The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-03-31
ARE CANTON'S SCHOOL
BUILDINGS DANGEROUS Z?
lcontinued from Page one). -w

to few facts and conditions which
might cause a catastrophe as great u
not greater than that Of the Cleveland
suburb few weeks ago.
In many instances the interior
construction of the buildings is no:
worse than the majority Of those
which are erected for the purpose Of
housing the children during their
school time. The halls are not more
narrow nor tortuous, the stairs more
steep and winding than those that are
found in other places II is not with
these that the fault Is found at pres
ent, though there is no question but
that improvements could be made
that would make the buildings more
safe in time of possible danger.
1t is to the exits from the buildings
that attention Is asked in this article
In seven buildings visited with the
object in view of inspecting the exits
all we're found inadequate when the
number of pupils housed in the var
ious buildings was taken into consid
Grafton and one of the buildings, a
frame one, was found with a second
story that might well be considered a
veritable fire trap
In almost every case the exits were
found to be narrower than the halls
of which they were the outlet. More
than that, they were found in most In
stances, to be protected by narrow
doors which opened outward, II Is
true, but which closed against poet
or partition which stood between the
two and which might easily, In time
OF haste and panic be the prop which
would hold up a heap of bodies as high
as that which was consumed within
reach OF mothers and fathers hands at
Collnwood. In most cases there Is
not only this post or door jam In the
center, but there is slight partitioh
at the rear of the fastened edge OF the
doors which would act to catch, trip
and hold hurrying and rearsomc
youngsters as effectually as might be
done had IL been built with that
purpose in view.
The East Fourth street building
was visited and two exits were found,
one in the front and one at the rear.
The front entrance consists OF two
doors which swing to a post or part'.
ton about six inches wide. The
doors and the front entrance are 2
feet inches wide. At the rear a
regular trap was found. A single
door about three feet In width opened
into storm vestibule which had its
outlet at right angles with the direc'
tion in which the hall door swung A
number OF steps made this exit more
dangerous than II would otherwise be.
In its construction II is well cal.
culated TO catch and hold adults let
alone the youngsters who tenant the
East Fourth building. II is said that
$50 children are accommodated at
this building which has but two exits
and one OF them SO inadequate and
dangerous.
|. The North Cherry street building Is
one OF the largest in the city, shel.
tering 572 children, and having but
two exits. The building is honey.
combed with rooms and the halls are
so built that the outlet from the
rooms can be made simultaneously.
The stairs are wide enough to care
for the pupils In case they do not
become disorderly, but good judges
do not consider that the exits are
adequate. AS stated before there are
but two, one on the north and one on
the south side OF the building. At
each place OF exit there are two door.
ways each five feet In width. II IL
contended that additional doorways
should be provided since the building
houses so many pupils.
At the East Eighth street building
the dorways are no better than at
the other buildings, and the corridors
are not so wide. The building rs Of
older construction and the halls are
narrow and might easily become con.