St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-28
IN FOUL CONDITION.
a Horrible State of Affairs at the
Humboldt School.

dOrPIDie state OIL Affairs at the
Humboldt School.
At the last meeting of the assembly a
special committee, consisting of Messrs.
Doran. ScEuette and Reardon, was ap-
pointed to Investigate as to the sanitary
condition of the Humboldt school. To
this committee was added DR.. Ancker,
who was selected by the assembly in
preference to the health commissioner.
ASsemblyInan Doran, as chairman,a
handed in the following report:
The committee visited the Humboldt
school on April ID. accompanied by the
city and county physician. Dr.. Ancker.
Eight hundred pupils and eighteen
teachers occupy the eighteen school
rooms in the building. At times very
offensive odors filled the rooms and cor
ridOrs, this condition generally being
much more noticeable after vacations,
when the fans used in the ventilating !!
system are not at work. The building
is five years old and is supplied with
the Ruttan system OF ventilation and
so-called dry closets. 1t has no sewer
connection except as to boiler waste
and ceSsDoOl. The purpose of the ven-
tilating fan is to create a strong air cur
rent which is forced into and upward
through large air shaft which termi-,
mates above the roof. The. air to supply
this current is brought liz ducts which
connect with the school rooms and are
supposed to create draft therefrom
which will thoroughly ventilate them
by eXhaustIng the air with sufficient
frequency to keep it pure and healthtul.
This flow of air to the fan passes
through the closet vaults and urinals
for the purpose of eyaporating and
thereby removing the OtfenSiveneSS of
their contents. But as no drainage is
afforded, it is not difficult to understand
that the attempt to dispose of all the
eXcreta of vaults and contents of urinal
tanks which accommodate over 800 per-
sons by a process of evaporation alone,
and this by a cold air current only,
must be attended with many difficulties.
In the case Of the Humboldt school, it
is certain the purpose has not been ac-
complished. Evaporation has been only
partial. and 800 scholars and teachers
are housed over this reeking abomIna-
ton, where the conditions seem to DEM
onStrate that even with short cessation
of the operation of the powerful fan, the
disease-breeding and unnamable vapors
from these vaults must seek an outlet
upward, and even find ready conductors
to the school rooms through the ventf-
lating duets. Certain it Is that many
children have been nanSeated and sick,
ened bv them. 1t is the opinion of the
committee that speedy remedy should
be applied. and as this building is To-
Gated within 800 feet OF main sewer
that immediate action be taken to REM
edy the drainage defect. Also, that a
thorough and rigid examination by rell-
able and competent agents be ordered
and made to the council as to the condi-
tion OF all the schools, but more particu-
larly as to those employing the so-called
Uy closet systems. In this connection
the principal, Mr.. Bryant. i'll charge of
the building, together with the engineer
aud janitor, report there has been no
health inspector about the building
since the opening of the school, several
years ago. Whether the health depart
ment has any duties pertaining to the
sanitary condition of the schools is a
question submitted TO tde legal depart
ment and the council.
The report of the city physician, DR..
Ancker. who accompanied the commit
tee, is attached to the report, and reads
as follows:
Referring to the sanitary condition Of
the school inspected, my opinion is that
immediate steps be taken to make
proper sewer connections. AS 1T ap-
pears to me. there are innumerable ar
gumentS in favor of the advisability Of
such an improvement and not one
against it. offer this in behalf of the
eight hundred children who attend
there and the many homes they repre-.
sent.
After the report had been read. Mr..
Van Slyke wanted the committee to re-
port at once an order for a sewer to con-
meet the school and the main sewer.
MIR. Doran submitted a preliminary or
der for new sewer ON Livingstone ave.
nue.. from Isabel to DeloS, which will
remedy the trouble at the humboldt
school. Mr.. Lightner, in connection
with the report of the committee, offered
a resolution that the report be sent to