The Washington times., 1908-03-07
Fire-Escapes at Webster
Building MerelyStraight
Ladders and Hard
to Reach.
Board of Trade Urges
Erection of None
But Fireproof
Structures.

Awakened by the expose Of conditions
in a number OF school buildings THAI
make possible a recurrence Of the Cieve-
land disaster in Washington, and the
admission OF school officials that there
is but enc real flreproof school build
ing in the entire city-the Mckinley
there has been concerted action in many
quarters to remedy conditions while II
is yet time.
The Board of Trade last night passed
q resolution urging that the Commits
sioners hold up The aW ard Of contracts
for school buildings not rreproot In
their design. until Congress can De
asked for additional appropriations %
make them so.
President Oyster, of the Board OF Ed
ucation was informed this morning by
the Commissioners that that body had
taken up with the Fire Department the
question Of supplying hose for the
water pipes in the Franklin school. and
that the matter would receive prompt
attention. The Franklin is the only
building in the city having pipes with
in II. and heretofore there has been no
hose. making the pipes useless
Doors Open Outward Now.
one school buiIding-the Tenley-was
dound TO have doors opening inward.
Captain Oyster Immediately opened ne
gotiations with the Commissioners. and
was informed this morning that the
doors nsd been changed.
President Oyster, through Superintend-
ent Stuart, has called for a report as
10 the schools having fire eXtinguishers,
and as TO the frequency with which they
are charged. This report will be in
the hands of the board this afternoon.
Despite this concerted action the fact
remains and is generally admitted. that
Washington school buildings are In
many Instances anJquaLed, IN need OF
repairs, by no means nrepTOOf, and that
the safety Of the average school child
lies chiefly in the efficiency OF the fire
drill.
Fire Escapes Not Even an Excuse.
A writer to The Times today points
out that the Webster School. at Tenth
and II streets. is adorned with fire.
escapes that would not even pass for
good excuses. The Webster School FIRE
escapes. like those on the Franklin
are nothing more nor less than per
pcndicular iron ladders hung close &C
the wall. y grown person in time Of
panic would hesitate between death by
fire aid a descent upon one OF these
ladders.
Furthermore, the dre-escapes at thC
Webster, which may be taken as an eX
ample, are reached only through tht
CIOak-rOOms. The window sills, and this
is the ridiculous feature OF the prOtec
ton offered. are exactly four feet higf
inside. higher than the average pupi
who might be called upon 70 use the
escape as a last resort. An ordinary
hoy or girl could not even get upon
the iron platform outside the window
unless assisted out OF the window by
an older person.
The futiHty of such effort when Z
fre is raging beneath is apparent. Tbs
IiTe-esCa Des on the Franklin and Web
ster buildings are such as may be seer
on a number of other schools, and WoulC
seem TO offer about the same Chanct
for life that a jump from a third story
window would afford the ten-year-OlC
pupil.
Fought Long, Said Oyster.
President Oyster of the Board o
Education, this morning said:
1T Is we'll known that many OF IN,
school buildings in Washington are an
tiquated The board has fought, 70
Two years TO my personal knowledge
for repairs TO many OF them, better firj
protection included The Commission
ers, however have repeatedly cut ou
estimates and we have lacked TIT
funds. 1 understand that the school ap
preparation has been cut by the Com
missioners and by Congress for tn
last ten years.
we have nothing to do with the ex
ton of buildings, and can only appea
10 the Building Inspector and the Com
misslOTPrs. Wherever possible the boar,
has sought TO provide safeguard 70
the children. II has insisted on TIT
FIRE drill and also that some one per
son should be designated TO open tn,
doors in event of fire. This avoid
confusion and I believe any school build
ing could be emptied within two min
utes. AS 10 Microscopes, pipes, exists
construction
board can only recommend and ap
peal 10 those in charge OF such mat
ters.
1T is not well to unnecessarily alarm
the parents, yet il Is we'll to know tit
defects that exist and agitate improve
ment before fl is too late"
Resolutions Pleased Oyster.
President Oyster referred with salts
faction TO the recommendations Of tn
Board OF Trade at its meeting last night
In addition 10 recommending that n
more buildings be constructed unles
fireprOof. the Commissioners were ais
asked by that body 10 overhaul the pres
ent buildings.
In offering the first resolution vybicl
was made in the fOri,- ~ an amendmen
20 the report of the committee on pub
lie schools. Herbert -. /. Allen, rea
the article in The Times showing IN
needs OF the school Of the District Il
view OF the Cleveland holocaust
John l. Weaver offered another reso
luton which also took the form OF a.
amendment TO the committees report
providing that the present school build
ing be made as well protected agafls
fire as it IS possible TO make them.
Mr.. Viewers resolution also provide
that pipes. hose, fire-fighting apparatu.
and al needed appliances be instaIle
IN the present buildings. Both amend
ments were unanimously adopted.