Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-23

line public schools. and a m an who now
has opportunity to inspect the leading
schools of the northwest, spoke of on in
speciing it. as the best build ne he had
ever seen for the cost involved.
In company with President Thomas. of
the school board, who has given the new
building especial pains and attention. an
ARGUS representative was shown through
it this morning. The building is a mon
ument to the enterprise and good judg>
ment of the board of education. 1t is
drawn from plans, as has be -etofore been
stated. furnished by Archittct Hsmmstt,
of Davenport. the original estimated cost
being so. 500. and the amount, when
the building is entirely completed. will
not exceed $4,000; the difference be-
tween which amount and The estimated
cost, being Expended for fitting up the
Ruttsn system of heat and ventilation,
81 500. and the filling. $1.2)0.
The contract for construction was
let to Bick Il Ritchsy; Atkinson
& olof furnished the brick; Lar
kin Il Stephens. the stone; Stephen
OCOnnor did the filling. W lich amounted
to five feet on the average and affords
as pretty grounds as there are in the
state of Illinois with sodled and grass
sown font and play groun1 OF l40 by lis
feet in the rear. A tweivefoot Utica
tile walk leads up to the front entrance
while the walk outside the entire Seventh
avenue length OF the lot OF the same
material. The grounds ire inclosed by
wire fencing with ceds- posts. The
grounds are given sufficient slope and
drainage to keep them con. parstively free
from water at all times, al immense cess
pool of rock having been provided to &C.
commodate the water that comes from
the water pipes and waste at the drink
ing fountains. Provided as il is with the
Ruttsn system of closets and hot air ven-
tilation there is no requirement for sew
erage.
The building presents tn imposing ap-
pesrance in its exterior architectural de-
sign. II is free entirely from ginger
bread ornament, its uniform plsinness
and simplicity being the characteristic
features that first catct the eye and
hold il In admiration. II is of brick
with stone facing and over the front en-
trance the inscription ''P ublic School No.
3. is caryed The structure is two stories
high with attic and tower in front on
woven in which is figure five. and on
the centre Of the building is handsome
flagstaff
The building is entered on the Seventh
avenue approach through broad vesti.
bule. light being admit ed through the
doors through little panes of frost figured
glass, while the transoms are OF gorgeous
opal and Venetian. On the first floor are
four school rooms of comfortable size
with readily accessible cloak rooms. The
rooms are all splendidlV lighted. the tops
of the windows OF the front two being
Venetian glass.
A broad stairway hscenls TO the Sec
ond floor, where are located the princi-
pals room and library and four recitation
rooms. with cloak rooms similar to those
on the first floor.
The basement is reached by two dis
tinct and separate stsirways. The girls
closet and play>roOm are exclusive. and
have Il special stairway. so that there ID
no excuse tor the bo5s or janitor going
into them. Another stairway leads to
the boys closet and Dlay-room. aud also
to the furnace rooms. etc. There il
abundant room in the basement, too, fol-
storage Of fuel.
The different rooms are handsomely
furnished, the ceilings being of hard pine
with wsinscoting Of the same material.
while the walls above the black boards
are painted. Tie furniture. the teachers
desks, teachers cabinets and clocks al
match the woodwork.
In each hall is convenient drinking
fountain and the building throughout il
so designed and arranged that it i.
unnecessary for q child to leave n
between the opening and closing SEES
sions should the weather make i
desirable to stay within doors.
The painting was done by Druckmille
& Co. and the Adams company. tn
plumbing by Davis & Co. and Yerbury
aud the stairways by NJ. Bunker. j. T
Noftsker furnished the locks and Stewar
i Montgomery the wire fencing.