The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-25
Improvements 10 Public
Schools Recommended.
WATER COOLERS MUST BE USED.
some OF the Rooms Unfit for School Fur.
pcses-The Buildings in General Are
in Good Condition, but Import
ant Changes ARE Suggested.
New Jail and Dog
0rdnaEce.

The Committee on Health last night
Health in reference to the sanitary con-
dition of the public school buildings ana
after some discussion it was decided to
send it to the School Board with in
structions to carry out the suggestions
and recommendations of the Board OF
Health.
The report is comprehensive. and While
in the main it does not indicate that the
schools in general are in bad sanitary
shape, still it shows that considerable
improvements could be made.
When the question arose as to what
to do with the report. Mr.. Donohoe sug
gested a conference with the Board OF
Health. This suggestion was not con
Sidered anu the question Of referring the
matter to the School Board with in
structions to act or with the request to
act was opened, and after some d bate
in which the effort to draw q distinction
between the two words was maue, MI
Seay simplfied matters by making the
motion that the report be referred to
the School Board with instructions that
they proceed to remedy the several de-
fects at the city schools reported there
in, and that immediate steps be taken to
supply water coolers instead of buckets
for drinking water for school children
This motion was unanimously adopted,
the result of which Will be the request
to the Council for a sufficient amount OF
funds to carry out the work OF improve
ment.
THE BOARDS REPORT.
The report of the Board of Health fol-
To the Committee on Health. Richmond.
Va:
MISUNDERSTANDING to your request,
we have made a careful inspection of all
the school buildings The general condi-
ton OF all is very good The plumbing,
lighting, and heating, as a rule. is all
that could be desired. rhe new build
inGs are certainly up-to-date in every
particular. The older ones, some OF
which were never intended for school
purposes, have been made as comforta-
bic school rooms as could have possibly
been done under the circumstances. The
defects to which we will call your atten-
ton IN dealing with the individual
schools are none of a very grave char
acter, some of which can be rernedied;
others, which are of an architectural ma
ture, Will, in all probability, have to re-
main
The plumbing was gone over last year
by our inspector of plumbing, Mr.. Lam
ders. lie had+every defect remedied. and
in most cases had new plumbing put
into the buildings, and it is as sanitary
now as possible to be made.
Ventilation can always be secured
through the windows, but in a great
many cases we find the teachers con-
found ventilation with temperature.
and in many cases the rooms are SO
heated that it is almost impossible to
maintain proper temperature. and at the
same time secure perfect ventilation.
HIGH SCHOOL
We first visited the High School This
is an old building, badly lighted and
poorly ventilated. If possible. the VIM
dows should be cut #on !, level with the
floor. instead of being three feet from
the floors, as they are at present, ana
The Railways. might be lighted and ven
tiiated by a skyl!ght through the center
of the building. We do not pose as
architects, but only recognize the tacl
that this building is defective In these
two essentials, and if they cannot be
remedied. it should be abandoned and a
new one erected
Next is Central school.-This is one OF
the best buildings. The light comes into
. the ssen b ly-room through the wrong
erection.
eternal school tcolored This build-s