The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-20

lI~
contagious disease contracted al w
Butler school. 1t was brought there LIZ
outside from some unsanitary home.
| He understood that the present trousA
system is as safe as any method tnao o'-
be used. There may be some faults =.
the ventilation system. He recogniD01
the value of the High school arrange.
ments but believed that the Butter sonooi
system was safe. There may be A1eio
odor. 1t exists even in our homes bue
it is a harmless odor. 1t is Only
sulphnretted oxygen.
He believed in regard to the Butler
school, that the plan submitted by tne
board would render the school safe ZOE
the children. Unfortunately there e1lsts
diseases the result of unhealthful homes
and living. This is always menace TO
the schools. He couldn't see how they
could make the Butler school safer after
they have adopted the plan submitted.
He had studied this matter for twenty
eightTyears and made it special study
for four years.
The plan submitted was then read by
DR.. Merrill by requst. 1t suggests that
the brick drains be taken out and re-
placed with heavy iron pipes. This Is
now going on. 1t suggests that the
register boxes containing radiators Tor
heating be carefully cleaned also that
those boxes nearest the urinals be re-
moved to some other part Of the building
DR.. Merrill said that he believed the
cement trough system in the basement to
be SAFE 'sNot that think 1t is pleasing
or aesthetic but think it is just as safe
as plain bath room compared to one
that is 0rnamented.
Mr.. Woodbury. asked IL the safety OF
| the system was not dependent upon the
| faithfulness of the janitor.
DIR. Merrill replied in the affirmative.
Mr.. Woodbury. thought that when such
safety is dependent upon the faithfuln ess
of one man he did not consider 1t safe
enough and did not think that it was
proper system.
Safety should not depend in such case
upon the faithfulness. of the janitor.
"We may be all laymen. We may be all
ignorant, but when l go down a nd see
this accumulation of water in that
trough in this basement do not think it
is safe. would not have such system
nnder my office or library. We are not
satisfied with the recommendations OF the
board of health and think that the desire
| to save $4,000 or $4,000 looms up too much
before them. ;"
| At this point Dr. Holt came in and
corroborated Mr.. Libby's statement that
he had tried and failed to make his air
boxes tight. Mr.. Libby said that his
Criticism of the Butler school trough
system was that it was very large
trough system made Of bricks and lined
| with cement. This cement cannot be
kept clean. The Butler school has as
careful janitor as there is in the city
and he told Mr. Libby that unless he
painted the cement once in two weeks he
could not prevent disagreeable odors.
Mr.. Libby said that If they used soap
and hot water continually the cement
would not be clean.
Mr.. Libby described the method OF
operating the trough system and said
that the janitor cleans out the accummu-
lations twice day. "He goes down
there with pole or something and stirs
up this mess so as to get it all moving
so that none of it may stick on the sides
and he sweeps il clean with broom "
Mr.. Libby declared that the use of the
bowl system reduces the danger of odors
to minimum. He said that he was not
hostile to the board of health or even
critical 1t did seem to him that the ex-
penditure of $3.50 was not TO be considered
in a case of so much Importance. II there
is any doubt, if there is a difference of
opinion as to the present safety he asked
if it was not wise to be regardless of the
question of expense and remove any
cause for doubt or anxiety or any possible
danger. He ventured to say that until
that trough system is removed there
would be an agitation set up and feel
ing of anxiety among the parents whose
children are sent there.
If he knew such a trough system as
this was in the First National bank and
that it was only cleaned out twice day
he might feel perhaps that ne wouon
catch a disease directly but he would feel
that it was a nuisance and he wouldn't
have an office over 1t.
Councilman Illsley said that he had
voted for the present plan because the
board of health recommended 1T and he
for one wasn't going back on his vote.
MI. Woodbury. asked if he would be
willing to live over that trough and Mr.
Illsley replied that he wouldn't
MI. Woodbury. said that if the trough
system was safe why didn't they put 1t
into the High school.
| Mr.. Illsley said eff had such thing
in my house as this trough system and
the board of health said it was safe and
didn't have money enough to change 1T
| I'd live in the house."
"Well is Portland SO poor as all
tbatp" said Mr.. Woodbury.
Mr.. Illsley exclaimed "Portla nd may
have plenty of money, but the committee
on public buildings hasn't"
hot