Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-18

II ie more than trsJhasle that the are was
burning quietly for hours before II Was discoy-
cred. and that during that time 1t was spread.
ing through the air ducts along undcr the iloors.
ana up in the spaces behind the lath both in
the outer aud inner walls until Il fnaiIy burned
through the floor. seized upon the castings aad
wainscoating. thus producing a light i'm one or
more of the rooms which. showing through the
windows. Was the means of its discovery ut
about S:2a am.
In regard TO
CHANGE OF STR,
whiie your committee are Of the opinion that it
is not good policy. as general rule. to erect
buildings containing over twelve school rooms.
both because of The greater danger from disease
and from fires aud paaics arising from the con-
ceniration OF such large numbers of scholars In
one building, and also because by a judicious
distribution Of the school buildings i'm different
localities, the children viii nave less distance
10 70 ia storm! weather. and the public be
thefeoy better accommodated. and noiwith.
standing the proximity Of the railroad tracks TO
the present site. STILL In view of all the circum-
stances-the large grounds the central location
anu the manifest economy OF restoring the pres
ent building, together with the difficulty If NOT
impossbity of securing other sites equal, good
ana IN suitable localities. nj any reasonable
prlce-your committee are of the opinion that il
VIII be better 10 retain the present site LA re-
gard TO that portion of the resolution instruct
amount necessary to rc,Eir the damage done
your committee hare TO report that an estimate
Is being made 10y the inspector OF buildings
which the committee were unable 10 procure in
time to include in this report. The committee.
however. will state that il is thought the build
ing can Ice restored at a cost of about $50 oeo-
possibly somewhat less
WHAT THE COMMITTEE DO NOT FAyor
The committee are not, however i'm favor OF
rebuilding il in the manner it was for obvious
reasons.
In reference to the resolution iustructIng the
committee to consider the prac;icability OF
erecting
TEMPORARY oNE-SToRY FRAME BUILDINGS
Tor the immediate use of the schools, your CON-
mlttee have net considered it advisable for the
reason that arrangements are being perfected
by which the schools will be able TO get along
until the building can be rebuilt, to accomplish
which steps are already being taken by the
proper authorities.
In this connection your committee feel II their
duty to call special attention 10 the fact as
stated by the architect. Mr. Cluss. (whom the
committee met at the building that
THE HORIZONTAL WOODEN AR-pucrs
leading from the school-rooms TO the main air
ducts, which latter connect with the brick
stacks, and which main air-ducts as well a.
those over the cloak rooms were formed by a
counter ceiling placed about two feet below the
wooden joists and floor above. ,couJd necessarily
De means OF causing RAPID spread Of FIRE ~
any budding Ule1e they used; and inasmuch
as this same plan of counter ceilings composed
OF combuatible material. il provided for but not
yet completed. in the High school and the two
twelreroom school buildings now in course III
erection, your committee take this opportunity
of expressing their unanimous opinion that
such construction should be discarded, and that
a sufficient number of
VERTICAL BRICK FIUEs
should be provided to enable eacn school and
cloak room to be ventilated directly into said
brick fues, similar TO the plan adopted at the
Peabody school building. Fortunately, this al
teration can be made without much additional
cost. and in view of the increased safety and the
better ventilation of the rooms your committee
earnestly recommend that the honorable Dis
trict Commissioners be requested to have SUCH
alterations made before il is too late"