Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-14
Entered at the Newport News. Va,
Postofiice as sccond.class matter.
SATURDAY. MARCH "A. 1908.
NEWPORT NEWS TWO DANGER
Gus SCHOOL BUILDINGS.


1t "a TO be deplored that two OF the
school buildings in Newport News
are so thoroughly defective that the
pupils who every time they enter
them tnlse their lives In their hands.
hut ut the same time 1t Is Il matter
of congratulation that the evil Is to
The effectunily remedled before II hor-
rlbie catastrophe occurs. II IL 10
make one shudder to think of what
might have happened II fire OF any
consequence had occurred In the two
! school buildings In question. The
FIRE drills are splendid things and un
doubtedly have been the means Of
saving n large number OF lives, but
they count for nothing II the building
f IS n tiretrap. If the one means OF
exit is enveloped in flames the fire
Sdgill counts for nothing, rs all thought
OF discipline will depart from the
child. at the sight OF the flames which
bar the way to safety.
The horror ut North Collinwood
has proved TO be not without its good.
ne was an awful lesson. but that IL
is being needed throughout the coun-
try is reason for rejoicing. II prompt.
ed the investigation In Newport
News, and almost every city, town
and hamlet In the country which has
public school has been nquiring
into the matter. This sudden zeal
ON the part of public officials Is COM
mendnble, but of how much more i'm.
portance II Is that proper buildings
and then that there be frequent In
spections OF them so that the danger
ous spots can be detected in time to
Prevent a disaster of any kind. Sim
liar energetic measures should he
taken jill the case of theatres. bridges
md all other structures which are
used by the public.
The principal fault with most puls-
lie buildings Ia that they do not con
tain sufficient number of entrances
and exits. The architects could as
sist in making buildings used by the
public much safer II they would in
sist hereafter on the authorities pro-
syiiing larger entrances and more ex-
Its to school buildings. Doors should,
OF course, open outward. hut there
should be also, so many easy exits
10 building that IL could be vacated
quickly by an excited group who
knew there were many facilities for
reaching the outside. Moreover, the
location OF the heating apparatus
most positively should not be under
any exit or entrance of the building.
Such an arrangement is nothing short
Of criminal. In many of the school
buildings being erected the heating
apparatus Is not located in the main
building ut ali, but of to one side.
THEN il there is any trouble with the
fires or boilers. the main structure
eslnnot lie Injured until long after the
occupants have escaped. Another I'M.
nortailt matter is to have constan.
ami not intermittent inspection OF
hnlfdings The laws, ordinances and
regulations governing this phase of
the matter should be most rigid and
should be lived up to the letter. 1t
isasa question of where reasonable ex-
pense should not be considered. II
sahs desired result can be secured in
no her Way, let us have buildings as
stpso,itsiy fre-pfoof as modern con
ssssuctiye methods can make them.
i,disga are now being erected