The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-22
SPOILED THE JOB.
No Coin for Fire=Escape
Spectators.
THE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.
president Hyde of the Board of Edu-
cation Makes Out an Incon-
testibie Case.

Vi Tic DOdIu Ol DuptT-
Visofs last evening the principal business
in an otherwise tame and uneyenttul ses-
sion was brought up when a resolution was
introduced virtually reouestine ,be hoard
10 compel the Board of Education to COM
ply with demand OF the Fire Department
tha' horoscopes should be added TO city
schools now being built
Ihis resolution. if passed, would have
committed the Board of Superyisors tn the
proposition Of fire-escapes for all schools.
since The children in all are equally ex-
poSeu 10 danger, admitting such danger to
exist.
But Mr.. Hyde does not make such an
admission and in his argument last night
he addressed the Board of Supervisors in
the following terms:
III DecemDer last the president of the
BOARD oil Education ana Superintendent of
oenqois appeared before he.Fire Committee
" ING Doard OF Supervisors, and asked
tnaI tue ordnance requiring fre-escapes on
sehool buildings of three stories be re-
ecluueu, on the ground that they are IN
necessary ana expensive. The committee,
apparenily. was favorably disposed, and it
was understood by the members OF the
board that The petition had been granted.
Accordingly. tho BIDS for fire-escapes ON the
Sancbez-street school and the Girls High
school. which had been advertised for.
were all rejected. Subsequently, the con-
tract was let Tor the Bartlett-street school,
specifications
recently the Chief of the Fire Depart
ment mas insisted that the Bartlett-street
school must be provided with fire-escapes.
anu II is against this requirement that l
PEoIts1. ~ must be assumed that the Board
OF education is fully as solcitous for the
welfare of the $1,000 children under its
care as the Chief of the Fire Department;
anu, furthermore, TO be capable Of exercis-
lns SOUND Judgment and discretion in such
an important matter. 1t would be too much
10 say that dangerous fire In one of our
sehooihouses is an impossiblity; but Il is
Just ABOUT as probable AS a cyclone or an
earthquake would destroy the city or a part
OF H. mere should be some proportion be-
tween me expense Incurred to guard against
pOssiole Calamity and the pro liability of
us occurrence. Chief Seannel thinks we
shouio guard against any possibility of fire
mat would result in q loss of life, and that
the expense must not be considered.
would suggest that perfect security could
be attained only by detail of firemen and
hre-englne constantly stationed In front
OF such school building. Oniy In this way
uid we obtain absolute security for our
children but the proposition would be con-
sideTed absurd. We cannot guard against
every possibility, and should not spend an
unreasonable amount of money to prevent
an Improbable though a possible accident
III microscopes are good, then why not have
ropes hanging out OF the windows, with
baskets attached? or why not require all
schoolhouSes TO be of one story, with doors
leading out from each room? We can find
Just as good arguments for all these precau-
lions as for fre-escapes.
1T is next to impossible that a fire should
occur in one OF our schoolhouses during the
hours when occupied by the children.
Almost all the classroOms are heated by
fS a thar In
and one or two janitors constantly on hand
Under such circumstances il Is difficult to
see how fire could get any headway, but
admitting the bare possibility Of fire get
ting beyond control, | contend that the fire.
eScapss, whether stalrways or upright
ladders, would be absolutely useless If
any parent or Fire Commissioner thinks
differently let them try to induce a child to
descend from the third story of the Pleas
anton Hotel on one of the latest improved
hre-escape stairways with all the deli bera-
ton possible. If this should fail, as 1t
would. what would be the resnlt of trying
TO get down fifty panic-stricken children at
one time? 1t would be impossible to teach
the children how to use the fire-escapes, for
their clothes would be ruined by the dirt on
the escapes every time it was attempted
During The past two years we have built
three schooihouses that are three stories in
height. the fre-escapes on which would have
cost about 5000. Ii seems 10 the Board of
Education that the risk and utility OF the
fre-escapes do not warrant the expenditure
OF this amount of money. We have an ad-
mirable firedrili In every school in this city
The pupils are trained to march out at the
tap of the bell without previous notice, and
our large schools can be emptied in two
minutes and a half; smaller ones in less
than minute. III fre-escapes are needed
on the new buildings. they should certainly
be placed on the old ones, for the lives of
the children are lust as precious in one case
aa MI 1 "A MT hof q lae
one except members OF the firms which
manufacture hre-escapes would advocate
such measure.
This whole matter was submitted to the
Fire Committee Of the Board of Supervisors
year ago, and | understand that IL was
decided that school buildings should be
equipped with upright ladders and stand
pipes only. / am surprised that the matter
Is again asitated. Ii the taxpayers want
TO incur the additional expense it ought not
Education; but L have not found such SEN
timent.
1t IS urged that fre-escapes are required
on hotels and lodgiBg-houses, and the cues
ton is asked: Why should they not be re-
qulred on schoolhouses? The answer is
very simple. The protection sought in
hotels and boarding-houses is prin-
elpaHy IN the night. when the inmates
are not on their guard. School
hours are only from o'clock until
5, In the Day time, and those who are in
charge are constantly on the alert and are
under the strlctest rules and discipline 10
prevent FIRE. The Board OF Education is
always embarrassed by shortage of funds,
and there seems 10 be no reason why this
unnecessary expense should be incurred.
The teachers are almost unanimously op-
posed to hre-escapes. present letters from
ten OF the leading principals on the subject.
Many more could have been procured from
principals whose judgment is equally relia-
bic. but these have been thought sufficient
for the purpose. 3 have found but one prin-
cipai who does not agree with me that the
escapes are entirely unnecessary"
In proof of his argument Mr.. HYDE intro.
dneed the following letters from ten princi-
pals of city schools: