New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-14
TO INCREASE THE CITY'S BURDENS.
OPPOSITION TO An ASSEMBLY BILL WHICH PRO
vJDFS roP FIRE. PROOF SCuOOI,HOUeES.

OPPOSITION TO An ASSEMBLY BILL WHICH PRO
v1DEs FoSFIRE-rRooF scHooL-HousEs.
bill has been recently introduced in the Legislature
at Albany which again illustrates what reckless OK
travagaucc may be expected from the Democratic
majority, and how carefully every act should be
scanned before ii is voted upon II r already known
that the tax rate for 1898 will be greatly increased
hut not satisfied with this the Democratic managers
are still schemhg to increase the taxes and reap aS
rich a harvest as possible before indignant public
shall sweep them from power. The Hotel
Royal fire has been seized upon as "a
pretext for cnncting number Of laws which VIII
needessy increase the city budget and benefit a
certain circle Of contractors Not the least of these
is Assembly bill No. rs, which in something like
5000 words proposes In plausible enough manner to
make all public building this city absolutely freprOo
There are many features Of the bill which will at
once commend themselves to all citizens, but snngy
tucked away In this heap OF words few lines
that will sdh several hundred thousand dollars an
nually TO the cost Of running the city with no' com
mcnslIrate advantage except to n few builders and
contractors who are said to be represented In Al
tany by lobbyists diligently work uslpg every means
10 secure the passage of Assembly bill No 71s I'm its
entirety. These few lines Of the bill propose 10 make
all school buildings hereafter erected In the City Of
New York absolutely nreproof in other words to
make them verable lortresses
The bll introduced in the Assembly by Mr.
Connolly, and after being read referred to the
Committee Cities, the chairman OF which Is Mr..
Webster. The Committee on school Buildings Of the
Ncw-Torh City Board OF Education promptly opposed
the bill as being extravaganza and unnecessary.
Robert Maclay chairman Of the committee. urged
Mayor Grant % use his Influence against the bill.
on SATURDAY afternoon ASscmblyman Webster met sew
cral member; Of the Board Of Education ut the Man
haitian club. and the following memorial was pre-
scented TO him by Mr. Maclay in behalf Of tho Board
OF Education:
Il respectfully request that action be
taken on Assembly bill 30 80 far IT
rclntes to public school buildings, IT IS
unnecc.',ary Us protection scain't fire under the
improved plans adopted. AMI will Increase the cost
n the buildings from 30 to 40 per cent. Under the
present plans school buildings will be constructed Of
brick and stone. with hropnof roofs. The floors N
lnrcor span will be carried cast Iron columns and
wrought iron girdcrs. the ends Of which n walls are
kept clear allow for expansion and contraction The
first story or play-room ncor be of nreproof
,triciion: iron bcnms. brick arches and asphalt floor
ing The ceilings are to BE- Of metal. and me side
wills from moor ceiling will be lined with face brick
laid In Flemish bord. The cha@cs for steam and gus
PIPES. which extend from cellar 10 upper floors. ARE
p-o,ec'ed on level Of each floor beam side with
casron boxes. which filed In each and every case
around pipes with asbestos and covered with
iron casing reaching from floor to ceiling. The stair
Ways reach from first story attic and Of rcproot
construction throughout; brick walls irrprOf doors
and Iron famework with blues steps and platforms.
rhcso OF sufficient number and capacity and so
arranged that the building can b. absolutely empticd
u all it, inmates I'm thrce minutes from the time the
gong strikes. The doors Of all exits load outward.
Tho hoors throughout double with three thick
nesscs Of non-combustlble deafenng paper between.
Tic ceiling, src Of metal and -" pasering above the
hrt ,0r f. placed upon wire hath. except whore brick
walls occur when the plastcrng j. applied dnrcly 10
the brickvOrk Tho outside walls above III" first story
built up with hollow Gotta Turing brick. with
plastcnng placed directly thereon that Tiers l. no
dnr.cr from fire running tom ore story 10 another
Ihe h~ng L. effected bv steam with both direct and
direct radiation the boilers and All fuel being
placed I'm cellar below the nrStStOry moor. which, a.
noted l. 1r,prpOf