Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-14
A Warm Discussion About the COndi-
ton Of the Stevens Building.

CHILDREN WERE ENDANGERED THE BUILDING
WOULD BE REPAIRED-NEw BUILDINGS RECON-
MESDED BY THE COMMITTEE BUILDINGS AND
REPAIRs-oTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED By THE
BOARD.
I At the regular monthly meeting OF the school
board last evening applications Tor teacherships
were received from May II. Dyer Mary Mason
Dodge, Edward d. Scott. John B. Mills and Josie F.
sheehan. and for janitors' position from Thos. S.
Galleier and Lloyd P. Locke. The nomina ton by
Mr.. Clark. of Mr.. Maddox as ianitOr OF the Cranch
schOoI building was referred. Mr.. Purvs, from the
committee on Janitors- made report exonerating
the janitOr OF the Randall building from charges
against him. alleging absence from duty.
me abstract OF reports OF superintendent for the
III o{n OF October shovel that the whole number
ance, u, 4b1; number of teachers employed. 525.
THE STEVENS SCHOOL BUILDING
MI BROOKS. from the local committee Of the sew
enth SUBDIVISION, HI he an extended report. aeg-
ln@ thatthe condition of the stevens school build
Ing. in which fifteen coored schools with about 100
Children attending located Is in most danger
Gus condition. The report refers to the fran CON
Sirction OF the building, and says the found tons
ol the Hutlun@ are built upon made earth. and have
pen srd'ij',tiiy sinking until all Of the inner walls
NJ VI SUM- two and four inches Carrying the floors
out Of level II is ale" ID also thlt no means what
ever were provided for ventilation in the constrlc-
tlo nf IA" building and al attempts since made
s1tUTe EtIi'iiitt nave prove! Intellectual. EgrosS
! from the building i, obtained from the first
/ Or main floor. through wooden porticos and
statWayS about twenty feet alb ne the
area. On account OF the fratlness OF the third or
Ion story. and the vibrations OF the roof during
wind etoIhS. iu vas determined, after three panicS
had occurred 1T the building. 10 abandon the use Of
That part OF the building for school purposes and
II has not since been used The riunrt refers to
the iu~anitaFy condil ion OF the premises caused bv
the unfortunate location Of closets and the crack
ing OF the walls in the rear OF the closets caused by
The Gazing Ill of the earth. ANA saws the great
weight nj the east iron coils in The bins in some
ol iilt rooms mas also hcen a cause OF serious
ANXIETY. aud there are Indications TINT they are
h' Huiich,itly supported. The condition OF these
bins is such warrants the local committee in re-
poIiii- 10 The beard that It WOup seem to be GRIM
mai To allow the building To be occupied when the
danger is 80 Imminent o. terrible accident and
loss or life Attention is called also to the danger
ottS condition OF the east p1rtico \ number of
chltdrt( have already fallen down the steps in
attempting 10 descend. With an expenditure OF
slto OF s"D, the report said. the building can be
li':t secure Ia the particulars named by the
lnlt1re 10 The extent OF guarding against injury
and loss OF lie 1t would IL absolutely criminal in
the committee and the board to longer hermit
the,e graf risks Of probable injury and loss of life
TO The children by the insecurity OF this building
ne report ree9min"nied that the Commissioners
I" requested TO direct that prompt attention be
given 10 such repairs may be found absolutely
necessary 10 guard against accident; and that a
no. tWclVe-room building I've erected on the pres
ciit site. n cost hot exceeding $4,000 the Stone
ana brick iii the present structure to lie utilized in
I the erection O1 the new huil,linG.
AwARN DEBATE.
Therep0rt evoked a warm discussion
Mr.. Clark offered resolution that the board ac-
cepf The, report and refer it 20 the Commissioners
requesting such immediate action as is required to
make the building secure.
DE- Purvi5 offered an amendment to ''accept and
I adopt the report
Mr. Curtis objected to ssadCntinr, the ronort IJa
HiSlsi'4! mat the recommendations concerning a
new building shor'd come from the committee ON
buildings and repairs.
Nj. Clark, chairman Of the committee on build
IhSs anu repairs. said that he had two months ago
h"i dangerous. and that there We're other build
lhSs that needed repairs more than that
MR.. BROOKS AsSAII-S THE BUILDING INSPECTOR.
