The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-03-19

p SfRfSIFgB1I8 purpose. were in ds-
~ mand before the
pIl91lis White street school
f1f41iTs4sslgSA building was vacated
OK ss75fs,s4 T.. but they are now an
61EsSs d s;-l,s hs!:llsGs actual necessity. The
~ S-I1Si e gl,gssS big empty brick struc-
k,--1IrsraIg, 7l.sss1 ture that frowns down
0hA~@S upon the Lehigh Val
ley depot causes many regrets. The quarters
secured for the schools that we're obliged to
vacate the bNilding are suitable tor tenn
porary quarters, but no more. Complaints
are already being made that one place or
another is defective in this, or that and
'the School Board should hurry up" etc
Meanwhile the Board is between two fires.
Some people say the building vacated can
he made safe in a short time and at little
! expense, Others wsnt the matter settled
| by an expert, and the latter seems the best
| method for the Board to adopt.
None of the parties interested supposed
that the fate of the building would hang
in the balance as long as it has, but it is
through no fault OF the local authorities.
The Board has been awaiting preliminary
report from Mr.. Howard Murphy, the ex
pert hired to examine the building. This
report arrived only few days ago and
gives little if any satisfaction. Mr.. Murphy
says he must first have the surveys of the
building that Mr. S. A. Bedda;l is now en-
gagged upon and, meantime, the school
should remain vacant. Tbs completion Of
the Surveys will require several days and
taking the delays necessitated by cores
pondence, another visit to town by Mr..
Murphy, more meetings Of the School
Board and other matters in connection with
Mr. Beddall'a work, it is not likely that
the White street building can be occupied
before the beginning OF the next school
term.
MIR. Murpby's preliminary report is as
follows:
II have not yet had the pleasure OF hearing
from you (the Board) with regard to the
progress Of the surveys. Since visiting Shen-
andoah have been engaged on an important
expert matter which is now practically com
pleted, and desired to again visit you as soon
as the plans were sufficiently advanced, so
wired Mr.. Freeman accordingly on the 5th
inst. He replied that you had commenced the
surveys and advised preliminary report, such
as gave you verbally after making the exam
ination. After thinking your matter over
thought it would be better to have some knowl-
edge Of mine locations before expressing any
further opinion
while IL is apparent that your building is in
= dangerous condition, can we assume that the
evidences Of failure are due exclusively to bad
design, workmanship and material, or must we
assume, ia addition, the possibility that the
foundation Of the building rests upon a forma-
tion which has been, or is being, disturbed by
mining operatousY The plans desired would
doubtless throw some light on the latter sub
iect However, until this information is OBJ
tained, there is no doubt in my mind that you
have pursued the only safe course in entirely
removing the schools from the building for the
present.
"While this no doubt occasions you great
inconvenience and expense, the precious lives
OF the children Of your citizens are at stake,
and the faith and helplessness OF the children
in case OF this kinds appeals most strongly TO
our feelings At the same time We DO not wish
to be alarmists, or 70 even intimate that your
large and expensive building cannot be made
perfectly safe, until we have further light and
lnIOrmauOn II l entlr6ly uhely tnat thls
building would stand for many years without
any additions or repairs, but the writer would
certainly not allow his own children TO attend
school therein at present"
MIR. Murphy then refers to tho destruction OF
brick buildings during the Johnstown food, the
silk mill at Reading, and buildings al other
places, aud closes his report by saying
Numerous other instances might be cited,
but it would seem that sufficient reason is
already presented for the abandonment OF the
building until we can feel perfectly sure that
it has been made safe. An extraordinary fall of
snow, or q heavy wind storm, or even an earth
quake, is as likely to occur at Shenandoah as
anywhere else in this part OF the country, and
even without a conyulsiOn OF nature, The
building is not to be regarded as safe at present.
AS soon as the plans are completed careful
study win be made OF the whole subject with,
of course the hope that we may be convinced
that so expensive a building as this need not be
permanently abandoned"
Mr. g. A. Beddsll was seen by HER
AID reporter last evening. He said he
would complete the surveys as soon as pos
.ib1a q nd f,ru5ara thap, ~ M Murphu