The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-10

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The result of the board of edu'
cation discussion of the school fire
protection question last night is
the conclusion that If the citizens
want the buildings more thorough.
ly protected another bond issue
will have to be voted.
| The estimated cost of equipping
all the buildings with escapes is
5000, but the board has no funds
to draw on for that amount.
The directors desire a 100000
| issue with which to procure addi'
tional sites and buildings, and it is
| figured that this amount will leave
a margin for adequate fire protec-
ton.
The situation is discouraging to
| advocates of speedy action to OBJ
viate every detail of fire panic dan
ger that can be reached. BY the
time a bond issue is voted and Sc
cured the appalling object lesson
/ of the Collinwood disaster will
have lost it's force in a great de-
gree and there is plenty of oppor-
tunity for possible loss of life and
limb here in the interim.
It Is admitted that each building
of two stories should be provided
with other means of emergency ex-
it than halls and doors. and the
probable fatal results and certainty
of injury to children leaping from
secnd story windows cannot be
smoothed over.
charged with the care of schools
and public safety this latter dan
ger appears to be the only one de.
! handing immediate attention, as
the brick walls. wide stairs and
open doors are considered safely
adequate II exit is not cut off from
below.
Pres. J. M. Raught and DR.. Allen
last night were both outspoken in
demanding installation of fire es-
capes and other means that will
minimize to the last degree all
risks.
l.. l.. Rand, architect, gave the
board expert opinions on the con-
dition OF the various buildings
from safety standpoint, He con-
sidered the schools reasonably
safe now, but suggested fire proof
furnace rooms and stairways with
asbestos lining between floors of
all buildings hereafter constructed.
This testimony proves at least
that the buildings are not by any
means fireproof now nor as nearly
so as they could and should have
been constructed.
Rand took issue with DR.. Aliens
argument that the buildings would
better be covered with fire escapes
than to take any risk, holding that
| If escapes were put on second story
buildings they should open from
the Railways. He argued that chill
dren could not be marched out
from among the seats directly onto
the escapes without confusion, but
how they could be marched into
the hall and merged into classes
from other rooms under panicky
conditions with better results is
difficult to understand.
An outcome of the discussion
was an inspection made by the
board this morning of the high
school, in company with Chief
Myers and Commissioners O'Brien
and Roy. Fire drill was called and
the building emptied in two min
utes.
No practice use of the escapes is
ever made, however. and the drills
cannot insure cool conduct of the
pupils with fire roaring around
them.
1t has been suggested that a
harmless smoke be created at the
drills, but this has been set down
on by the board for fear of seri-
Gus consequences. This proves that
the drills are not to be entirely re-
lied upon. The result of the COM
missions investigation as given
above is conclusive.
The oil preparation used on the
floors Is still another element of
danger, although the school au-
thorities say II is considered not
generally inflammable. This APP
pears to be about as near as any
body can get to "A definite state.
ment as to the quality of the oil,
How a Standard Oil product could
he anything else but inhammable
needs a clearer exposition to be ac-
ceptable to parents and greater
justification for its use than now
appears.
There is a two story wooden
school building in the district out
beyond Hangman creek. This has
no fire escapes and a fire there
With any start would undoubtedly