National Republican., 1883-11-14
Regular Monthly Meeting Of the Trustees at
the Franklin Building.
Report Of the Very Bad Condition Of
the Stevens Building,
Which Sboud Bo Carefully Read by the In
spectOr Of Buildings and the Commissioners.
Reports on other School Buiidings-other
Business Transacted.

regular monthly mceblnB ycSteIuby evening,
with Mr.. b. II. Warner in the chair and Mr.. c.
B. Rheem secretary. In addition there were
present Messrs. Clark, Curtis, Purvis, Brooks.
and Smith.
Applications from John p. Mills, Mary
Mason Dodge, Mary II. Dyer. Edna d. Scott,
and Josie +. Sheehan for teachers positions,
aud from Thomas y. Galleher and l.. Locke
for janitors places, were received and referred.
Referring 10 communication from the man
ayers of the Ragan illustrated lectures propos
ing to give q children's day, Mr.. Curtis offered
n resolution that the teachers be permitted to
mention the subject to the children, which
was adopted.
1t was announced that the first quarterly
examination of the Washington normal
school would take place in the normal school
room, franklin building, on Friday next, tho
sixt enth' Instant, from $3.50 q. IN. to 1890 p. M.
Mr.. CIatk nominated Mr.. Maddox as jani-
tor of Cranch school building, to take effect
Nov. 12, 1885, which was referred.
Mr.. Purvis from the committee on janitors,
reported excusing the janitor of the Randall
school building from the charges against him
of absence from duty.
Mr.. Brooks, from the local committee of tho
seventh division, made the following report
on the dangerous condition of the Stevens
school building.
1t says:
The outer walls Of the building are of brick, but
for strength. This building is two stories and
basement, with mansard roof, the attic being
fitted for temporary use as school rooms. All the
inner partition walls are of studdng. The tounda-
uons OF the building are built upon made earth.
and have been gradually sinking until all of t. Q
inner walls have sunk two aud four inches, carry
ing the floors out of level.
In the plan OF construction no cloak rooms were
provided, so that all wrappings of pupils and
teachers must be hung In the school rooms No
means whatever for ventilation were provided,
and ull attempts since made to secure ventilation
have proved Intellectual.
Therefore, at the present time, children are as.
sembled In school rooms without any other means
than lhe windows ior ventilation, aud during in
element weather when they cannot with safety be
ortned the teachers and children are compelled
10 remain In an unventilated room during the
whole of a school session:
radiatlon; Cast iron coils are placed in large
boxes at the ceilings of the four basement rooms
Cold air is introduced, and the bin boxes con-
nec;ed by pipes opening in the school rooms
above, supplemented by cast iron direct coils
placed In each school room. The boiler is stu.
a.ed in the southwest basement room, the top of
which is covered with sand 10 prevent loss Of
heat. L ress from the building is obtained from
e first or main floor through wooden por'icos
and Always about twenty feet above the area.
The yards have been filled up about six feet above
t'e ascment floors, and stone retaining wall
Duilt around the building.
On account Of the fiaiiness of the third or loft
itry, and the vibrations of the roof during wind
- rms II WIS determined, afler three panics had
Occurred at the building to abandon the use of
u, -, part OF the building for school purposes, and
Ila not since been used. The northwest base
m Mt room was fitted up as water closet for the
..uOS, with a Wooden ventilating duct opening
'n the center of the room, and carried through
,h> bu ldng 20 the smoke stack on the south side.
very unsatisfactory king of the ventilator, COM
p,l.d their removal, and the closing OF the
i,'m. Closets were then provided by cover.
-ijaS .e'ainipg wall and the building, the he
n"ith side for. girls and teachers aud
uemcr ior the storing of coal and using of the
rear windows Ms coal shoot to bring the coal into
The boiler room. This alteration was made about
Six years ago 10 meet the demand for immediate
change, for sanitary reasons. The alterations at
the time were regarded Us necessary to meet the
iempoTary in their nature. The south partition
wall between the boys closet and the coal bin
and part OF the closet for the boys is now under
niaed by the caying in of the earth. causing
he wall to crack badly, and to be In imminent
danger of falling. The great weight of the
eLst iron coils in the binns IN some of the rooms
bna also been a cause of serious anxiety, and
tIere are indications that they are not sui
fcently supported These have been propped up
should not be allowed to remain in this State for
fear Of falling aud destroying life. The condition
OF these bins Is such as warrants the local com;
mittee in reporting TO the board that II would
seem to be criminal 10 allow the building 10 be
occupied when the danger is so imminent of a ter
rible accident and loss OF life; The port!eo
is In very dangerous condition. The
carriages have rotted and commenced to give way
at the top, lowering tEe staitways about two
inches and causing the top step at the tread TO be
about two inches lower than the floor of the
porlico, making 1t dangerous to descend. num-
Der Of childIen have already fallen down the
steps In attempting to desceud The local COM
mitee has directed that temporary props
be put under the car riages of this portco, and
ported It's condition directly to the commissioners
The sanitary condition OF this building as
public school Is unsatisfactory and In violation OF
inc laws OF health and, ii not remedied, is likely
TO result in such diseases as typhoid fever, diph-
theria, scarlet lever, and such other levers as re-
suit from want OF proper ventilation aud sewer
When it is remembered that we have tif cen
schools, with about 900 child en- attending these
schools, the Importance Tor giving prompt atten-
tion W its safety aud thus securing the children
against possible injury and death, becomes an i'm
auS sSspeSduo Of P'' soo ''9%sss or ssSc
in the paItiouisis named by the committee to the
extent OF guarding against injury aud loss OF life.
II would be absolutely criminal in the committee
aud this board to longer permit these great risks
ofprobable injury and loss Of life to the children
1t is, therefore, recommended that the condition
OF this building as herein set forth, be reported to
the commissioners Of the District OF Columbia, aud
that they be requested to direct that prompt at
tention be given To such repairs as may be found
absolutely necessary 70 gu9ld against accident.
ent plan and condition warrant, the committee
IN submitting the following additional recon-
feei), which is ample, be retained, and a new
twelve room building, at a cost not exceeding
4O0OO, be erected thereun; that the stone now
used for the area retaining walls, excellent ma
terial be used for the Foundation of u new buili-
lug, aud also that the brick of the present build.
ing be used IN Its construction. This, upon
grounGs Of economy and present convenience of
location ns school center in this division. wOu. I'd
seem to be the best plan for meeting the pressing
emergency for other and safe school accommoda.
tons,
In discussing the resolution, Mr.. Brooks
said he would not take the responsibility Of
having children in this building while it il
in its present condition. 1t is really traI
of destruction. He described what shifts had
been taken in this matter to keep the build.
ing open as q school. The weight of man'i
body on the roof will shake the bnilding. 1t
was q sanitary nuisance. He had three
times complained to the commissioners abou
it, and finally concluded he would be direlic
in his duty If he did not call the attention o
the board TO this matter.
Mr.. Clark offered the following resolution
Resolved That the board accept the report Of th'
local committee, seventh division, aud refer thu
ing such immediate action rs is required TO MAKE
the Stevens school building secure.
DIR. Purvis moved to amend by inserting thu
words, land adopt" after accept" and mad,
strong speech in behalf of his amendment.
Some discussion was had before the repor
was accepted.
Gen. Curtis said he did not wish to present
such strong report to the commissioners
Mr. Brooks did not care how strong was tbs
report, The terribly dangerous condition o
this building deserved a strong report.
DR. Purvis agreed with Mr.. Brooks.