The Ketchikan miner., 1907-12-14
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN
 tBy Leo Ranney

AD. Leo RduL6.
 It is gratifying to note the progress being made in the rhetorical work of our literary society, recently organiz- ed. While it means harder work, as the attainment of anything desirable must always mean, we are sure that the pupils will be repaid most abun- dantly for this added effort That the public may know something of the character of the papers written, we have decided to publish this week some editorials that have appeared in "The School Mate. ' our official paper. The fact that these articles are pub- lished must not be taken to indicate that they are out of the ordinary, or in any way superior to many other productions which may net be printed because of lack of space:
 Our Lack of Fire Protection. When we are not expecting anything it al ways happens. In school we never think Of a fire. Al We think about is our lessons, what grades we will get on our report especially in arithmetic and deportment-and how we can escape the examinations at the end ct the term. When We least ex- pect fire it is always sure to come. We have DO fire protection in the school house, not even a hose. There are no water-pipes above the base ment: there are no ladders handy in case of fire: the only way to reach the roof is to bring ladder up from the basement and pat it through the open ing in the ceiling in the hall: when the garret is reached there is no floor to stand upon-only few boards over the joice: neither is there lad der leading mp to the tower In the basement there is nothing 10 which hose may be attached, because the faucets are too small The nearest hydrant is outside the school. yard. 1t would take the fire department about ten minutes to climb the hill with the hose. In case of fire the pupils would all crowd down stairs in iiont of the large doors, and those doors swing in- ward. If these were locked the one, who opened them would be compelled to first push the children back If these. doors swung outward there woulee be no confusion of this kind. The. building is very dry inside. and as. there is good deal of stove pipe it could easily catch fire. It would be a. great deal cheaper to have steam heat, as when it is cold each of the rooms, requires at least two buckets of coal d day, while steam heat is much safer. As some of the boys are careless with matches and drop them on the floor, and the c K 4 danger Of them catching fire. There are oils and paints in tlie basement under. the stairs, which will burn furiously if they ever catch fire. As you all know the school house is situated on the hill right in the cour'e oi every heavy wind, and should it up the fire would certainty make short work Of wooden structure like tlis. We should have a ho.e, reddy for use at q moments notice in each of tbe rooms: ladders, grenades, aud in fact All fire apparatus that is reccs- sary. The cost would not b. ro3iced. rihotli our selool house burn, doulu- less ey.r! Iiojy would begiu 10 tidpk
 i3~ wite it Aonid have been 10 have fad every p1-s' ble njeauB oi ppotec- ign, and whni M1pI0 thousand i.,jes the rost oi aop1oatds be m eG pll l. -.m #iU1 oi,s'. lil'3 Tit" r.oa 2 .ps ip9i -ily n Egehfsp 'u 'n- apl-t
 saad pest tfe er, fs tarse-e. !..t fhe cGi1s5, ol K@s3ikIn e11.sa r sh F, f'c's atd we az sure fha lie present careie,sness will not coa inuc iong.
 LILLiAa MAjonY..