The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-04
THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
mr.. Jordan's Report as to Its Heat
Ing and Ventilation.

The following appeared in last evenings
Advertiser
To the Editor of the Advertiser:
You have asked me for an account Of the
conditions that / found and the deductions
that / would make regarding the heating
and yentilating scheme in the High School
building. l am willing to respond because
do not think that system of heating and
yentilating that has proved itself admirable
elsewhere, should be condemned for what
believe to be certain minor faults of applica-
tion, which have been magniied by the eff
fects of an extraordinary duration of very
cold weather. 1t was not alone public build
ings that failed, but many private houses,
where every effort had been made, were very
insufficiently warmed, and deluged ty burst
ing pipes.
Without attempting to describe technically
the civilians method / will endeavor to
explain those things that think are fairly
evident tl most close observers. have ex-
amined the building on several OCCASIONS
lust before the present scheme was COM
menced, upon its completion last fall and on
Thursday last, in company with DIR. Gran
dali. 1t is building ill adapted to placing
in it for q reasonable sum the advanced
methods of heating and ventlating. 1t was
formerly heated in an unsatisfactory man.
ner, and no method of ventilation existed
that to any degree was constant factor
We can all recall the ills that have been FOR
wears attributed to these combined defects.
/ found that the present system contem-
plates. by the arrangement Of the piping, a
more general diffusion of uniform heat
throughout the rooms, and the, positive re,
moval of the vitiated air, by the means OF
the old chimney 1ues through which a con
slant current is induced by steam coil
placed in the fiue at its base. We all know
how imperative for ventilating purposes q
cold chimney flue is in the winter In TACT
the current is likely to be downwards for
rooms, the yentilating dues are
side of the room, and this fact die
tated the position of the heating pipes upon
the inner side walls, a less desirable position
for them. Before speaking of what found
in the cellar. will state, that with steam in
quantity sufficient to give the rooms a habi-
table temperature, say 6SO, the ventilation
was found and will be found in every room
fairly perfect. / should still expect that
with the wind in certain quarters and irregu-
lar in pressure, there would be temporary
down pushes. | do not view such defect as
belonging to serious class; and such as II
| is, it can be made much less frequent In va
rious ways. The temperature as | passed
| though the building was from 680 to 700, and
| every ventilating flue was acting with de-
| sired force. Any one who recalls the terri
| BILE condition as to ventilation that was so
| common formerly in the various rooms in the
| building, could not fail to be impressed by
| the improvement in them today.
| In the cellar may be seen the long lines OF
wooden conduits which carry the fresh air
| from the outside of the building to the heat
| ed pipes, where it is warmed, and then dis
charged into the various rooms above. This
| undoubtedly Is one of the most healthful
| methods of heating, but requires much
| greater steam-making capacity and con-
1 sumption of coal, to maintain the desired
| standard, than the other less sanitary meth
DDS, usually pursued Inc wooden "a fresh all ar
better ones would be equally as useless un-
| less some one is assigned the duty of taking
| the snowbanks away from their inlets,
l would not want to claim the utter made.
/ quacy of the present boilers in the high
| school building to meet the requirements moi
infrequently demanded of them but 1t seems
| to me that il is quite improbable that they
| will be able to heat the Chestnut street schoo
| and maintain the desired form of heating
| aud ventilating. laid out for the high schoo
| building during such weather as we can nat
| Undoubtedly there have been defects, and
| a lack of adjustment and familiarity with thu
| new method, all of which has been very for
| clDly brought out Dy tne Unusually protIdct
| ed duration of very cold weather. The pres
| ent janitor claims to have, and undoubtedly
| has overcome much of 1t.
| That the conditions during thelate terribly
/ severe weather were very uncomfortable
| and unsanitary is painfully evident on thu
| ceiling and walls, In the saturation marks
| from ruptured water pipes. The sight is {
| familiar one and lesson to many careful
| parent in the homes of children, as well as tt
| the high school ianitor
/ &boe hae rfai "a dqfQQfc in H.,
| application is evident; but it seems equally
| evident to me, that with proper adjustment'
and intelligent service and the present boil
ers relieved of the Chestnut street school
house heating, it will be found fully as val
| liable and satisfactory as the problem Of
adapting an old building to new methods
| presents.
e. C. JORDAN.