Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-06
MINOR SCHOOL BUILDING
Report Made That It is in Immediate Need
of Repairs.
Cost of improvements Estimated to
Be $4,OOO-The Matter Subject
of Investigations.


lie schools several weeks ago wrote the
Commissioners that there was immediate
need of repairs to the Minor School build
ing. The Commissioners referred the COM
| munication to the inspector of plumbing,
who reported that he had received assur-
ances that suitable modern plumbing con-
veniences would be introduced into the
building to supersede the outside closets.
etc, against the use of which serious OBJ
lection. has been made. The inspector, Mr.
Chas. B. Ball informed the Commissioners
that he had been told the trustees of the
building would feel justified in spending as
large an amount for plumbing conveniences
as was proposed to be expended by the Dis
trct for the Summer School building. He
therefore recommended that the trustees
of the Minor fund be informed by the Com
missioners that they will be expected to
provide modern toilet facilities for the Minor
building, the plans to be approved by the
Engineer Commissioner before the COM
mencement of the work.
This recommendation the Commissioners
approved. and the matter was referred to
Mr.. George 7. F. Cook, superintendent of
the eolored schools, for a report as to
whether the state of the appropriations
would justify a proposed increase to 81, 500
for the rental of the Minor building. In re-
ply, Mr.. Cook stated that he had ascer-
tanned that the state of the appropriations
would not warrant the proposed increase
building.
The Estimated Cost.
Subsequently Commissioner Ross who
has immediate supervision of the public
schools, informed his associates that the
inspector of plumbing roughly estimated
the cost of the desired repairs at about
$4,000, and that MesSrs j. Ormond Wilson
and S. R. Bond, trustees Of the Minor fund
had Informed him that they knew of no
means at their disposal with which such
repairs could be made 1t being apparent
to Mr.. Ross that, even if the rent paid for
the building should be increased to s. 800.
little relief could be attained, he stated
that in his opinion the practical question
was whether the sanitary condition of the
building is such to make it inexpedient
to continue the use of it for school pur-
poses He therefore suggested that the
matter be referred to the health officer for
a report in that regard. Such d reference
was made, the health officer in turn refer
ring the question to Prof. ]. D. Hrd, the
District chemist, who has submitted a re-
port, from which it would appear that the
sanitary condition of the Minor building is
not such as to warrant it's abandonment
In his report Prof. Hrd refers to a re-
port made by him of his examination of
the building about a year ago, when he
stated that the system of heating and VEN
ulating In 1t was not of the most approved
pattern, nor adequate to meet the neces-
sary requirements independent of the doors
and windows: He finds that far as the
cerned there has been practically no change
in its condition since his examination a
year ago. so that the same conditions prac-
ticaly exist today as they did then with
the exception that the building, being a
year older, the floors, particularly in the
basement, have been subjected to the prog
ress of decay for that additional length of
time.
Prof. Hird's Report
AS result of his recent inspection, as
well as that made a year ago, Prof Hird
ssys he has no hesitancy in saying that In
dependent of this floor, with a little care
on the part of the teachers there is no good
ground nor sufficient reason upon which to
base the statement that the building is in
sanitary. The next consideration, there
fore, he states, is whether or not the condi-
1on of the basement is such as to render
the building unsuited for its present use.
he most serious objection here, he con-
UnueS, is the wooden floor, which, living
close to the earth, without any ventilation
under 1t, is bound, sooner or later, to give
off its products of decomposition, with its
accompanying deieteriOus influences, which
will, he thinks, eventually find their way
into the building
Realizing this fact, Prof. Hird says he
directed his attention particularly to the
consideration of this subject. and, as a re-
suit of the Inspection. he is of the opinion
that there Is no present danger to be feared
II ON this source. Considering the subject
as whole, therefore, he says he can see
iiO Sppu SIOullu why lit DuIlulup SnbUlG De
abandoned on the ground that there is lack
of proper sanitary conditions, or through
any reasons which would at present render
the building prejudicial to health. Prof
Hird says, however, that We're the funds
available for the purpose it would be ad-
V!Sable, as a precautionary measure, to re-
place the wooden floor in the basement
with concrete But, in the absence of such
funds he says he does not see that the
threatened danger from this source is of
sufficient immediate consideration to war
rant the abandonment of the building
The whole matter is now before the Com
missoners for their further consideration