The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-22
VERY MANY
SCHOOLS
INSANITARY.
Inspector Of Plumbing Bemls
Reports a Lack Of Sewer
Connections.

Reuben 8 Bemis. Inspector OF plumb
Ing. yesterday submitted his report to
the board OF aldermen. in which he
makes some very interesting recon-
mendatons
He states that I'm II Of the schools the
conditions are EXTREMITY unhealthy, and
gives In detail the grave dangers 70
which the pupils are exposed. In the
yards OF 81 schools, which he names. are
outdoor privies and 26 OF the number are
on severed streets. 50 that there seems
little excuse for not having connections.
These outhouses are, he says, a menace
10 the health OF the school children and
a nuisance besides.
CITY VIOLATES REGULATIONS.
Mr.. Bemis asks why the city should be
allowed TO violate sanitary regulations
which IL requires individuals 10 observe,
and states that there can be no sat
isfactory reason for the retention OF out
door vaults on public property abutting
on or near severed highways" In con-
oIusion, he states that "the city's only
course Is to give the school children the
full benefit OF the system OF public
sewers without delay"
Mr. Bemis says the cost OF the rec
ommended improvements would proba-
bly, be $1,000.
The report. I'm part, Is as follows:
when the dry closet was introduced
the sewerage system had not been de-
veloped. The city, in consequence. was
forced 10 dispose OF sewage without
drainage facilities. On unsewered streets
this vexatious problem was solved by
the adoption OF a system Of heating and
ventilation used In combination with dry
vaults located I'm the building. The city
having constructed sewers in streets on
which a large number Of school build
ings are located. there Is no excuse for
the retention OF the dry closets, yet the
vaults are in use today in 15 schools:
Atwellis avenue, Almy street Beacon
avenue. Branch avenue. Bourn street.
California avenue. Eddy street, Harris
avenue. Julian street, Niagara street,
Roosevelt street, Sisson street, Veazie
street, Willard avenue.
RELIEVE FROM DANGER.
I'm the opinion OF this department II is
both desirable and economical 20 relieve
the school children from the dangers OF
the dry closets The Smead vault sys-
tenn is expensive in operation es well as
detrimental 10 health The vault, located
I'm the basement. is the depository of the
excremental wastes. From one end or
the vault a duct extends directly TO the
school rooms. with which IL Is connected
at points near the floor. At the other
end OF the vault IS an air shaft, called
the stack, which IS carried above the
roof
"In this stack is n stove or heater.
which, when hot, creates an up .draught
I'm the stack and induces a downward
current OF air from the school rooms.
This air current passes through the vault
20 the stack and escapes above the roof.
This most lamentable condition can be
prevented only by a continuous move
ment OF the air from the rooms through
the vault and UP the vent shaft. and the
maintenance OF the current In dependent
upon the heater. Here is one OF the
weak points OF the vault system. Should
the fire in the stack heater go out the
air current Is liable 10 be reversed.
"The work included in keeping this
fire going IS simply too exacting for the