The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-06
Lack of Protection for
School Children Dis
covered by Superin-
tendent Stuart.
Franklin School Building
Has Pipe-No Hose.
Fire Escapes Are
PerilOuS.

That but one or two of the school
buildings of Washington have water
pipes and hose within them; that
the fre-escapes on practically all Of
them are antiquated, and that there
is but one really freProoi school
building in the city-the Mckinley
develops from a preliminary inves-
tigation suggested by the Cleveland
holocaust, which cost the lives OF
1S4 school children.
IN the beginning il may be said
that this condition is through no
fault of the Board of Education or
the Commissioners, both bodies hav-
ing advocated improved school
buildings, but is due rather TO the
fact that Congress has not seen fit
10 press the matter. On the other
hand. the Washington school build
ings are comparatively safe owing
10 the number and accessibility Of
their exits. This is "a redeeming
feature, but lack of fire-escapes and
water pipes undoubtedly adds to
dangers which might be obviated.
Pipes-NO Hose.
striking example is the Franklin
School Itself, a building in which the
school headquarters are located. There
are pipes in this building, but no hose
and without water hose the pipes are
useless. II is also doubtful that the
pipes themselves have been tested for
the past four years. A struggle with
the wheel this morning indicatd they
had not
The hre-escapes on the alley side and
on the X street side are nothing but
narrow perpendicular ladders. A de-
scent on them would almost make a
fireman dizzy, to say nothing or a
small child. It is said that the fire
escapes are at least fifteen years old.
Fire-escapes on other school buildings
are but little better, some being old
and some new.
Water Pressure Too Light
Immediately after the Iroquois Thea
ter disaster il is said that a move
ment was begun to equip the Franklin
School with hose to be used in con-
nectlon with the standing pipes thc-e
hut il was discovered that the water
pressure was not sufficient to force the
water through the pipes and so no hose
was necessary.
The matter was taken up yesterday,
however. by the school authorities and
a request will so to the Commissioners
90 provide the building with hose. in
aSmuch as the water pressure is now
sufficient
So far as could be learned this morn
ing. the Franklin is the only school
equipped with water pipe or hose OF any
kind.
Roof Infammable.
Another source of danger existing in
many OF the schools, and one that may
OF may not some day result disastrous
", as the fates decree, is the inflam-
nable roof of the janitors quarters IN
delneath the schoolrOoms. In the Frank
liE building. for instance, the janitor's
room has a roof that would be an aid
10 any fire that might start therein.
. here would be nothing 20 prevent a
like rapidity through the wooden floors
of the Classrooms. This is a defect that
exists in other school buildings.
Investigating Defects.
Inspired by the Cleveland disaster. Su-
pecintendent Stuart has called upon
every principal today for a statement of
the defects in their respective buildings,
and has admonished them to make a
very careful investigation of and re-
port any existing condition that might |
CONTINUED on Second pagaN