Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-16
NEEDED CHANGES TO Be MADE
CONDEMNED SCHOOL BUILDINGS
TO BE MADE SAFER.
Money Appropriated by Congress
Will Be Used to Lessen the
Danger From Fire.

School buildings condemned last spring
by Fire Chief Belt as dangerous in tho
event Of fire will be made safe before
school opens in the fall.
Capt James F. Oyster. president Of the
board OF education, and Maj. J. J. Nor
row, Engineer Commissioner, in charge OF
school building repairs held a long con-
ference at the District building recently
and went over the situation: and the for
mer has announced that the necessary
alterations and changes to make the
buildings safe will be begun at once and
completed early In the fall.
The buildings in question are the Mott.
Garfield. Birney annex. Cook. Hillsdale.
Burrville. Threlksld. Benning, Potomac.
Mccormick, High street and johnson an
mex. In many of these schools the use
Of the second story was abandoned last
spring after their condemnation by Fire
Chief Belt, and in all Of them the fires
were put out and school sessions ~.
pended when the temperature was cold.
Congressional Appropriation.
For the fireproofing Of these buildings
Congress made an appropriation OF
$4,000. This will be used for the pur-
chase Of fire extinguishers. for the re-
placing OF wooden stairs with fireproof
flights. for putting asbestos around fur
naces and gas engines and for building
additional outside exits and stairways
from second floors. The board Of educa-
ton estimated that about 100000 was
necessary for carrying out all the work
required to make the buildings absolutely
fireproof. and the money that was APP
propriated will be used to make as many
of the repairs as possible. The officials
will aim. 1t is declared. to make all the
repairs suggested by Fire Chief Belt
Two of the buildings will be abandoned
and not used for school purposes next
H Ia sre ARE dhe and the
has been replaced by a new building.
named the Van Ness. New quarters will
be found at once for tho classes that
have been using the High street struc-
ton.
The Repairs in View.
Only temporary repairs will be made ct
the Mott School, as new building is
now being erected to replace It, There Is
also now an appropriation available for u
new building to replace the Garfield. but
as 1t will be some time before the new
quarters are ready several alterations will
be made in the old building. For repairs
at the Cook building Congress appropriat-
ed separately 5000 to move the furnace
from the front door and place II in the
basement. At the Threlkeld. Benning and
Potomac buildings and Johnson Annex, 1t
is expected outside stairways will be built
Crowded and unsatisfactory conditions
In the school buildings viii be further re-
lieved next fall. 1t is stated, by the addi-
ton OF many portable buildings. Congress
made about $4,000 available for this. and
the District authorities have asked for
bids for sixteen portable schoolhouses.
These bids are being submitted this week.
and tt Ia expected the contract for them
will soon DO let. and they will be ready for
use before school begins In tho fall. These
will be placed near buildings where the
overcrowding is greatest. Harry o. Hine,
secretary OF the heard Of education. is
busy securing sites for these portable
buildings near permanent school buildings
where additional roam IL needed.