The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-14
READY TO FALL down
Deplorable Condition of
School Buildings Dis
closed by an Inves-
tigation.

IHe inspection OF the Publ1h School
buildings has bsgan in earnest and is
being made by two thoroughly compe-
tent officials. They are Building Iuspec-
tor Macarthur and Chief Engineer w. w.
Ruggies. The schools visited up to noon
today are Nos. II, IL nex 10, 6. rs, 10,
II. 10. 81. l. 2, 8. 4, 8 annex, IA, % and 90.
The Principal Of every school in the
city submitted to the Board of Educa-
tion a detailed statement of the repairs
Which they considered absolutely neces-
sary, which lists were forwarded to the
Board of Street and Water Com mission
ers- The latter made a rough estimate OF
the probable cost of the repairs, and then
asked for an appropriation OF $50. 900
with which to do che work. Acting
Mayor Simpson considered the
request favorabiy, but sug-
Inspected by Messrs. Macarthur and
Ruggles. This Is now being done and so
far some disagreeabte facts concerning
the school buildings have been unearShed.
The Finance Commissioners favor tue
immediate repair OF the buildings, and
have promised. 1t is said, to appropriate
not 10000 but $4,000, If that sum will
place the buildings ia a condition fit fol
the purposes for which they are in-
tended.
The most disgraceful building in the
city utilized for school purposes is No. l
on York street. Somewhere in the
neighborhood of 1000 children attend
this school. and it will probably
arouse the officials to immediate
action to know that Engineer Ruggles
and Inspector Macarthur consider the
structure positively unsafe. It is in
such a depIorable condition that
Its total collapse would not
a1rnrfoo ojthnrh Of the nnpfla,nnn To-.
spector Macarthur in his report Of In
vestigation intends advising th Q tearing
down of the old structure. To spend
money in repairing it the Inspector says
is throwing money away.
ADvISES A NEW BUILDING.
He advises q new building which will
afford more roofn. better accommod a.
tions. better light and better yentlIa tion.
The east wing OF the building is bulged
out to such an extent that II
is leaning against an adjoin-
ing building. The pupils can
the roof. The rear stairs are tottering,
and are likely to fall TT any moment. The
old portion OF the building ia unsafe, and
unless some action is taken at once the
building will probably be condemned.
No. 2 on Erie street is a rival of No. /
north wing have bnlged out to such an
extent that water flows down the walls
aud destroys the mortar. In WIN
ter when frost sets in the walls
are liable to be thrown SO far
out of plumb as to cause their collapse.
The stone window stills are cracked, aud
the roof leaks frightfully. To repair the
lear walls alone will require the ex-
penditure of about $500. After every
rain the water settles in the
rear yard. and either runs into the base
ment aud causes dampness or into the
@r go .l 81 ~- 49, -
owner of which threatens TO bring suit
unless the defect in the drainage is rem
edIed.
No. 6, an old building bui IL during the
war needs repairs badly to save 1t from
tumbling down. At No. IA the roof leaks,
aud all the walls ussd painting aud
cleaning. An exit from the second story
rear is required tor protection against
fire and also for convenience. New sash
cords ara wanted for all the
and a new furnace is badly need.
DEPLoRABLE EATlNG ARRANGEMENT.
No. 10 is d small school at Pearce ave-
nue. and Paterson street. The building
Is now heated by seven stoves, lone or
which are graced with a particle of isip-
glass. The pupils near the stove are
blisrered from the heat. those In the
ear of the room frozen half to
death and those In the centre
suffocated or sickened by gas. So much
tkO vas ~ uudlhe
tion of gas last winter that children were
sent home Ill every day. Inspector Nc
Arthur will advise the erection of a
steam heating apparatus In the
building. AT No. 81 the bells didn't
work and not a lock is in working
order in the school. New plumbing is
required aud a dozen screens should be
erected to keep the boys from smashing
all the window panss. The roof leaks
and the leaders disappeared years
ago. Pools OF water form In the
play ground and stagnate. No. II, II
annex and 10 are in fair condition. The
roofs of Nos. Z and s have never been
painted aud as q result leak. The cor
nice OH both buildings is falling down
and new outside doors are needed.
Nos. II and II are passable but require
some attention. No. 4 needs q great
deal Of plasterinR and the black boards
should be painted.
No. 8 and No. 8 annex will pass but
will be tonched up here and there. Nos.
Il and % will also pass.
The buildings MS u whole are in bad
shape and Inspector Macarthur believes
mat $25 900 will remedy many evils ex-
listing at present. but9will not put them
in the condition they should be In.
L spend $4,000 now." he says, twill
be to keep the buildings from falling to
pieces. twice the sum could be well
spent If a good man supervises the
work"
The investigation will be continued
this afternoon. and PROBABLY completed.
The matter will then his acfa nnnn hv