The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-04
Vaughan Street schooIhouse.

To the Editor Of the Press:
The chairman of the committee on public
buildings complains that no mention is made
IN my article of the ward room over the eel
lar of this building. The ward room is used
as a school room, fact of which presume
the chairman was not aware, and so it would
seem quite superfuous to mention it, Upon
visiting the schoolhouse today, found stand
ing in the small excavation made by me.
since slightly enlarged by some one, two
inches of water, and in another similar place
dug by some person, there was still more
water. Mr. Pray and the janitor were present
today. The latter says that the cellar has
been improving since the swamp above has
had its drainage turned in another direction.
and that the water which comes in during
heavy rains now drains off through the
gutter depression around next to the
walls, so that the rest of the cellar is as
nearly dry IN the spring and fall as it is now,
which is not saying much, but am glad to
know so much in its favor. Nevertheless,
there is the damp cellar bottom to show for
itself; little under the surface, as the ex-
cayatlons referred to show, it is today little
better than filthy mud" And how much
better is the soaked mass of coal ashes than
1t would be II puddles of water stood ON the
surface? This condition of things as they
exist and are open and patent to all who will
examine, put against the chairman'S asser-
ton OF misrepresentation. This is simply a
question of sanitary precautions. l hear
that DR.. Smith has again visited the prem
lses, and trust that he will favor the public
with some report, and with his opinion as
the city physician. If he, as an expert, after
thorough examination, pronounces it per-
tectly safe beyond question for school chill
dren to occupy the house in spite of the
dampness in the cellar bottom, the COM
mlttee on public buildings may be justified
although doctors might disagree. But if
there Is such degree of doubt about safety
that 1t Is better to have a cemented cellar
then hold that as matter of common pru-
dence it should be drained and cemented.
The best sanitary conditions are not too good
for any school building. This is all have
to say. BYRON ID. VERRII,I.
Sept. 8, 1885.
To the Editor of the Press.
While believing that controversy will
neither remedy sanitary defects nor settle
differences of opinion, | am yet compelled in
justice to myself to ask you to state precisely
the opinion of the City Physician, with ref
erence to the Vaughan street school house,
and this only because have been quoted.
A thorough examination of the building by
Mr.. Goodwin and myself failed to discover
any such condition of affairs as represented
and intimated in the original communication
upon the subject; and careful questioning of
the JanItor, elected no additional evidence,
that he was even disconnected in his work.
and 1t is only fair to assume that he has been
consistent in his answers to others.
My report to His Honor the Mayor, was,
not exactly as quoted in your issue of yester-
day. 1t was that, in my opinion, it is an ex-
ceptionally good cellar, and if it had a ce-
ment floor, it would be much better cellar"
regret that there should have been any
misunderstanding upon that point, since [
nave no desire to be understood as not con-
slderlng cement floor necessary; ON the
contrary, believe it to be waste of time to
even discuss the comparative merits of ce-
mented or non-cemenJed floors for any cellar
especially when eXcavated in locality like
that portion, of Ward Z, comprised in
Spring streets.
Careful and repeated examinations of this
building within the past week have failed to
develop a trace of dampness or its effects
upon walls or ceiling, doors, windows or in
Closets or in papers and books stored therein
during the past vacation; and lnotwithstand-
ing the present season has been far from dry.
the absence of the ordinary dampneSS of
unoccupled buildings is remarkable.
have heard no complaint made of the
water closets; if ventilation there does not
prove to be perfect the addition of venti-
latlng pipe from the trap to the roof will
quickly make it so.
The cellar is as perfect as any cellar with
bare floor can be, and from my examinations
OF the building | am unable to find any
grounds for such structures as have from
time to time appeared and which have done
injustice to the chairman of the committee on
public buildings, and the superintendent of
school buildings. His Honor the Mayor,
affirms that ''the condition of the building
was not represented in either of the commu.
nications referred to-
CHAs. D. SMITH, NJ. d.
City Physician.
126 Free street
Santpmher 10QS