The Washington times., 1908-03-08
" WoefuIly Deficient, ="
Says Report of Board
Committee.
Plans Now Being Made
to Safeguard the
Buildings.

sonal Investigations of all the school
buildings with regard TO their protec-
tion. or rather lack of protection.
against fire, indicates that nearly Ill
OF the buildings are Woefully deficient
IN even the ordinary precautions
President Oyster, OF the Board of Edu-
cation, received yesterday afternoon q
report as to the number of nre eN-
tinguishers in use. In many of the
buildings there are not and have never
been any eXIinguishcrs. In others.
these eXtinguishers in some instances
have not been repIenished for two or
more years
While it may be pointed out that eX-
tinguishers are not imperative in the
equipment of a building. their absence
in this particular instance does not ar
que well. considering The fact as al
ready published in The Times. that the
hre-escapes are defective, that there
are no water pipes OF hose. and that
some Of the buildings have wooden and
defective stairways.
Few Fire Extinguishers.
The figures, however, regarding the
fire extinguishers speak for themselves
The report of the principals. acting un-
der Superintendent Stuart and the pres
tdent OF the board shows a distribution
OF these hre-hghtipg adjuncts as fol-
lows:
Central High-Three extinguishers;
charged two years ago.
Eastern High-Three eXunguisners;
repIenished February 1905.
Western High-Noue.
Business High-Three; out OF order.
Neutrality-suspicious.
The FIRST divisIon-None.
Second division-B errett School-One;
charged December. 1896. Dennison
schooI-Two; charged August. 1907.
Third division-WoodbuTn School
Two; charged two yerrs ago.
Fourth division-Seatou SchOol-Ihreei
charged March. 1903.
Fifth division-Gales SchOol-Four;
charged March. 1905
Sixth divisiou-None.
Seventh division-Peabody School
-Four; charged June. 1907. Towers
school-Three; charged June and Sep
TENDER. 1901. Brent SchOol-Threes
charged june 1896.
Eighth Observation-Disclosures School
Three; charged in 1865.
Ninth division-None.
It is explained that since the present
agitation began as a result Of the Cleve-
land disaster. these fire extinguishers
have been tested and found TO be in
working order. Notwithstanding the as
sumption that it is necessary 10 re
charge them every four months.
None Are FirepIoof.
Captain Oyster. i'm expressing salts
faction at the present agitation and the
steps being taken to bring about a
better condition. said that it was not
claimed By any that the Washington
school buildings are freproof on the
other hand. as pointed out by The
Times. ne said the fire-escapes on many
Of them were Anticipated, that many had
wooden stsirways instead Of slate or
iron. and that the pupils would have
10 depend a great deal on wide exits
and the tire drill if a fire ever should
occur.
The present board, Captain oyster ex-
uIained was constantly fighting for re-
pairs to school buildings, especially for
the removal Of wooden stairways and
similar fire traps, but that in many in
stances appeals had been overlooked
by the Commissioners and the Building
Department. The appropriation for
such work. President Oyster said. had
been cut by the Commissioners for the
past two years, since the present board
has been I'm power
Would Make Improvements.
President oyster agreed with the
proposition that IT would be money wei
spent to increase the appropriation for
~
and make them fire-pTOof as the Com
missioners said yesterday afternoon
might be done. He is also an advocate
~ repairing present buildings, TO make
them as nearly fre-prOOf as possible.
as suggested by the Board of Tr.de at
Its meeting Friday night.
While il is not charged that any one
person is responsible for the present
unsatisfactory conditions ia the local
schools. that startling defects exist Is
nimi, ted by all superintendent StuaI
expects Monday a more detailed report
on The buildings without fire-egcr pes,
those having wooden stairs, and those
having insufficient exits. Steps then
will be taken TO secure an appropria-
ton to properly equip the buildings
1t is time that Congress became
schools along this line" said Captain
oyster last night. 1T has been exc
ceedingly hard TO awaken them TO our
real needs, and a disposition has been
shown TO rather cut our estimates,
which, of course, curtails our funds and
makes extensive Improvement impos-
slble."
Commissioners to Act.
Impressed by the necessity for imme-
diate action, the Commissioners yester-
day held a conference with a view of
recommending TO Congress the fire-
proofing of all new school buildings. in
GLIDING the three TO be erected in the
near future. Bids for the construction
OF a new school building IN b street
southeast, were opened. the lowest be-
ing that of W. r. Mooney, whose pro-
posal Is SOL 0S6.
The sum of S1C4.cOO was appropriated
for the building and site. 1t is estimated
that 10 make the building nre-proof
viii add $4,000 L. the cost of its con-
struction, and it is understood that the
Commissioners viii recommend an, sd-
"a Hr.r--4