Mr.. Brooks declared with much emphasis that
the commissioners the District and the Inspector
OF buildings would not rest fifteen minutes If a
building containing nine hundred white children
was III the condition OF the stevens building. "Anv
Inspector. he continued "who says that building
Is safe ought to ba branded as incompetent Ii is
aii outrage on intelligence Tor any man Ia sv thnt
II q building Is In that condition it is safe and as
ior Us sanitary condition ii isn't fit for hog to be
III. il yon want to eat dccenl pork"
III PurviS said that If the Inspector OF buildings
m3e report differing from thar OF the local com
hltt ana any accident occurred the responsibility
Mijtte.
MIR smith, urging the adoption of the report, said
tlt Iii his division nine closets Were torn out in
putting IN no air furnaces and the buildings left in
that co: ditD Though resou ion had been
adopted 10y the board on the subject the Inspector
OF buildings had not even given the buildings an
examination.
DON'T KNOW WHO Is RIGHT.
MI Curtis, In opposing the adoption OF the report
said he was willing to endorse the Recommendation
OF the report. but he thought it was asking too
much to ask the board to endorse the statement OF
facts MI. Curtis said he did not know whether
the local committee was right or whether Mr.
EntWi>e was right.
Mr.. BROOKS, iii further comment rr1on the renort
coinpihed that not ten cents out OF dollar OF the
repair fund was expended upon the colored schools
;, Inc vote upon Dr. Purvis resolution was taken
~ should consider 1t glory to record my VOTE"
said Mr.. Brooks.
~ WHAT, asked Mr. Curtis, who did not under
stand what Mr.. Brooks said.
~ glory" repeated Mr. Brooks: and, referring to
MT. EntWl,le's statement, lie added ''If he has
made such a report Ii Is an outrage"
Dr. lurvis' amendment was lost, the three white
trustees present. Messrs. Warner Curtis and Clark
voting against it and the three coored trustees
Mes,fS. PuryiS Brooks and Smith, voting for 1t.
Mr.. Clark resolution was then adopted.
Dr. lurvis offered resolution, which was
related To a new building be referred to the COM
mittee on buildings ana repairs to report at the next
meeting Of the board.
NEW BUILDINGS RECOMMENDED
Mr.. Clark, from the committee on buildings and
repairs made report which was laid over for con-
Sderati0n until the next meeting. 1t recommends
the erection In central location Of an eight-rOOm
building where number OF primary schools are
needed and where rooms can be set aside for the
normal school 1t suggests also that In the con-
Structi0n OF new buildings the movement In favor
OF industrial and kindergarten schools should be
considered 1t reported balance 81 OPS 45 on hand
out OF $1,000 appropriated for repairs for the wear
The report says that Of the five new buildings all-
thorKed TO be erected during the current year the
TWO in the county are now completed and Occupied:
the others will. 1t is expected be furnished bv the
l3Jn or December. In the order OF their urgency
as a matter OF economy and safety a twelve room
building Is needed in the northwest portion OF the
mrs. lS0n. To take the place OF the unsafe build
lE II The corner OF 29d and streets The over
Crowded condition Oh the Peabody building and the
DuilGllg on 9th street, between and G. northeast
m.the> necessary new cght-roOm building for
primary grades at some point OF 9th street and
north or Maryland avenue northeast. The Chan-
btrlain building at Georgetown should be
abandoned ut an early day, and al eight
r0pl building be provided in that locality
10 accommodate the small children residing be-
tween 9TH and 4th streets west. Missouri avenue
ami b street northwest. there should be an eirht
room building erected for primary grades east Of
t and west OF ith streets northwest and north Of
/ street north.
/ Economy seems to Indicate that lot should be
puf' based IN the 1olrth school division at some
point west or 10Th and east OF Iith street, Wrcn
Maryland avenue and street south. in view
/ OF The SparSity or available lots, advancing
; market AMI the fact that very soon n
school building VIII be needed in that section
/ The committee recommended The adoption of reSO-
lutl0h> setting forth ''that in the opinion OF this
bDari the public oOlintereSi require erection
during the next fiscal year or buildings and the DUR
chase OF lots follows
C,ic IL tho St ui'inoh. s3G OC0
. one east OF 9th street east. ~ Dn