquit themselves of responsibility,
should disaster of this character overtake US
by providing ample means OF escape should n con &.
tlagration occur The primary consideration with
them should be 10 preserve health and life in the
construction of public edinccs and especially our
school, houses, leaving the matter of ornamental
tinn IN architecture as secondary. Now that stops
are being taken for the rebuilding of the Jefferson
school house an admirable opportunity is offered
to our city fathers TO introduce
REFORMS IN ARCHITECTURE.
The architect should be especially instructed to
provide for healthiul ventilation, security against
fire, and ample safeguards TO life In case another
contlagration shall overtRke the property. These
PRECAUTIONS, carefully and skillfully introduced,
VIII alone present our authorities blameless in
the public eye. The health and life of our or
spring should never be sacrificed upon the altar
OF pnrslmOny economy, or mere show, for even
education Itself Is OF little value to Il dead child
or to one whose future is beclouded by ill-health
contracted through foul vapors engendered by
improper ventilation. c.