Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-21
FOR FIRE PROTECTION
Estimates Furnished by the
Board of Education.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Report Forwarded to Congress, With
Favorable Recommendation.
ESTIMATE OF THE EXACT COST
Building Inspector to Ascertain
Amount of Expense Involved in
Installing Fire Escapes.

| Q
| The Commissioners yesterday received
| from the board of education the esti-
mate for Improvements in the fire protec-
| ion of the public school buildings under
the request o. the Commissioners that
| the board prepare such estimate upon
| the reports of Fire Chief Belt and SUI
| 1erintcHde1t Of Schools Stuart. Imme-
! lately upon receiving the estimate from
| he board. the Commissioners approved
| and transmitted it to Congress with
| avOrable recommendation.
| Snowden Ashford, building inspector,
| las been directed 10 make an estimate
| the exact cost of installing modern
| md standard fire escapes on such build
ags as is necessary.
The Commissioners have forwarded.
| trough Dr. Tindall their secretary, a
| etter to Harry O. Hine. secretary of the
BOARD of education in which they state
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia direct me to acknowledge the
'eceipt of your communication of March
| 10. 1GCS, in response to the request of the
commissioners that the board of educa-
ton prepare estimates for the improve
ment of the fire protection In the public
school buildings. in view of the reports
Of the chief engineer of the fire depart
ment and the superintendent of schools,
the law requiring that all estimates for
the public schools shall be prepared by
the board of education and transmitted
by the Commissioners with their recon-
mendations to Congress. and such esti-
mates not having been submitted by the
board of education.
Prompt Action Promised.
The Commissioners will take prompt
action upon the estimates now submitted.
The Commissioners for the past seven
years have recommended all estimates
submitted by the boaru of education for
improved fire protection and for repairs
and improvements to buildings and
grounds. and such appropriations as have
been made by Congress have been utilized
to the utmost in improved conditions. No
avoidable delay has occurred in the eX-
penditure of these appropriations. The es-
innate now submitted by the board of
education is in addition to all it's former
statements, and the need for it was not
apparently anticipated when the former
estimates were submitted to the Commits
sioners.
The Commissioners observe the state
ment of the board of education that the
adoption of it's recommendation for the
appointment of school architect to have
charge of the construction and repair of
school buildings under the direction of the
board of education would soon bring the
relief that is needed. and desire to say
that the appointment of a municipal archi-
tect at a salary of only $500 more than
the 5000 recommended by the board of
education for the school architect has
been recommended by the Commissioners
to Congress. and that such municipal
architect would be able to supervise the
construction and repair of all municipal
buildings. including school buildings: this
uy0 ha6 in
view by the board of education and at
the same time other similar purposes
without removing the administration of
this matter from the municipal govern
ment, where 1t belongs.
Comment by Mr.. Mcfarland.
Mr.. mcfarland said it was gratifying
to have this estimate so promptly fur
nished. since the Commissioners could
not ask for the necessary appropriations
until it was received. He called atten-
ton to the printed annual books of esti-
mates, showing that the last estimate
for fire escapes. fireproof stairways, fire
extnguishers and other. special fire pro-
lection was received by the Commission
ers from the board of education in 1904
Then. now. he said. the Commissioners
approved. as they have always done. such
recommendations. He said that the full
text of the estimates of the board of
education had been transmitted by the
Commissioners to Congress every year
since 1900, even though the Commission
ers could not always approve all the
estimates not relating to fire protection,
and that Congress had considered both
the estimates recommended by the Com
missioners and those not so recommended
granting sometimes one and sometimes
the other, in particular items He stated
that, as was we'll known, Congress had
failed to appropriate over $2.OOO,OOO of the
estimates submitted by the board of edu-
cation and approved by the Commission
ers during the past ten years for school
buildings and grounds, and that, with the
inevitable delays in securing sites and
plans within the limited appropriation.
was undoubtedly responsible for the
ings
Record of Seven Years.
But every recommendation that had
been made by the board of education in
the past seven years. he said. had been
transmitted by the Commissioners to
Congress and considered by Congress
The particular estimate for fire protection
received yesterday, involving a proposed
expenditure estimated at 100000. was in
addition TO all former estimates and en-
tirely new. II these estimates had been
submitted by the board of education be-
fore he said, they would have been trans
mitted to Congress with the approval of
the Commissioners, but the Commission
ers under the law could not originate
them. Apparently the board of education
did not in submitting its estimates this
| year and last see the necessity for the
amount for which it now asks.
Commissioner mcfarland said the law
requiring fire escapes buildings in the
District of Columbia. to which reference
had been made putting the RESPONSE
blity for the lack of additional fire es-
capes on public school buildings upon the
Commissioners, provided no change what
ever in the method prescribed by law for
preparing and transmitting estimates for
the public schools, and of course made no
appropriation for fire escapes on the
public schools any other municipal
building.
II was. he said. as much the duty OF