The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-11
GEO. y. BURGESS,
Secretary Board Of Health.

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
September 25. 1890.
To the Committee on Public Buildings:
More than two years ago, as result resi- Of an
made report. upon the sanitary condition
of the outbuildings connected with the
North school house, and at intervals since
have called the attention of members of
your committee to the matter.
AN examination was also made of the
premises by the secretary of the State Board
OF Health, part Of whose report we incor-
p0Iated In our report made February %,
1889, In the following words: 1.-THE whole
system OF disposing of excreta is utterly
abominable, and should be Immediately
abolished" An examination of the premises
again before the writing Of our last report.
which revealed the fact that nothing had
been done, caused us TO repeat the words
"abominable" with the addition that, If any
stronger word had occurred to us we should
have used it.
Now at the end of more than two years we
find that nothing has yet been done to make
the premises fit for decent children to occupy
and which 10 their present condition con-
stantly invite disease and it may be death.
We cannot believe that you are fully in
formed of the condition of the premises as
they exist at the present time.
The North school, according to the last re-
port of the school committee, had enrolled
lilo pupils, with an average attendance of
OOZs lOE lilo CUuftuloDCe VI buoS6 pupils, is
furnished only one huge privy vault, serving
alike for teachers and pupils, both boys and
girls
The building covering this vault has par
tltlons, separating into various comDart-
ments the accommodations, such as they are
for teachers and girls on one side of the
building, and on the other side for boys.
On the boys side, evidently for ventilation
the windows are taken bodily from their
frames, and the openings thus left partially
xxTSk
dows on the girls side are also left open,
presumably for the same purpose. Through
these openings the wind blows, for the most
part, unrestricted, and as there are no parti-
lions in the vault below when the wind
blows through the windows on the boys
side it finds outlet on the side of the teach
ers and girls, and vice versa, depending upon
the direction of the wind; in each case, how
ever, the air in passing through the vault be-
comes charged with sickening and n0xious
sometimes penetrate the school rooms them
selves. In the present method of ventiat-
ing the building, where the air Is taken for
the various rooms nearly at the level of their
floors, we see no reason why such OdOrs may
not be drawn into the rooms at any and all
times.
To reach this building teachers and pupils
must pass from the school rooms, out of
doors, exposed to whatever weather may be
prevailing, and in the winter season of ne
Coooiby SOluB lTOLu u l6iupbTdLuT6 OI ~ OF
thereabouts, to zero and upwards. 1t does
not need any statement from US to infom
you what the almost certain result of such
exposure must be.
The urinals for the use of the boys, and
the building in which they are situated, are
entirely untitled for the use to which they
are put; not only are the leaky troughs the
source of inexpressible filth, but the leaky
roof which is In too advanced a stage of de-
cay to admit of repairs, adds to the DIRT and
discomfort Add to this its exposed condi-
tl0n, from which cause, in the coolest wealth
er the urine freezes, and the only method of
removal is to cut it out in blocks, in which
form it is piled up in the lower part of the
building to await thaw.
In view of this state of things is it at all
strange that parents request that their chill
dren may be allowed to attend school in 9TH
er districts, or withdraw them entirely from
that school and send them to private
schools2 l. 1t strange that the principal of
the school feels Obliged to give permission to
pupils who reside in the neighborhoOd to
go home rather than use the conveniences
~ which the city has provided?
Both these statements are true. 1t Is also
true that physicians who reside in the vicin-
lily OF the school state that they shave great
North School, and that they have in their
care cases of sickness attributable to the
unsanttary condition of that school house
and of its belongings
We are informed that the school commit
tee, the superintendent of schools and the
superintendent of public school buildings
have, at various times asked that the santa
~ arrangements for that school might be
improved, and made to conform with those
in use at other school houses. We do not
know, of course, why this has not been
done. nor upon whom the direct responsible
ity rests for the present state of things
there, SO discreditable to the city that the
State Board Of Health finds it necessary to
call 1t "abominable," but it is quite evident
that it lies quite within your power to do
something. since in the language of the or
dinance you have she care and custody of
all buildings belonging to the city, anu of
the erection, alteration and repair thereof"
This Board has hoped that somethi ng
woul have been done during the last sum-
mer, but vacation has passed and the condi-
tion OF things is rather worse than better,
and we cannot feel that we have done our
duty In the premises If we allow these ex-
tremely unsanitary conditions to continue
without protest.
1t is perhaps unnecessary for us to say, as
from our experience we have no hesitation
III saying that no private individual in this
city would have delayed in making the nee
essary changes If the same statement had
been made to him which has been made to
the authorizes in this case. The example of
a municipality neglecting to care for the
health and comfort of its citizens in a case
where an individual would be required to do
it, under compulsion If necessary. is not an
inspiring one.
We respectfully submit this representa-
tion of the state of affairs for your consider
alton, trusting that you may decide that i'm
mediate measures in remedy of same are
necessary, and take the proper course to
carry them into effect; and awaiting your
reply, we remain.
Yours with great respect,
CHAs ID. SMITH, Board
A. K. z. MEsERvE, 7 of
GEO. G. BURGESS. Health