The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-28
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING.
Two Interesting Protests Received and
Cared For.

NdiSu Iuls
At the school committee meeting last
night Mr. Pepper presented protest from
the prinr ipaI and teachers of the Jackson
avenue primary school, who are displeased
because the storm windows have not been
removed. after requesting that they be.
Mr.. Pepper also presented a resolution,
which was adopted, referring the prote st
TO the committee on hygiene with in
structions to take whatever action they
deem necessary.
On motion OF Mr.. White it was voted to
establish kinde rgarten at the Ring
street school, the committee having re-
ported that the resolution giving the
power had become a law.
Forty .eig bills, amounting to S8019.-
rs, were ordered paid.
resolution was adopted providing for
opening 25 evening schools in October,
1896.
An amendment to the bylaws was
offered, providing for opening the schools
earIier in October. 1t was referred to the
committee on bylaws.
Chairman White Of the committee on
evening schools reported that 81 pupils
in the high school received certificates of
attainment in certain of the day high
schools studies and "A grammar school
pupils had passed the examintion for ac-
mission to the evening high school.
The following seif-explanatory petition
was receiyed
To the Parents OF Children Attending
BRIGHAM Grammar Schools:
1t Is a matter OF great importance to
you to know that certain unhealthy con-
ditions exist ~ the ,Sridghafn school
building at the present time; what Efforts
have been madeito remove the danger, and
with what success.
Ihe city government (that will not al
low privy vault in yard abutting on a
severed street, have built In the basement
or cellar OF this school house an open
privy vault, the bottom OF which is of
bricks, and on which falls the excrement
and urine, where ii lays for five months
and Is finally raked int pile, saturated
with kerosene and burned; after which
the ashes are removed from the building.
on course it is impossible to burn out
the brick bottom OF the vault, which In
the coufse'o years has become saturated
with human wastes, and in the hot
months OF the summer vacation it mu.
give of offensive and dangerous evapora-
tions.
The vault is very long and occupies
three sides OF rectangle. Over the vault
are partitioned a series of closets with
seats At one end of the vault is venti-
lating .chimney in which during the
school term a kept burning a fire for the
purpose of Creating a draught. At the
other end ID an enclosed chamber in
which the cleaning operations above al
luded to are conducted. In several rooms
the foul air registers in the floors on each
story open directly to this enclosure.
The theory Is that the foul air i'm the
rooms viii sink through the registers ana
pass over the deposits to the chimney at
the same time drying the fecal matter and
carrying of the odors, il all doors and
windows are closed.
This theory Is weak for at least three
reasons:
First. Because It is impossible TO keep
all doors and windows closed, especially
in warm weather. The result OF opening
doors or windows is back draught, cse-
ating an upward current through the reg
listers, carrying foul odors TO the directly
connected rooms. This is of course not
so liable to occur I'm cold months, when
the doors and windows must DO kept
closed on account of warmth, as in the
months of May, June and September
Second. Certain conditions OF the at
mosphere stop the draught; for instance,
what Is commonly known as muggy
Gay, with the wind light and from the
southeast
Third. The current OF air does not dry
the deposits especially on the girls side
OF the Easement, where inspec ction will at
amounting TO pools of water.
The above conditions were brought to
the attention OF the school COMMITTEES by
Mr.. Charles X. Stark, member OF the
committee from the Eighth Ward, and by
Mr.. James III. Smith of the committee.
and the matter was promptly referred to
the subcommittee on hygiene, who i'm.
mediately enlisted tho services OF the SUI
perintendent OF health, Or. Chaplin, and
made thorough investigation on the
premises
The result was q unanimous report,
backed by DIR. Chapin's opinion, that
Mott automatic flushing closets connected
with the sewer be substituted for the ex-
isting vault.
The report wss accepted by the school
committee, and the recommendation
were reported to the City Council through
the committee on relations to the City
Council. The Council referred the matter
TO the committee on city property, where
IL slpmbere until Mr.. George j.. West
brought the matter to the attention OF
the City Council at its last meeting, w her
they ordered the committee ON city prop
erty TO report at the next meeting Ct the
Council.
Memoers OF the school committee, par
ents OF children, who attend the school
and Chairman OF the committee on
hygiene have called on the Chairman OF
the commHtee'o 'on city property, aud all
have received the same answer: "There
Is no money In the hands OF the commit
tee with which 30 make the desired
CHANGE
The committee on hygiene that made
the report consisted OF Ge,eral Elisha
Dyer. chairman. Dr. Peck DR. Whita