Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-26
certain Greeks and Romans, of whom
one has painfully to learn in the history
PORTABLE SCHOOL HOUSES.
cleveland's Plan Of Relieving the
Crowded Schools.

Cleveland O.-The problem of
the overcrowded condition of the
schools of Cleveland is being solved in
a novel and highly satisfactory man
ner. Portable school houses at a cost
CT $3.50 each, and admirably equipped
in all the appointments necessary to
the health and comfort of the pupils.
are being rapidly installed. To> meet
the demand $4,000 may yet have to be
expended in this city in the erection of
a sufficient number of these structures.
There are many cities just at this
time that are having to deal with the
problem of overcrowded schools. This
includes cities of the smaller size-10,-
600 or $4,000 inhabitants as well as the
largest cities. To build elaborate
school buildings, or, in fact, even sub
stantial brick buildings, usually re-
cuireS the issue of bonds, and increased
taxation, and this often is looked upon
as burden by the masses. 1t may be
that the portable school house will
eventually come into very general use,
at least as means to tide over trying
conditions temporarily.
The portable school house is truly an
innovation in that 1t can be taken
apart, carried on dray to another part
CT the city, and put together again, all
within three or four days time. The
several parts are numbered and
fastened by screws, thus allowing OF
this quick shift from one site to anoth-
er. The houses are green in color.
They stand fifteen feet high, and the
area of ground covered by most of them
is 26X34 feet. The height of the fnte-
rior is twelve feet. which is as high as
the ordinary school room. The sides of
the building are IN six pieces each, the
ends in five, the roof in twenty-four
and the floors in twelve. Beneath the
outer sections of the buildings there is
another well-matched wall and the side
of this next the school room forms the
background around the room. The
foundation is of posts driven in the
ground. The building is made fire.
proof by preparation of sea grass
within the walls and floor.
In size the portable school house Is
not unlike the old district school house
except perhaps for height of ceiling.
but in it's equipment it is radically
modern, even tho u stove is used for
heating. The pipe from the stove
passes thru the center of ventilator
IN the ceiling. The air in the ventilator
by being so close to the stove pipe is
kept warm, and is constantly rising.
thus insuring the best of ventilation.
Special attention is also paid to ade-
quate lighting tho the windows are not
found on all four sides of the building.
The site these buildings must occupy Is.
in many instances, such that good light
can only be obtained from one or two
directions.
These little green buildings occupy a
convenient portion of the school
In one term the overcrowded condition
may be found In one part of the city.
and the next year in another section,
the portable school building being
moved to suit the existing need. Some
times as many as three portable school
houses may be found on the some
school play ground. Where the over
crowded condition is noticeable year
after year in a certain locality, 1t VIII
signify the permanent need of in
creased room. and arrangements will
then be made to fill the want with
large brick building or suitable addi-
ton to the main building.
The first few of these school houses
have been completed in Cleveland and
two or three are already in use. The
first was tried at the Denison avenue
school and the teacher and pupils oc-
cupying 1t declared 1t to be superior in
point of comfort to the room they pre-
viously occupied in the main brick
building
The $4,000 which may be expended
in building these portable structures
would build. it is estimated, fifty of
them. This would provide for 1000
children. Several cities, where condi-
tons are like those in Cleveland, will
watch the workings of the new plan
there with much interest.