The Washington times., 1908-03-18
IALEXANDRTKl
SCORED
IN REPORT FROM
SPECIAL INQUISITORS
WASHINGTON TINES BUREAU.

&AA@ls-N sArN DtkA-AB 49, @A-AEsNAA ~
The special grand jury which has
been inspecting public buildings this
morning made it's report 10 Judge
Barley, in the corporation court. The
report, in condemning buildings, says:
Under your instructions We have eX-
amined the different schools and public
buildings in the city of Alexandria ana
have found the following conditions,
which We submit to your honor:
Washington Street School for Boys
In good condition: all doors opened out
ward broad halls no danger 10 chill
dren from fire or panic.
Howell building for small boys-There
are $50 little boys from seven to ten
years of age housed in this building
Should the building catch fire but few
on the second and none on the third
floor could escape. This building Is un-
safe in every respect an outside iron
stairway from the third floor, while il
would improve conditions. Il Is the Opin-
ION or this jury that the building should
DS condemned entirely, We recommend
that this building be closed Immediately,
especially SO far as the use Of the third
moor Is concerned.
Peabody building-This building we
consider unsafe, and we recommend
that the building be condemned for
Sscnooi purposes. We would be dere-
hcJ IN our duty IL we did not recon-
mend the instant closing OF the third
moor. on this floor $50 little tots from
seven 10 ten years Of age are housed
We DO not believe this building can be
made safe for these little ones In oD-a
room we found that thev could moi
reach the nre-escape, the window sill
Delhg above or on line with their heads
The building is heated by stoves in each
LTJoIl, with stove pipes running through
plaster and lath partitions. Some doors
open inward and others outward
10 keep these little children IN the
tnlrd moor for a single day, IL & re-
sPonsiOIllty which this jury would re-
IuSe 70 assume.
Inc ground floor contains two rooms.
opening on King street, which has only
IShL and ventilation from tTansOmS
tIieIe being no windows TraTsoups and
doors cannot be left open even on warm
uhSs on account Of dust and irt stirred
~ by passing electric cars ana vehicles
10 sum the matter up, King street is
not the proper street Tor a public school
building.
Inc sanitary arrangements Of pea
body building is simply a disgrace
Colored School Buildings-Both. thu
cOioTed school buildings we found to
De IN satisfactory condition @vcanf
We would recommend that an doors h
TO open outward SaniTar,J
conditions could be much improved We
recommend that all school buildings ba
connected with sewers.
biIaudock House-We recommend that
also that the stairway leading to Fair,
TAX street. now closed. be opened.
Belle Haven Amusement COupanv-
Doors opened inward, but have been
changed since our inspection Floor of
operating box should be lined with tin
Serepta Hall-We recommend that a
ilre-escape be placed on front Of this
building
Opera HOuse-Stove pipe which runs
through gallery should be Changed:
tront stairway should be widened. and
distractions at top cut away: door
should be cut IN partition at southwest
corner OF gallery, making an entrance
10 stairway leading TO stage
McBurEeys Hall-St0ve dropped M
BY bricks, liable 70 fall at any time.
nre-escape blocked of by railing. We
recommend that this hall be condemned
Tor public gatherings until changes are
made.
We strongly recommend that an
buildings used for public gatherings be
required TO have ali doors open out
ward
After the report had been read Judge
Barley Instructed Clerk Greenaway TO
send n copy 10 the city council, the
superintendent Of schools. and The
owners OF public buildings which are
mentioned as being unsafe. He also or
Tered that the attention of the prOp-
-g-ty owners be directed to Section 1883
81 the Code of Virginia, which has
bearing on the case IN question