Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-15
SCH00LHOUSES IN FAIR CONDITION;
SOME DEFECTS TO MEND At ONCE.

tenn are noted in some half a dozen build
1ngs, in one of which it was found the de-
rect was due to the fact that the janitor
was operating his fan with his air sup
ply cut off.
'On the subject of lighting the commit.
tee describes the lighting in two fairly
| recent schools, the Armstrong Manual
| training and the Business High School.
where light was allowed to be sacrificed
10 exterior architectural consideration"
Buildings in Fair Condition.
The committee closes that portion of the
report having to do with the investigation
of buildings with the statement that the
school buildings as a whole are in fair
condition. few Of the modern buildings
being fully equal to those found else
where built for the same cost. With the
| statement that among the later buildings
| many were models for their time but the
District has not kept up with other cities
in Its schoolhouse architecture, and for
| one reason Only-that the funds neces-
sary therefor have not been provided.
The committee makes recommendations
looking to the remodeling of old school
buildings so as to remove all unnecessary
| fire hazards and to reconstruct stairways
OF hreproof material. fireproof spaces
| above boilers and heating apparatus and
|
| Buildings to be remodeled to provide
proper storage for fuel and ashes, and
| playrooms to be restored. heated and
| benches provided therefor, and toilet
rooms to be improved where necessary
with suitable fixtures. and that special
| attention be given to the question of ven
tilation; that carpenter shops be removed
from school buildings. suitable provision
| to be made for them elsewhere; that the
| exits of buildings. including vestibules.
| doors. m
| where feasible: that fire-escapes be not
| erected unless they are capable Of emer-
gency use by children without danger. and
that all defective heating and ventilating
| systems be changed; that an appropriation
to cover this work should be made inlme-
diately available so that examination Of
| buildings may be made work determined
upon In each case, plans and specifications
| drawn and contracts let to proceed with
the work Immediately upon the close of
| the schools.
Repair Work Well Done.
The committee then goes on to report
upon its examination of the methods of
the superintendent of repairs in handling
the work, and finds that, with the sum
available, the work is we'll done, but
recommends that he be furnished with at
| least one assistant superintendent in order
| that the efficiency of some of his me-
| chanicS may be increased. closer inspec-
| ton by check system Of the work in
progress be made. and at completion more
carefully looked after.
The committee then proceeds to an
| examination of the methods followed in
| the office of the inspector of buildings and
| finds no reason for recommending any
change in the methods Of this office, ex-
| cepting the one which has already been
| recommended by the Commissioners,
namely, the creation Of the office Of
municipal architect to take over that part
of the work of the inspector of buildings
looking to the construction of municipal
buildings. of which schoolhouses form
! the larger part.
| The committee then examines the eX-
penditure by the inspector of buildings of
| the appropriation of $4,000 made by the
last Congress for fire protection in old
school buildings and finds the money has
| been judiciously expended and the work
| satisfactorily done with the exception
that the committee disagrees with the
| type Of fire escape erected during the last
summer.
The committee recommends that the en-
| tire floors of all school buildings should
be fireproof on account of the moral eff
| feet of the prevention of a panic and
safety, durability and economy of main
| tenance.
Where this treatment is not feasible.
then stairs. landings and corridors should
be fireproof. or at least all stairs and the
irst-foor corridor.
Provision for Exits.
| AS to exits, the committee recommends
at least two entrances and exits should
be had for eight or twelve room schools
and at least four entrances and exits for
sixteen and twenty room schools. and eN-
it's should never be less than six feet in
the clear for a single entrance. 1t sug-
geStS the height Of doors should not he
greater. than seven feet and that each
playroom should have an exit at least
| four feets six inches wide. in addition to
| the main exits from the ground floor.
The committee recommends that the
heating plants be completely surrounded
and covered with fireprOof construction
and openings leading therefrom should be
| closed with fireproof doors. The COM
mttee recommends that two separate
| starways should be provided from first
| to second floors of five feet width. and
| that If the school has sixteen rooms or
| more that there should be four stairways.
The committee recommends that in adj
dition to the municipal architect an ad-
visory schoolhouse commission be created
consisting of three experts recognized as
possessing most recent knowledge i'm SAN
| itary science. pedagogy and architecture.
to be appointed by the President of the
| mission to be to pass upon the work OF
the municipal architect as far as 1t re-
| lates to schoolhouses and approve plans
| and specifications and the selection of
| The committee urges that the rate al
| lowed for construction of schoolhouses
shall be increased to allow for buildings
equal to the best standards of construc-
| ton.
Rented Quarters Defective.
| The committee recommends that as
| practically all Of the rented quarters are
defective in nearly every requirement,th that
! among the first buildings to be erected
| should be some to take the place of these
quarters.
| The report closes with detailed state
ment, without comment, of matter
which has come TO the attention Of the
-, committee where. it was found that
| great quantity of old furniture was being
destroyed by the janitors without the
usual inspection and condemnation as re-
| ouired by law, some Of which material
seemed to the members of the committee
J to be of a character not to justify its de-
struction, although it might be of a type
unsuitable for use.
The members Of this committee are:
Appleton P. Clark. jr., chairman: Sam
! ual j. Prescott. secretary; Paul !. Peltz,
Dor