Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-14
AUTHORITY TO BE SECURED
Building Inspector to Present the
Matter to Commissioners.
TO BE TRIED IN PETWORTH
Method Resorted to for Relief OF
Congested Conditions-Approved
by Superintendent.


school population Of the District and the
dearth of room to accommodate pupils
which came prominently to notice at the
beginning of the present school term. the
local authorities have planned to at least
temporarily relieve the congested condi-
tions by the construction Of portable
buildings 1t is understood that Building
Inspector Snowden Ashford will apply
to the Commissioners fer the necessary
authority within the next few days. and
the first Of the portable schools. which
might we'll be styled experimental, win be
constructed at Petworth.
AS far as the District OF Columbia ts
concerned. the utilization OF temporary
building of such type that they can be
moved from place to pace IL an innova-
ton. but similar structures have been
used In other cities with great success
Soon after the rush OF pupils to the
schools September q had demonstrated
that halliday instruction must be the fate
Of many children. and all school accom-
|modations must be denied to others. Super-
intendent Chancellor wrote letter to VIII
liam B. Illner. commissioner Of school
buildings Of St. Louis. MO. seeking in
formation about portable schools. Mr..
liners reply has just been received, and
It contained the addresses Of several nrms
which make a specially OF temporary
StEuCluTe6 Oh tIllS CudTdCICT, 80 u6SakHcu
in sections that the work Of building Is
reduced to a minimum. At the same time
Mr.. Iliner sent complete data and photo
graphs of portable schools which are in
use in st. Louis to Capt. Jay J. Morrow,
Engineer Commissioner of the District of
Columbia
Reasons for Location.
1t is said to be customary to locate the
portable schools adjacent to existing
school buildings, so that no difficulty
need be experienced with the sanitary ar
rangemefts. Another great advantage
claimed for the portable school is that it
may be readily moved from section to
section as the needs of the extremely
flexible school population demand.
Snowden Ashford. building inspector
or the District and one of the best au-
thoritfes on building in the city, firmly
believes In the possibilities of portable
buildings for school purposes, and he
will within the next day or so recon-
he be given authority to construct one
at Petworth to be used as an expert
ment, and from what he says 1t is likely
his suggestion will be approved.
Extensively Used Elsewhere.
Mr.. Ashford says that portable schools
are being extensively used in the west.
They are constructed on the same plans
as the portable camp houses and huts
that are so commonly advertised In the
magazines. The buildings are made of
frame in the form Of panels, and the
panels are put together with carriage
bolts.
The buildings are only one story high
and are heated by means of stoves. The
floors are of hard pine and the roofs
ire made Of shingles. When asked about
the cost OF such buildings he said that
the style Of one he contemplates erect
ing. which will be twenty-four feet by
thirty-three feet, having a capacity to &C
commodate fifty children. costs $1,000 In
the west. where timber Is cheaper but
he expects 1t to cost about 5000 in Wash
ington. Even at this approximate cost,
Mr.. Ashford says, 1t would mean a great
saving to the District, as well as con-
venience and at the same time settle
number of knotty questions that have
arisen lately concerning the location of
schools.
Mr. Ashford is in possession of plans
for a portable school building which
were shipped to him by William B. Ittner.
commissioner Of school buildings of st.
Louis Mr.. timer also sent specifica-
tions and all the necessary Information
regarding portable school buildings, as
well as several photographs.
The reason for Inspector Ashford choos-
ing Petworth for the scene OF his expert
ment is said to be the present UNI
satisfactory school conditions in that
suburb. Because Of the crowded condi-
ton of the schools of Petworth the chill
dren of the primary grade are placed
in the basement of the building. which. 1t
Is alleged. is poorly ventilated. badly
lighted and damp. Recent protests
against these conditions have been made
by the women Of Petworth. who have
taken up the matter of providing more
suitable quarters with the board Of edu-
cation. The Petworth Citizens Associa-
ton has also a similar protest under