New-York tribune., 1902-03-09

ago that great pressure will be used TO Sc
cure an immediate appropriation for the build
ing of new Manual Training High School.
The building now used is FIVE story brick
structure. built in 1870 For time II
occupied a police headquarters. Then for
while il rented TO private persons and the
floors were cut up by lath and plaster parti-
tions In 1885 the building was taken by the
Board of Education and used for the Central
Grammar School. Then the Manual Training
School was started. Charles D. Larkins is now
the principal The school has steadily grown until
now there are more than seven hundred pupils
crowded into quarters scarcely adequate for half
that nslmber. The rooms have been patched up
here and there, but much dilapidated. The
plumbing is not only inadequate but exceedingly
unsanitary well. There are two fire escapes.
One leading into an inclosed yard IN the rear.
the building inspector has declared useless in
case of fire. as persons leaving the building by
that means would be penned in the yard.
The other fire escape consists of an iron stair
case on the Livingston-st. side of the building.
The interior OF the school is crowded that
this staircase is used by the pupils in going to
and from the various floors. It is reached from
the windows. An annex to the school has been
started in the bank building across the street.
One class has to cross the street eighteen times
week and climb sxty-flve flights OF stairs.
Several classes work in the same room. In the
carpenter shop classes in algebra recite at the
same time with classes in surveying. The type
writing classes share little six by twelve
room with the bookkeeping classes. The senior
class in French recites on the stairs. So over
crowded is the school that most of the manual
training features have been abandoned.
The ground floor Of the building has been
used for commercial purposes. One Of the stores
Is occupied by a milliner, and another by
picture store. In the of the latter the
visiting officials Friday found little room,
.ezI rfaT hi lrld
with pieces OF wood and shavngs. There was
an oilstove burning in the place. and a gas jet
was near some of the thin wood. In case Of a
panic account Of fire, or for any other reason,
the loss Of life among the children would un-
doubtedly be appalling.
The borough officials have decided TO remedy
the conditions as much possible without
closing the school entirely. The tenants the
ground floor the mner and the picture man,
room for the pupils. Then a suite of rooms will
be rented in the Temple Bar Building and
number Of classes will be transferred there.
This will still further relieve the congestion.
What is more to the point. active steps will
al once De taken TO secure an Appropriation for
a new manual training high school The city
cwns site in Seventh-ave., between Fourth
and Fifth SITS, which was originally purchased
for a manual training high school. AS the
School Board could not then get any money for
the building il determined TO build gram
mar school on the site The grammar school
has not yet been started.
The site is still avaiabl for its original pur-
pose. Plans for modern and handsome manual
I6hlnS pulIolHS nave peen READY Tor many
months.
Among the officials who are thoroughly
aroused over the dangerous condition of the
present school Borough President Swan
strom, DR.. j. H. Raymond. assistant sanitary
superintendent; Controller Grout Deputy Fire
Commissioner Laimbeer and Frank a. Babbott
chairman OF the high schools committee of the
Board Of Education. DR.. Raymond sets forth
the following serious objections to the school:
First overcrowded condition; second. bad sani-
tary condition Of the plumbing; third danger
from fire; fourth changing Of classes from one
building TO another; fifth, improper lighting.
All Of the officials agree in this condemnation.
Borough President SWanstrom declares that he
would mot allow a child of his TO attend the
school. II is more than likely that a number of
the pupils viii be taken out of the school by
their parents
W NJ Calder. superintendent Of buildings.
after thorough examination of the building
has informed the Board of Education that II
will be Obliged to close the school, His letter
to the board is follows
Gentlemen: Having examined the building on
the southwest corner Of Livingston and Court
SITS. and occupied as the Manual Training
School, find one-half of the first floor occupied
as a picture store. also by a furrier with work
rooms in the rear. In these rooms are stored
quantities Of infammable materials. which
might easily be ignited, and this store, having
wood partitions and ceilings would very readily
be the means Of quickly conveying the flames TO
the stories above. II the Board of Education
continues to occupy this building ii should also
control the occupancy of stores the first floor.
The sntire building is non-freproof and the
means of exit are totally inadequate. The rear
fire escape is useless under almost any cond-
ton: the escape the Ltvingston-st side can
be reached only from the windows. The Bureau
Of Buildings requires: First that at least
cape shall have the sash replaced by doors open