The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-29
BOARD OF FINANCE.
LoFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
Continued.

"GENTLEMEN-I was recently informed
that our Board wouldbe asked to make a
large additional appropriation for the
Public Schools of the citv. The first es-
Inmates of the amount of money needed
to put the buildings in good order was
simply astounding. and l determined to
make u tour of inspection in order to see
the actual condidition of the buildings
for myself. | did so. gentlemen. and am
now prepared to admit that the half had
not been told me. Our school buildings
are a disgrace, and it is shameful that
they have to be used for the purpose for
which they were constru ted. Without
an exception the older buildings are di-
lapidated, aud in many instances serious
risks are incurred by the children and the
teachers who attend them daily. They
are exposed to what non of MS would
willingly submit to. and it is outrageou us
that such~a state of affairs should exist
in any civilized community. just think
OF little children being forced to wade
through puddles of water as they enter
school in wet weather; TO sit for hours
under leaky roofs and in. some instances
to be bespattered by rain water falling
into vessels placed upon the floor beside
their desks; to endure the
caused by broken windows and alleged
heating apparatus that is worse than USE
less. Think Of our children being In cou-
| slant fear of topping sliding doors and
| rickety furniture. 10 ali these add the
| evils of frightfully Door ventilation and
you will have some idea of our city's
| school buildings. These few statements
| in regard to the interiors of the schools
would be eclipsed by the shameful story
of the yards into which the children
troop during recess hours. Broken aud
dirty pavements are the rule while the
vile condition of the outbuildings is al
most indescribable. They are begrimed
and besoaked with filth; mere apologies
fo. ubnt tbav cbnn11 Ito in cjZa mud in
many cases so poorly devised that mod
esty and retirement must become almost
wn quantities to those who are
forced TO use them. 1t is a Wonder,
gentlemen, that our taxpayers have not
been up In arms long before this, because
OF the manner In which their children are
treated. The whole shameful story would
lake hours to relate and even then de-
tails would have to be omitted.
In order to bring the matter properly
before you, | would state that / was ac-
companied in the tour of inspection by
Representatives of other city boards, Ii
that in each instance WI were aided by
the principal of the school,. The princi-
pals nave also forwarded brief reports
aud TINS sufficient data becomes avail
able to permit of o reasonable Judgment
as to what is needed.
School No. 1, York street. is dilapidated
from cellar to garrett, the roof leaks hor-
ribly, and the floors have sagged out of
line. The cornices are rotten and eaders
broken. Two class rooms on the ground
floor are so dark and gloomy that they
would make poor stable room. The heat
ing apparatus is worn out and the whole
establishment has a faded, played out
air. The outbuildings are in a frlKhtful
state, and thorough repairs would mean
a new construction.
No. /, is I believe, unfit for human hab-
itation, and should be replaced by a mod
ern structure.
School No. 2, Erie street. This is the
largest school building in the city. and
one of the worst conditioned. Some Of the
children have to reach their classrOoms
through a dark cellar which is almost
flooded with every heavy rain. This sends
many little ones to their seats with wet
feet. and is no doubt the cause of much
sickness. The closets are poorly con-
structed and in vile condition, because of
their age and constant Overcrowding.
The roof of the building leaks, and MANI
of the ceilings are dangerous; the walls
are cracked and the windows and doors
admit all sorts of weather. The heating
apparatus is worn out, and the furniture
shows the effect Of thirty-ive years of
use.
School No. 8 in Bright street is also in
bad shape. The roof leaks, ceilings have
fallen in two rooms and in the hall stair
way. The windows are broken and slid
lUl uOOIS IL uCOANiCo w az hO NAV
The yard is simply deplorable and the
cellar floor is sunken and dangerous.
| Much of the furniture should be replaced.
The closets are very bad.
No, 8 Annex Is located in an'old engine
house. over the office OF the Oyerseer of
the Poor. This would make it undesir-
able MS a school building were it in any
way fitted for such use. The roof leaks
and general repairs are needed.
At Primary School No. 10 a similar
state of dilapidation exists. No less than
eighty-five little children are hived up in
a room that is lighted and ventilated by a
single window.
School No. 4, Eighth street, needs eff
fective heating apparatus badly. Glasses
| have frequently to be dismissed in cold
weather as it is impossible to make the
rooms comfortable. The window frames
nave not been painted in yeas and the
rear stairs are nearly worn out.
AT School No. 5. Bay street. complaints
exist because OF fallen ceilings and the
shaky condition of others. The entire
building needs repairs and the present
| closets hould be torn out and replaced.
The heauing apparatus IS played out.
AT School No. q, Central avenue, the
| roof leaks badly in three places at least,
and the ceilings w fallen in four class
| rooms. The furnaces are out of repair
and the water closets are rotting to pieces.
The water pipes are bursted; the gate
hinges are gone, anu DrOken WINDOWS are
numerous. General repairs are needed
throughout the entire building.
School No. Z, needs new heating ap-
paratus. The present boilers are worn
out after fourteen years service; gas es-
capes into the class rooms from a bursted
fue. Five Of the radiators are broker
and all the steam valves are out of order.
The windows, doors and black boards all
need attention and no less than fourteen
lepks await plugging in The roof. The
yard walls are out of plumb and some of
the teachers are forced to use the chill
dren's closets. The water supply is
insufficient. General repairs are badly
needed.
School No. 6, Sherman avenue. is also
in need of attention. The steam boilers
are worn ont. The roof leaks; the gut
ters and leaders are broken. An exit
that would be of use in emergency is
closed up because the stone steps are
dangerous without rails. The doors and
window frames are rickety. and many
windows need repairing. The closets are
in bad order.
School No. 10 should be abandoned at
the earliest possible date. The cellar is
undrained, aud the smell from the stag
nant water beneath the floor is fright
full. The building is heated with Old
fashioned stoves in each room that sends
out almost as much gas as heat The en-
tire premises are ont of order and q new
building would be real economy. The
outbuildings should he abated as a
nuisance, aud the children who have to