Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-27
SAFETY FROM FIRE OR PANIC.

| follows:
The Franklin building, at the corner OF 18th and
| streets northwest, has capacity for $40 pupils
The starways and corridors are fireproof and the
exits ample. The steam-heatIng apparatus is well
/ located and safely constructed. The main exit
doors open inward, and should be changed to open
| outward.
| The Thompson building, on 18th street, between
K and streets northwest, has a capacity for 800
| pupils. The stairway and corridor floors are con-
Sructe1 OF wood; the heating Is by portable fur
| nace, which should be removed and replaced by a
safely constructed brick furnace, and the doors
! leading from the rear rooms to stairway should be
reversed. to open outward.
! The Force building, Massachusetts, avenue, be-
tween nth and 18th streets northwest, has a capa-
| city for 20 pupils The corridors and stairways
are built OF hrenroOf material, and the exits and
/ heating apparatus are so well arranged that no
/ suggestions are offered. The report is made
In relation to the building at 10th and streets
| northwest
! west, has capacity for 125 pupils-one room on
first and one on second floor. The building is con-
Structed with narrow wooden stairs to second floor
! and oil the doors open inward. 1t is recommended
| that the doors be changed to open outward.
The building corner of D and 1 streets north
west is a twO-story di!apidafed wooden structure,
accommodating 400 pupils. 1t is totally unit for
Use as School-hOuse, and. being constructed en-
| tirely OF combustible material, with low ceilings.
no ventilation, and two narrow stairwayS to sec
ond floor, would, in case OF fire, endanger the lives
OF the occupants 1t Is recommended that it be
| The Lucas building, Old street and Pennsylvania
avenue northwest, is four stories high, with one
school-roCm on each floor; capacity about 200
pupils. The doors In this building all open in
ward. The stairway Is OF wood and narrow. II
Its occupancy for school purposes is contemplated
! for any length of time, 1t is suggested that the
| doors be changed TO open outward; but on ac-
count OF the height OF the building 1t is advisable
| that it be vacated as soon as other rooms more
convenient and safe can be obtained.
The Henry building street, between 9Th and
1tn streets northwest, has capacity fer 40
hre-proof material; the exits are ample, aud the
heating apparatus so safely located and construct
ed That no suggestions are made.
The Riggs building, n, between 1St and I'd
STREETS northwest, has a capacity for 600 pupils
The single narrow stairway and corridor floors are
| of wood. and in the opinion of the commission
not sufficient in case Of a panic. The rear exit
/ door should be increased In width. The commits
sion found the outer door leading to the street
locked; 10 protect the cbiirens clothing. which Is
| hung In the halls. 1t Is recommended that the
Racks pc placed in the rooiils and the doors kept
open; al5o tn II the rear outside steps and plat
form be increased in width ana extended on the
outside to the second floor, and wide exit door
cut on tails floor TO connect With the outside steps.
As there are fire plugs near this building it is
recommended that at least three be placed in the
vicinity.
The Seaton building, ON !. between 81 and 81
streets northwest, has a capacity for 200 pupils.
TIE heating apparatus is safely located and con-
strac,ed; ths st arWays and exits are ample, and
| WOOD, there is no fault to be found.
The Lee building, Immediately opposite the Sea-
TON, mas capacity for 300 pupils. 1t WAS erected
for dwelling; the STAIRWAY is narrow ana OF
wood; there Is a want OF proper ventilation, ana
there are other detects, and the commission con-
sid Nr ii unit for public school purposes
The Abbott building. corner 9Th street and New
! YORK avenue northwest. has capacity for $40
pupils The exits and statrways are ample, but OF
WOOD 1t is heated by hot air furnaces, which it is
| ADVISED be removed and steam-heating apparatus
The Peabody building, southwest corner of C
and 9Th streets northeast, has capacity for 72o
pupils. This building, with Its wide, Spacious
nails and stalrways, constructed of fre-prOof ma
teral, its ample exits and heat
ing apparatus, the commission Consider superior
10 any school building in the District
Inc Hai ala building, on PENNSYLVANIA avenue,
pacity Tor $50 pupils. The exits are ample, the
st etng apparatus IS slfely eonstructed the
with iron frame and wooden steps, the rail and
DlliSterS are 0f wood: they are light and fimSy,
ana az would almost certainly give way by pressure
In case of panic. 1t is advised that iron or slate
steps, and iron hand-rail and balusters be substi-
tuIed for the wood as speedily as possible.
