The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-25
Precaution Against Fires Is
Urged by the State ST.
perintendent.
CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL
AND SURROUNDINGS ARE ALL
DEALT WITH IN SPECIAL Bull
LETINS ISSUED.

Greater precautiR against fires In
school buildings and better sanitary
conditions about. the buildings and
premises is urged in bulletin lSSled
by F. A. Cotton state superintendent
of public instruction. A number OF
recommendations relative TO the Sc
lection of sites, the erection Of build
ings and their ventilation, heating and
seating arrangements are given also.
The bulletin is incident upon the re-
cent meetilg of the state board OF edu-
cation, which discussed the Collin
wood disaster.
The bulletin says:
With buildings limited 10 two stor-
les in height, with at least two flights
OF stairs five or more feet in width.
with one or more fire escapes on the
outside of the building and with the
doors swinging outward the danger
from fire would be reduced to the min
imum Where ground space is no'
limited, it is, to say the least, iniudi-
cous to build third story. To house
children in third story or attic acces-
sble only by narrow, dark stairWays
is little short of criminal.
Should Abandon Attics.
All new buildings should be con.
structed as nearly fireprOof as posi-
Bile. Every possible means Of escape
should be provided. Ali old buildings
should be inspected and every precau-
ton taken 10 remedy any defects in
this direction. All attcs should be
abandoned and all second and third
stories should be provided with fire
escapes and ample stairWays
In addition, precaution should be
used in placing and running the heat
ing apparatus Due regard TO location
and proper precaution in the matter
of kindlings and combustibIe mater.
fals in the building will lessen the
chances of fire. School officials in
Indiana should profit by the awful dis
asters IN recent months, and should
not wait for warning nearer home.
The initial step in providing suit
able quarters for Il school is the choice
of location. In the first place the
surroundings should be taken into
consideration. No unsightly buildings
should stare the pupils in the face.
No barren spots or dumping grounds
should meet the eye. No manufacture
ing establishments or plants with their
disorder and smoke and noise should
form any part of the surroundings. A
good location is an education in itself
In addition TO the qualities named
there is that of size. School quarters
Oh L..
be plenty of room for the building and
for play.
Plans of Buildings.
After the choice of the grounds
comes the construction of the build
ing In the first place the building
should not be more than two stories
above the basement. There are very
few places in the state where the con.
ditions absolutely demand more stor
les. The halls or corridors in the
building should be wide and light
There should be more than one flight
of stairs a least five feet in width
and the flight should be easy and the
steps uniform. The rooms should be
of ample size: the ceilings should be
high; the windows should be in one
side only, to the left of the pupils: al
least 24O cubic feet of space should be
provided for, separate from the
rooms: they should be provided with
lockers and with a system of veutila
ton and heating of their own. Provi
sion should be made for fumigatine
cloakrooms without causing inconven
fence to the school"