The morning call., 1894-05-21

that time. She says there is no danger at
all. except from scheming politicians, who
want to dispossess the school of the ground
on which 1t stands aud annex it to the
Market-street property, which adjoins on
the north.
The place has its weak side. when one
con slders the possibility # fire. The
Webster ScnoOl is large two-story frame
building, just east OF the Lincoln School.
1t has eighteen classroOms, and there are
al present $50 scholars IN attendance
The building fronts on nothing-not even
its own front door. In its rear is a high
waIl-tOO high TO be readily scaled by the
average primary lad or lassie. On both
sides are high frame buildings that may
burn some day. On the west side towers
the four-story structure OF the Lincoln
School, with an alley at each end, fenced
IN by board partitions ten feet high. There
are doors In these partitions leading out
on Fifth stree. but they are none too wide.
The door in the north alley is much smaller
than the ono on the sou h side. In case
OF general fire on all sides the children
would have TO pass under burning walls
or stand and be burned within the grounds
or in their own building, which is in itself
capable of making a fierce fire. Many
parents with children in the Webster
School have gone there, have looked at the
formidable array of iDtiammable sur
roundings and the incloseG exits, and have
come away shaking their heads. They
don't like the looks of things and, don't
consider the place safe, Notwithstanding
the fact that the building has stood
tweniy-four years without anybody being
burned to death. The greatest danger lies
In the high wooden buildings on each side
OF the exit alleyways, for were these to
burn at one and the same time-w hich Is
i6le-there would be no exit at all for
the children in the Webster School, save
fhrOnUh the haSPmaUt Of the sIlnCOln
School; and the latter building contains
over 1000 scholars. who would have to
scramble for their own safety.
"My attention has been called to the place
and l shall make a thorough investigation
Tomorrow" said Chief Suli ivan last night
II am satisfied that something is needed
there to make it safer in case of fire than
IL is now"
Miss Manning was seen in her home at
the Century Club.
IT'S all the work OF these scheming pol
iticians," she said, with an emphatic shake
of the head. Every once in a while they
prod up some one to pitch into the Webster
school and its dangers in case OF fire.
There is nothing in it at all. Why, I've
taught sch DOL III that building for twenty
four years and 1t hasn't burned once in all
that time. Why should it burn now?"
The latter sentence she considered con-
elusive, as showing that the Webster
school and the surrounding wooden build
ings cannot burn after The lapse of twenty
four years.
but l know what's the matter" she
continued. Some of the politicians have
friends who want TO secure the school lot
and annex it to the Market-street prop
erty. The leases on the latter will expire
pretty soon and-well, there is jobbery and
jugglery in il. And of course, if they get
after us We can't help ourselves. l am a
subject of the politicians, and they will do
with my school as they like when they
make up their minds. | suppose IL Will
not be long before he fire authorities will
walk In on US and close up the school.
But they'll have to put us somewhere else,
that's one consolation. l wish we women
could vote-and we will, some day. Then
wen manage things differently"