Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-21
URGENT SCHOOL NEEDS
Commissioner Morrow Would
Remedy Defects.
FURNISHES SOME FIGURES
Declares District Is Far Behind
Other Cities.
NEW BUILDINGS ARE NEEDED
Washington Is Not Spending the
Money for Schools as in Most
Other Progressive Cities.

1t is believed by Commissioner Morrow
that in the past ten years the D1strlct OF
Columbia has fallen behind in the con-
struction of new school buildings to the
extent of at least 81 100000. compared
with moneys spent on public schools IN
other large cities. He says there is I'M
mediate need for new construction to meet
this defect. a need which should be
remedied by as liberal appropriations as
possible for the next four or five years.
He contends that the growth Of the Dis
trict demands a yearly appropriation Tor
new buildings and SITES of about $SOo.0OO
to make up the deficit acquired by what
he terms a partial neglect in the past
With this regula: amount appropriated
each year for the next five years ne be-
lieves the urgent school needs VIII De
supplied after which time normal oasis
will be reached. when it will only be
necessary to ask for an appropr1a ton lot
about $500 600 a year.
Commissioner Morrow bases these fg-
ures on an authorization or requirement
of better construction in the building
He says: Most of the latest buildings
in the District are not tireproot ana
because of the mad equate appropriations
are built at a cost Of about 1l12 cents per
of constructions should be raised to
cost of about II cents per cubic loot, the
cost decreasing for the larger building
This contemplates fireproof construction
from the foundation up to the ceiling OF
the top floor
Last Years Report.
In the report made to Congress last
year the schoolhouse commission Of the
District. Of which Commissioner Morrow
was chairman. after visiting the schools
in half hundred cities throughout the
country, in recommending changes in re-
gard to the size of appropriations tor the
schools of Washington. said: 1T is rec
ognized that the expenses OF conouctlng
the public school system in Washington
are probably higher than possibly IN any
other community, whether measured oy
the amount expended per child enrolled
or by the amount expended per l'ooo OF
residents of the District Inc commission
believes that changes in the organiZa-
ton might be made to work economies
in this respect, but that SO long as sep
arate systems of education OF the Two
races are maintained and an equantS
maintained in all respects between the
two systems land it is believed that no
other treatment is possible herel the ex-
penses must be greater than IN other
cities.
1T is, however. certain that Washing
in the construction Of new buildings as
have most other progressive cities or the
country. The type OF construction snouid
be better than that used In Washington.
With view Of providing for the IN
spection of public school buildings to de-
termine what measures should be taken
to furnish additional protection from ac-
cident in case Of fire. and also to deter
mine what additional measures should De
taken to provide proper sanitation OF the
schools. the Engineer Commlss-one1. MAJ.
Morrow. under date Of October IA. made
motion to the board of Commissioners
that two committees OF District officials
be designated to make such Inspection.
The first committee was recommended to
be made I'D of the assistant to the EN-
eineer Commissioner in charge of build
ing department, Capt William Kelly; the
chief engineer Of the fire department.. and
the inspector o. buildings. The second
committee was recommended to be made
I'D of the assistant to the Engineer Com
Missioner. in charge of building depart
ment, the inspector OF buildings ana the
health officer.
This motion was approved by the Com
missioners and an order will be issued
to carry it into effect.
Examination Of Buildings.
Upon the completion Of any new school
buildings, or when question arises as
to structural conditions or conditions
concerning safety from fire in any school
building, it. will be the duty of the first
named committee to make thorough
examination of the building and report
it's conclusions to the Commissioners:
and SINH .arly when any question arises
as to the sanitary conditions in the pub
lie school buildings the second committee
will make an examination of the condi-
tons and report to the Commissioners.
The Commissioners believe that with
these two expert boards a satisfactory
solution will be reached of all questions
affecting the safety or nealth of the pu-
pills and teachers in the public schools.
and the differences of opinion as to what
measures should be taken to put the
schools in safe and sanitary condition
will be harmonZed.
The Engineer Commissioner made this
motion after a conference with the pres
ident of the board Of education, and the
method above outlined is believed to be
a proper mode of procedure to set at
rest the criticisms which have been d.
rected against the Commissioners largely
as a result of individual inspections made
by inspectors of the health department
and by the chief engineer Of the fire de-
partment on different and separate occa-
sionS.