The Cranch building, at the southwest corner of
III and g streets southeast, has a capacity for
40 pupils. The exit doors from rooms to stair
ways open inward and should be reversed che
Railways and st,irs are Father small for the num-
Ger OF pupils In the two upper stories, and as they
cannot be Increased, the building OF an enclosed
stairway at the rear, OF sufficient capacity is
recommended. The stean:heating applratus is
safely located and CONSTRUCTED
Inc mccormick building, on 81, between NJ and
streets southeast has capacity for 240 pupils.
Inc exits and stairway are thought to be ample
for the number OF children accommodated
Inc Jefferson building, on the southeast corner
OF 9th and ID streets southwest has capacity for
500 pupils. In this building ire crowded a greater
number OF pupils than in any other In the District
III S provided with two wooden StarWayS, stu
ated near each end OF the building. The hall,
floors and landings are OF wood. The steam boil
efS are located Immediately under the exit hall
IN the tnifu story Is large hall, capable Of seat
ing 500 persons The only passage from one end OF
the building to the other on the first and second
floors, Is door In the partition between the two
rear school ROOMS In the center portion OF the
structure 1t is advised that similar doors be placed
In the partition between the front rooms in the
II, 1rt at op6
the pupils may pass freely to the other. 1t Is also
suggested, that the boilers be removed from their
present poSt!Gn and placed in separate building
at the rear az scOn practicable. Also. that the
corridor floors, landings and sta1rways be CON
closed stairway be constructed outside the middle
OF the south wall Of the center building.
The Potomac building, on 18th, between Mary
land avenue and street, AMI the Greenleaf build
Ing, on ~. between NJ and n streets southwest,
are similar in cOnstruction-capacity, $40 pupils
each. The exits are sufficient, but the doors All
open inward. Ii is recommended that all the doors
be changed to open outward, and that the position
of the stoves now In the halls be changed rs they
are SO placed as TO greatly interfere with the ex
The Curtis building, on street, between ssi
and S3d streets northwest, has capacity for 4SO
pupils The stairways, halls and exits are annie
and the steam heating apparatus is well located
and safely constructed: On the third floor of this
building IS an exhibition hall capable OF seating
800 persons The stairways leading to this half
and continuing to the galleries are Of wood, and
should fire occur in the lower part OF the build
a
OF life might ensue.
AT the rear OF the Curtis building and fronting
ON street Is three story brick building used for
public schools, with capacity for $50 pupils 60 on
each hoOr. The stairway is very narrow, and the
building old and entirely unfit for school purposes
and IN the opinion OF the commission should be
abandoned
The building on the northeast corner Of Pros
pect and Lfngan streets northwest has capacity
Tor 2f0 pupils All the doors open Inward and
should be reversed
o, The High street building on street, between
81 ana 80 streets northwest has capacity for 240
pupils 1t Is wooden structure, two stories high.
The starways and exits are ample, but the north
doors should be changed to open outward.
The Montgomery building, 18th street be-
tween Nj and n streets northwest, has a capacity
for 24Opupiis This building is considerably below
the grade. and Is damp, and unfit for school pur-
poses. Unless repaired and the dampness and de-
fects are remedied, 1t should be abandoned. The
exits for the number OF pupils are sufficient but
! the doors all open inward, which should be
changed TO open outward.
The z, sumner building, northeast corner Of 18th
and NJ streets northwest, has a capacity for GO
pupils The exits are sufficient but the stairWays
are OF wood, steep, and on account OF long flights
would be very dangerous in case OF panic The
door in the center OF the hall the 21 story should
| be removed. IL is also recommended that stair
ways and hall floors be removed and properly re-
Il