Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-03-09

Ohio. where l70 school children per-
ished by reason of the fact that the
school building wherein they were
located was not amply provided with
facilities of escape in the event Of
fire, has been the subject OF consid-
cradle comment among citizens of
the city. The disaster has brought
about among the citizens who have
school children a discussion OF the
facilities for escape as to the city
public schools. some contendlng that
the fire escapes as far as the public
schools were concerned were ample
and safe. and others holding the con-
trary view.
In view of the interest taken by
the citizens OF the city In the matter.
superintendent Barton. together with
representative OF the Press, made
an inspection and examination OF the
school buildings, and while none of
the buildings can be pronounced as
being fire-traps, neither can they be
called safe to that degree that dan
ger of pupils perishing in the event
OF IRE 10 eliminated. or as safe as
a little expense might make them.
None Of the buildings are provided
with fre escapes Of any character.
The only avenues OF escape in the
event of a nre is through the doors.
The Central school building il well
provided with exits OF this character.
In this building there are two rooms
IN the basement. and doors communi-
cate with the outside from each
room, so that In case OF a FIRE there
is but little danger to those occupy
Ing these rooms. On the second floor
there are two double doors. one lead
ing out from the front entrance and
the other from the rear. These doors
during school hours are for the most
part unsecured, and n not can be
loosened upon a moments notice,
and open outward instead of In
ward. The pupils In this school.
as in all the other schools. have been
thoroughly trained and drilled, and
laugh in their drill which exits TO
take In the event OF a FIRE. One OF
the rooms on this floor passes out of
the left front door and the other
three out OF the rear door In such a
manner that the pupils can make
their escape at once and not con
tiict with each other. There ex.
lists but little danger In the event OF
= fire on this floor. The third floor
contains three elassrOoms, and these
must all depend upon making their
escape down the stairway aud out
through the front door on the second
floor to the right. One room Is IN.
conveniently situated, In that the pu.
pills occupying Il have to pass through
another small room in reaching the
head Of the stairway. All thTes
rooms must make the stairway al
the same time, and in making their
escape form a column OF thres
abreast. Danger prevails here b.
reason of the fact that the FIRE
should II commence below, might
make suficient progress to bar an es
cape down the stairway. and also In
that the pupils in making their egresl
might conflict and crowd. The third
floor could be made very much easier
II provided with IRE escapes
The Bryan school. like the Central
Is provided with both a front and
rear exit. The basement Is unoceu
pied. The second and third fioori
contain two rooms each. The lower
rooms have q sufficient avenue OF -
cape through the rear door. and III,
upper through the front. unless. as n
the Central school. escape should b.
prevented down the stairs by nr'
from below
The poorest facilities exist at tbs
Roosevelt school. This school Is pro
vided with only one exit. In the shap'
OF a double front door from the sec
ond floor. In case OF a IRE a room
in the basement and two on the sec
Ond and third floors must make thell
escape through this door. Should Z
IRE break out in the furnace. OF
above. the room in the basement
J would practically be barred from es
cape and would have to depend OF
the windows leading out from Their
room for exits. After passing throngl