Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-16
JOHNSON PUBLIC SCHOOL
Report by Capt. Gaillard of Recent Inspec-
ton of the Building.
Estimate of Cost of demonstrating
tem-The RecOmmen datiOns.

Capt Gaillard the assistant to the Engf
neer Commissioner of the District, today
submitted to the Commissioners a report
of the inspection and examination of the
Johnson Public School building at Mount
Pleasant which building is claimed by the
people of Columbia Heights and Mount
Pleasant to be in an insanitary condition
and in pressing need of repairs. This struc
ture together with thirty-eight other pub
lie school buildings in the District, is sup
piled with the Smead system of heating
and ventilation, dry closets forming a part
of the system. Together with his report,
Capt. Gailard submitted an estimate made
by the inspector of plumbing of the cost
of replacing the Smead dry-closet system in
the johnson building with a system of in
dependent closets of the same type as have
been recently installed in other District
school buildings. The inspector states that
the cost of eighteen closets. two wash
basins, concrete floors. etc, will be So 1O1. 80.
Capt. Gaillard explains that the funds now
available do not warrant such a change at
present. additional funds being necessary;
but he states that the change would be UNI
doubleday in the interest of health and
progress.
Text of the Report.
His report is as follows:
II have the honor to report that in ac-
cordance with verbal instructions from YOU,
| visited the Johnson School, accompanied
by the inspector of buildings and the in
spector Of plumbing. District of Columbia,
and made "A thorough examination of same
The entire Smead system was carefully
tested with an thermometer, with burnt
sulphur and with peppermint and no back
drafts We're discovered.
AS result of this examination. a shall
low brick yard drain has been ordered
cieaned; broken covers on the Smead
closets have been repaired: the filling of an
old well in the yard has been completed.
and a new water closet has been ordered
f"r the teachers toilet room.
The approach to the school grounds
especially from Tie south. is very bad and
leads over private property. | would recon-
mend that. al the earliest possible oppor-
tGnity. beard walk about four tD feet in
width be laid from the south boundary of
the school lot to kenCsaw avenue provided
the consent Of the owners of the unimprov-
ed property over which it would pass can
b" obtained.
Il would further recommend such other
beard walks in the vicinity as the comput-
ing engineer, District of Columbia. deems
necessary for enabling children to APP
pToaCh the lot without wettng their feet.
II the District cannot pay for the labor of
laying such Il walk on private property. it
is quite possible that the patrons of the
school would assume the responsibility of
paying for this item, provided the District
could. from the supply of old material on
hand, furnish the necessary lumber
Inspectors Estimate.
,''Inclo: ed is an estimate by the inspector
OF plumbing for replacing the Smcad dry
closet system in this school with "A system
of Independent water closets of the type
used in other school buildings in the Dis
trict. The funds now available do not
Warran, this change at the present time;
an additional appropriation will be neces-
sary to make this change, which is I'M
doubtedly in the interest of health and
progress
THE lot on which the building is stu
ated is so fiat that at present proper drain
age is not obtained, and | would respect
fully recommend that an estimate of 500
for drainage of yard and protection of
walls of basement from dampness be asked
for in connection with the preceding item
Probable Action.
The report is now in the hands of Com
missioner Ross, who has immediate super
vision over the public schools, and it is
probable that he will recommend to his
associates that the improvements suggest
ed by Capt. Gaillard be made The Com
missioners have repeatedly, it is stated
endeaVored to provide suitable approach
to the johnson building from Kenesaw ave-
nue., but have never been able to obtain
the consent of the owner of the land On
which the walk must be laid. Such consent
must be obtained before the board walk
recommended by Capt. Gaillard can be
erS will again endeavor to induce the own
er of the property between the building ard
keneSaw avenue to permit such temporary
use of his land. In their estimates to cover
the expenses of the District government
during the next fiscal year, the Commits
SiOners asked for authority and funds with
which to open thoroughfare southwark
from the building to kenesaw avenue, and
they will make every effort to secure such
authority and funds.
1t is also believed that the Commission
ers will ask Congress to grant them the
authority ard money with which to re-
place the dry closets in the building with
those estimated for by the inspector of
plumbing, and recommended by Capt. Gail
lard. 1t will be recalled that the health
officer has more than once recommended
the discOntinuance of such dry closets in
the public school buildings, and 1t Is not
improbable that Congress will be asked by
the Commissioners for authority and funds
with which to replace them in all The
other thirtyeight school buildings in which
they now exist, with sewer connected and
otherwise modernly equipped closets