Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-19
EDUCATION BOARD
ASKS FOR 100000
Needs the Money to Remove
Fire Danger in Schools.
CONDITION OF BUILDINGS
Consideration Given Reports Of
Local officials.
CRITICISM OF COMMISSIONERS
Provisions of Proposed Law Fail to
Receive Approval-Announce-
ment of Changes.
CRITICISM OF COMMISSIONERS


cation at a special meeting in the Frank
lin School building late yesterday after
noon 1t is set forth that failure of the
District Commissioners to carry out rec
concentrations of the board is largely re-
sponsible for existing fire danger in the
school buildings ofthe District. Decision was
reached to ask Congress to appropriate
about 500. 900 TO remedy the situation.
Members Of the board INDUCED in caus-
tic comment as to certain conditions Of
school buildings regarded as dangerous in
the event Of fire. One member declared
that the location of fire escapes on only
one side of building is "a most ridicu-
lous condition.. Another rema rked that
many of the present fire escapes ''are as
dangerous to the children as fire." Sew
eral members mentioned that school build
ings are built by District officials without
consultation with school authorities. who
must use the buildings and who know
best what is needed and what arrange
ments are wanted.
Remedying Danger Of Fire.
. Interest in the meeting centered in the
report of the estimates for remedying the
fire dangers. All the members of the board
were present. President Oyster first pre-
scented the report of Supt. Stuart regard
ing the fire danger, previously made pub
lie. and the report of Fire Chief Belt was
also submitted. Both were read.
Does the superintendent bring out in
his report that the fire escapes of the
schools run only down to the second floor
and that the children must jump the rest
of the way" Mrs. Terrell asked.
The Commissioners secured the pas
sage of a fire escape law some time ago."
Capt. Oyster stated. THE authors of
that law have examined public and pri-
vate buildings since then, but failed to
examine the fire escapes of the schools,
and / have not heard of any changes in
fire escapes of schools since that investi-
CATION
Report of Committee.
". V. Cox, chairman of the ways and
means committee. which has charge of
estimates. presented the committees re-
port of the amount of money needed from
Congress to make school buildings safe,
even in the event OF a fire.
1T was supposed by the committee"
MIR. Cox stated, "tha4 after the securing of
the legislation by the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia for the placing
of fire escapes on schools and other places
of assembly they would see that es-
Inmates for fire escapes were prepared,
appropriations secured and the appliances
erected on the public buildings under their
care. But as their letter indicates that
this Is matter for the board of educa-
ion to look after. we take pleasure in sub
uniting the accompanying recommended
ton
The law governing the erection Of fire
escapes in the District is called public
act No. So and was approved March 10,
1906. The first section provides:
1T shall be the duty of the owner,
lessee occupant or person having posses
sion charge or control of any building
three or more stories in height. or over
thirty feet in height. constructed or used
or intended to. be used as tenement
house apartment house, fiat. hotel, Office
building. store. hospital. seminary, acad-
envy. school. college, institute dormitory.
asylum sanitarium. hall or place OF
amusement. to provide and cause to be
erected and fixed to every such building.
connecting with each floor above the first
floor by easily accessible and unob-
structed openings, one or more suitable
fire escapes, in such location and number,
and of such material. type and construc-
ton as the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia may determine
Section 3 of the law requires that those
in charge of the buildings outlined in the
first section shall maintain therein
proper and sufficient guide signs, guide
iiants. exit lights. hall and stairway
lights. fire hose and fire eXtinguishers. in
suck location and numbers and of such
type and character as the Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia may deter
mine. Another section provides that per-
SONS guilty Of failing or neglecting to
provide fire escapes etc. upon conviction
sail he fined not less than $40 or over
$IW
The board ii is understood, maintains
the Commissioners, being in charge of the
construction and repair of all school
buildings and Of the school funds for such
purposes. are the persons to secure proper
fire escapes for the schools. and so liable
under the law for a failure to provide the
hre escapes.
Estimates for Changes.
The report follows:
The committee recommends that the
accompanying estimates for changes in
school buildings and appliances be SUBJ
mtted
those of fireproof construction in the fol-
lowing buildings:
.'Banneker. Logan, Ambush. Giddings,
Phelps. Towers. Amidon. Jackson, Madi
son. Blair. Brightwood. Monroe. Takoma.
Tenley. Blake, Carbery Magruder Phil
lips. Wormley. Van Buren, old part OF
School, Potomac, Threlkeld, Hamilton,
WOODBURY. Benning. Langdon, Reservoir
Chevy Chase. Burvile, Birney Annex and
Reno schools. SlJo.U01, or so much thereof
as may be necessary.
For the erection of two fOur-room
buildings for manual training to replace
the High street and Hillsdale schools
$i 600. or So much thereof as may be
necessary.
For the purchase of site and the cree
ton of four four-room buildings for