The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-13
FIRE TRAPS
 FORCHILDREN Three New SChOOlhOuSeS
 to Be Erected. WORK TO BEGIN SOON Mayor Says Old Council
 Adopted the Plans. Buildings at West End, Bellinger Heights and Highland Park
 Are to Be Constructed of
 veneered Brick.

Contracts for the construction of three school buildings in Montgomery's al- nexed territory will be signed by Mayor Thomas H. Carr tomorrow morning and work will begin on the buildings at once, notwithstanding 1t is contended that the plans provide for fire traps.
 The buildings are to cost approximately S30.G00 each. They are to be built with brick veneering, which is admittedly a mistake. Mayor Carr explains his po- sitIcn in agreeing to the contracts by saying they were awarded by the old City Council before his administrator began, and that he fell heir to bad agree ments which he does not seem willing to correct.
 The new school houses will he located on Clly Street, near tho Peoples Cot ton Factory in West End, on Highland Avenue in Highland Park, and on Fin ley Avenue, between Lawrence and Per ry Streets, on Belllngcr Heights.
 The fourth suburban school, that i'll Yesuvius or North Montgomery, will oc- cupy a rented building permanently.
 Bids for the reconstruction of the burn ed Heron Street school building will be opened next Friday.
 Mayor Carr held lengthy conference in his office at the City Hall yesterja J afternoon with contractors and archl- tects of the three new buildings. It was expected that the Mayor would sign thc contracts, as authorized by the Council, yesterday. Late in the evening he sad the contracts would be signed MonGay morning. They would have been signcc yesterday, he said, but the signing was deferred owing to the fact that it was necessary to transcribe the copies of the contracts.
 When his attention was drawn to tne fact that reliable architects had declared that 1t was a mistake to construct the buildings of veneercd brick, Mayor CaTi admitted this was true.
 You will remember. said the Mayor, that these contracts were awarded oy the old Council and before came Into office. I have refused to sign them urtiI Ell doubt of tho constitutionality of the Greater Montgomery act was removed ''
 But" 1t was suggested to the Mayor, 'it is said tie construction of these buildings with veneercd brick and the plans adopted will make them fire traps"
 "I don't think so,' replied the Mayor. ''I greatly prefer solid brick buildings,
 but the old Council settled on the plans
 l have before me. The solid brick build ings would cost considerably more than
 the veneered brick and I understand the
 insurance rate is the same. I do not
 apprehend any danger from fire" The proposed school buildings are to
 be completed by September Is. They are
 to be built of veneered brick with stone
 trimmings and are to be heated and
 ventilated with a mechanical furnace system which has not been used in Mont gomery.
 By veneered brick Is meant that the buildings are to be constructed of wood
 with four-inch brick veneering on the outside walls. There are to be stud and | lath petitions and stud and lath walls | inside with no brick inside walls to stop
 spread of fire. The floor joists are | to be of wood and all interior furnish | lngs are to be of wood
 The plans adopted for the new school | houses provide for but two ground floor
 exits from the buildings which are to be | perfectly square.
 Architects who have examined the plans declare that the city is about to construct
 death traps for pupils of the public
 schools.