St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-16
STILL HARPING.
The Charges Against the School
Board on the Increase.
Physicians Certificates--A Chance
| for Austin--Steam Heating.

Matters have arrived at such stage
in the board of education matters that
prompt and decisive action is necessary on
the part of the board to prevent a general
burst Of indignation by the parents and tax
payers of the city. The Northwestern
Architect, in its issue to-day, contains
complete treatise on the dangerous condi-
ton of the schools, and one which will
cause the question to be more carefully
investigated by every parent in the city.
Each school has been taken up in turn, and
ventilation and drainage Of each shown in
its true light. The following certificate
from physicians confirms the truth of the
article. The subject has long been more
or less considered. and the explosion has
now come:
The above report having been submitted to
us as the result OF Il careful investigation of
the condition of the Minneapolis public
schools, we unhesitatingly confirm the opin-
on that these sanitary defects are of grave
significance as affecting the health of the
teachers and children who are subjected to
their baneful influence. The suggestions of
reform which it conveys are practical and
timely, and demand the attention of the
school board and of the public.
Z. L.. WELLS, NJ. D.
GEO. f. FRENCH, M. D.
p. l.. HATCH, NJ d.
G. II. HUNTER, NJ d.
Martha G. Ripley, N. D., has also writ
ten letter for the press, in which she crit
iciseS the ventilation and drainage of the
schools.
THE STEAM HEATING.
Martin & Taft have written the GLOBE
letter on the steam heating matter that
will be read with interest.
AS we have been alluded to in the public
prints as firm Of ''digruntled'' plumbers, we
ask for space to define our position in this
school house controversy. About a year ago
we sought opportunity to bid on the heating
apparatus for several school houses, but were
Informed by Mr.. A. G. Austin, to whom we
were invariably referred by any other mem
Der of the board addressed by us, that the
'HaXton system was satisfactory and they
did not care to change. Previous to this Mr..
HaXtun intimated to us that if we would
adopt Ibis CSyStem and use his goods he
would "let US alone on everything except
school houses. He said that he ''had that
work and proposed to keep it,
This spring, by persistent effort and
by sending our Engineer to Mr.. Brittain's
house, and thence to the building in
in course Of erection on Chicago avenue, near
| thirty-fourth street, where he made copies of
the plans (as the only set in existence could
| not be spared from there) we succeeded in
| getting bid before the board, where it was
l
Knowing Mr.. Austin's peculiar views on the
! subject of ventilation, we tried to introduce
| the matter to Mr.. MIXERS attention, but met
| the usual reply, You will have to see A. c.
Austin" MIR. Austin afterward called at our
| office and condemned our scheme, giving as
| his reasons that it included horizontal boiler
| and some indirect radiators" He also
| stated that in his opinion these notions of
| fresh air were all a damned humbug." Our
| representative was later Informed by
Prof. Oftedahl that any communication
| to the board in regard to this matter
would necessarily be referred to the build
! ing committee OF which Mr.. Austin is chair
man." and that nothing short of a case of
| fragrant abuse" could be brought before the
| whole board or corrected without reference
| to and recommendations from the building
committee. Cur plan for the building spoken
| of provided for heating it to roc Fair. in So .
| below zero weather and for supply of fresh
| out-of-doors air of such volume as to give
| 500 cubic feet per hour for each occupant of
| both school and class-roOms, and was accom-
| panied by guarantee that it do it's work.
| Will Mr.. Austin kindly inform the public
| how much is to be paid for one which in
| cludes his OR Mr.. 2Haxtun's system of venti-
| lating which provides ground air already con-
| taminated by the soakage from leaking cess
| pools in the neighborhood and ''freShened''
| by contact with foul privy sinks and urine
soaked wooden floors, overf1owed at,times with
the contents of the ceSspools? In conclusion
let us say that the fulflment OR non-fulfll-
ment of guarantee as to ventilation is sus-
ceptible of as full and certain demonstra-
ton as is the consumption of fuel Yours,
MARTIN & TAFT.