The Portland daily press., 1882-03-02
The usual thanks are returned.
SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Mr.. f. E. Pray reports as follows:
We close the mum icipal year with the addi-
tion of one ne W school house, the Smaller
on North stree t, making sixteen school build
ings belonging to the city, containing 1856
rooms, and one building used temporarily for
the Deaf School containing three rooms max
ing the whole number 1873. have endeavored
during the year to keep the buildings in good
repair, and trust that have met with your ap-
proval. Quite extensive repairs and altera-
tions have been made in Park, Centre and
Chestnut street schoolhouses, The change at
tie Centre street school, is decided improve
ment; the new rooms and furniture were
greatly needle d, as was also the change from
the old priyies to water closets with the privy
sink attached. There has also been added one
new room to the West End School, which will
accommodate about thirty scholars. Special at
tention has been given to all the school build
ings during the year and the necessary repairs
made on them, and still there is much more
that needs to be done. The change from wood
to coal for heating the schoolhouses is very
great improvem ent both in regard to comfort
and economy. notice that the bills for fuel
in 1870, twelve years ago, were about $4900.
This present year, with the addition of two of
the largest size schoolhouses, the Butler and
Smaller (and also the Deaf SCHOOL, making an
increase of twenty rooms more to heat, the
bill for fuel is $4,000. Six of the schoolhouses
are heated by steam, two by furnaces, and
the remainder by coal stoves. And just here |
would call your attention to the condition Of
the boilers in the North School. They are the
Harrison boilers such as were removed from
the High School building three years ago:
They have been in use for fifteen years and
should be discarded and new ones put in this
season. 1t will not be safe or judicious to use
them any longer. Another improvement that
is very desirable is the introduction of gas
into the cellars of the schoolhouses. We have
it only in the North aud High Schools l
would also call your attention to the Smaller
building: to the need of snow-irons on the roof
to protect the children from the slides during
the winter. A small expenditure now may
save much larger one in the future. The
stating on the roofs of the Brackett, Park,
Centre and Chestnut street houses needs thor
ough repairing, and the stairways and floors iE
several of the buildings need to be laid new. l
make these suggestions for your consideration,
hoping that suitable provision will be made
for them in the appropriation that is to follow
We have one more month remaining of the
school year. The amount expended up to the
first day of March for all school purposes, in
Guiding repairs, fuel, furnishing, stationery
books for INDECENT pupils, and school supplies
generally, has been VII, ,4zz.24
Lectures.
Mr.. Clarence Hale had a very interested au-
dience present at his lecture in the Mechanics
course last evening on Alexander Hamilton" 7"
The lecture has been previously reported in
these columns.
The last in the course of Mr.. Ragans lee
lures at City Hall will be given this evening.
The subject is "Glimpses in Scotland" The
children's tickets at half price are selling well.
The Dubuque Herald says:
A Scotch gentleman who heard the lecture
remarked-'I have not been in Scotland for
twenty years. and 1 now feel as though / had
just returned. 1t is one of the best and truest
pictured lectures of my old home l have
heard" The most interesting points were
magnifcently illustrated on mammoth can
yasJ on an area of 250 square feet by means OF
the oxy-hydrogen light. Mr.. Ragan took us
through the famous Glasgow cathedral, ancient
Glasgow and Dumbarton castle. His descrip-
tion of the different places was really interest
ing, and could not help being very instructive.
After taking a coed view of the castles and
Glasgow, Mr.. Ragan's auditors accompanied
him to the Highlands the home of Rob Roy,
the land of Burns, and to every nook and COR
ner of Scotland which was famous in history
either in one way or another.
Portland Mutual Fishing Insurance Co.
The annual meeting of the Portland Mutual
Fishing Insurance Co. was held yesterday af-
ternoon and the following officers elected for
the present year:
President-Wm. H. Chase.
Vice President Henry TrefetheD, Jr.
Treasurer-John III. Russell
Secretary-George w. Rich
| Directors-W William H. Chase, W. S. Jordan,
Henry Trefethen, Jr., and D. L. Fernald OF
Portland, and William T. Maddocks of South
| port.
The usual amount of stock was subscribed
| for.
The company was unusually successful last
year, having insured vessel property to the
amount of $167 ,017.1S, at total cost to the in.
sured of only $3.50, or less than one half of one
| per cent