Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08
PUPILS IN GREAT DANGER
Board of Education VIII BE Asked to
Abandon Upper Floor of High
School Building.

That the pupils who study and recte in
the rooms on the top floor Of the High school
building run daily risk of life and limb Is
the conclusion of the joint committee of the
Board of Education, the chief Of the fire de-
partment, the city building inspector and
other citizens appointed to investigate the
matter. The committee made a careful eX-
animation of the entire High school build
ing and deliberately discussed the matter
AS a result it has adopted resolutions
strongly recommending to the board that it
discontinue the use of the upper rooms and
take several other precautions against loss
of life through fire, every one Of which Is
considered absolutely necessary.
The committee was composed of Members
Burgess, Moore, Cowie Hess and Black, Fire
Chief Redell Building Inspector Butler and
the following citizens: G. c. Belden. DR..
Spalding, o. A. Jobst and Lewis S. Reed
The editors Of the papers had also been asked
to join them After going over the building
carefully they met yesterday afternoon to
formulate report to the board.
G. NJ. Hitchcock had prepared a report
which he submitted to the committee 1t
recommended the abandonment of the upper
floors, several measures against fire in the
remaining portions Of the building and the
ultimate construction in the north and south
parts of town of two supplementary high
schools. In addition, 1t contemplated the
erection of a new building on the present
site of the High shcool and on the present
grade This report was not accepted, as the
committee did not want to take up matter
outside its pprovince and already a sub
ject of a great deal of controversy. 1t
then confined its discussion strictly to the
present needs of the building and to the
question of the safety of the upper floors.
Danger from fire and danger OF collapse Of
the floor supports were two reasons for the
discontinuance of the use of the upper rooms,
but in the absence of exact evidence as to
the strength of the flooring, the danger from
fire alone was considered sufficient for the
adoption of the recommendation. Chief
Redel gave it as his opinion that no matter
how quickly the building could be emptied
a fire or even an alarm OF fire would be
| almost certain to result in the death or in
| jury of one or more pupils. He called at
| ention TO the narrowness Of the only exit
available to number of the rooms and the
nsufficency of stairways. The members OF
the committee agreed with the chief.
| The fire escapes on the building were dis
cussed and it was the general opinion that
| luOSe Oh lue DullulnB Wtit do Soou aS houe
in reference to certain parts of the building,
| particularly the upper floor. AS to the
strength of the floor there was difference
of opinion. Building Inspector Butler and
| Superintendent of Buildings Banker believed
that notwithstanding the sag of the timbera
the floor rests on there was no danger of col
lapse. Mr.. Jobst, himself builder, believed
that there was.
The committee finally adopted the follow
ing recommendations to the board:
That the use of the upper floor for school
| purposes be discontinued at once.
| That, from a sanitary point of view
| the building should be condemned, the
| two upper floors and the basement be
| abandoned and the others ventilated.
That If possible quarters be secured fol
! the manual training department outside
| of the building,
That "A standpipe, preferably two OF
| them, with hose and other equipments, be
| erected and the older boys drilled in the
| use of this apparatus.
The committee also agreed to urge upor
the city council the location Of a fire COM
pany on the top of the hill OF which the
High school grounds are part.