Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-12
GOOD AND BAD CONDITIONS
INSPECTORS FIND CONTRASTS
AT JOHNSON SCHOOL.
Main Building Is All Right as to
Fire Exits, but Annex Is
Poorly Equipped.

Ihe good and the bad were found side
by side this morning by the commission
which Is inspecting the safety and sani-
tary conditions of the District public
schools
Inc contrast was discovered at the
Johnson and the johnson annex buildings
Inc main building Is of brick with excel
lent exits and kept clean by the janitor;
the annex is wooden structure with mar
row wooden stirways and small and in
adequate cloakrooms
AS a further contrast the commission
discovered that the woodwork around the
stoves In two of the rooms is well pro-
tected with sheet or galvanized iron,
while In the other two rooms the protec-
ton Is inadequate. At the Johnson an
mex. however. the commission found the
best fire escape SO far discovered a large
wooden platform having been built along
one side of the structure on a level with
the second floor and wide steps leading
from this outside platform to the ground
Exits from the second floor classrooms al
low the pupils to use the outside stair
ways In safety. without interfering in any
way with the pupils on the first floor.
who use the building exits
Owing to the failure to provide a place
for the storage of wood and an office for
the janitor and his supplies. the girls of
the school are deprived of a playroom in
the basement That room has several
CORDS or wood and some cupboards and
desks in it.. Although the exits are well
arranged. the commission found wooden
wainscoting lining the stairways
The johnson structures were the first
schools visited by one section of the com
mission. composed of Samuel j. Prescott
and Paul j. Pelz, with Secretary Fuller
They also visited the Petworth at Pet
worth; the Bruce, on Kenyon street near
Brightwood avenue: the Hubbard, on
Kenyon street near 18th, and the Mon
roe. on Columbia road near ~. .ghtwood
avenue.
TWO other members OF the commission
Appleton P. Clark. jr. and James l.. Par
sons-formed another section. They in
spected conditions at the Giddings. on q
street between Sd and 4th streets south
east; the Birney and Birney annex. Hills
Gale; the VanBuren and the Ketcham. i'm
Anacostia. and the Orr. at Twinng City.
only at the Johnson building among
the schools visited by Messrs. Prescott
and PelZ. were the exit doorways found
directly In front of the inside and outside
stairways leading thereto. The arrange
ment OF exits, in fact. was found to be
the worst features of the structures visit
ed today. turns and twists being necessary
at nearly all the exits for one to get out.
At the front of the Petworth and Hubbard
ediflces the outside stairs run down at the
side OF the outside landing instead of
leading directly straight down from the
exit door.
At the Hubbard peculiar plan was dis
covered. On both sides of the building
broad stairways run from the basement
to the vestibules at the exits. On one
side narrow doorway has been placed
at the head o: the stairs and the outside
doorway from the vestibuIe is a wide one
On the other side there is no narrowing
of the exit from the stairs. but the out
side door on that side is only four feet
wide.
At the Monroe school the building was
found equipped throughout with wooden
stairways. except one flight on one side
of. the building leading from the first
floor and from the basement to the exit
which was fireproof.