Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-01
ASKS FOR REPAIRS
Board of Education Presents
Alternative to District.
BUILDINGS ARE CONDEMNED
Two Will Be Abandoned Unless I'm
mediate Action Be Taken.
REPORTS OF FIRE CHIEF READ
Provision for Pupils in Case the
Buildings Can No Longer
Be Used.
BUILDINGS ARE CONDEMNED
REPORTS OF FIRE CHIEF READ

buildings, which have oeen cOpuemned Dy
Fire Chief Belt as fire traps, will either
be repaired so that they will be safe for
use by the school children or they will be
closed. This was, in brief. the decision
of the board of education yesterday att
ernoon after a discussion of the situation.
The board has issued an ultimatum to
the Commissioners TO cause them to de-
eide which course shall be pursued. The
District officials will be asked to use the
school money which they control to make
certain repairs to the buildings and make
them safe. Unless the Commissioners
grant this request for the immediate re-
| pair Of the structures, the board decided
| that the closing of the buildings Will be
| necessary.
| 1t was asserted at the meeting by Capt.
j. +. Oyster. president Of the board. that
one of the Commissioners had told him
| they have no money that can be used for
repairing these buildings. as desired by
the board. but it was learned from an
| other source, he declared, that there was
| about $4,000 still in the school repair
| fund. The ultimatum Of the board has
| been submitted to the Commissioners and
| their reply is awaited by the board mem
bers.
Reports Of Fire Chief.
The special meeting of the board yester-
day was called to consider the reports Of
| Fire Chief Belt in regard to the condi-
lions in the Potomac and Mccormick
schools. AS read at the meeting, these
are as follows:
"McCormick-I find this to be very old
| brick building. erected in 1859. 1t con-
| tains two stories and a basement The
building has four classrooms. About 10
pupils attend this school, and their ages
range from seven to fourteen years.
| There is but one stairway in this building,
and that is a wooden box stairway. ex-
tending from the bottom to the top Of the
building four feet wide.
THE doors leading from the classrooms
into the halls are only feet inches
wide and the Railways themselves are but
5 feet inches wide. The door at the foot
of the stairway leading to the street is
only % inches wide and the door opens In
ward.
"In the northeast corner of the fresh
air room in the basement the moor and
joists are exposed and in some instances
the flooring shows the effect of heat from
the stack, the rosin and sap being drawn
out Of the wood. This is an extremely
dangerous point. The ceilings In the base
ment are low and the floors and joists are
exposed throughout. Sawed and split
| wood is stored under the bottom Of the
wooden stairway and stair carriages and
steps are exposed.
1.-The only good feature about this
building was that when a fire drill was
held it was emptied In forty-five seconds.
Owing to the construction Of the stairway.
however. two children fell during the drill.
but fortunately picked themselves up be-
fore being struck by the other children.
There are no recommendations which
can make to insure the safety Of the
pupils in this building and ! consider the
building extremely dangerous and UNIT
| for school purposes In every particular
| This has led me to forward this report at
once instead Of waiting until Monday
| next"
The Potomac Building.
Potomac And this to be an old two
story brick building. erected in 1869. 1t
contains four classrooms. About 100 pu-
pills attend this school and their ages
range from six to fifteen years. The
building has three exits. each 3 feet 6
inches wide. one on the front and one on
the east and west sides. 1t contains one
wooden stairway which Is only 3 feet =
| inches wide.
Each OF the four rooms contains two
| coal stoves. These stoves are old-fash-
toned and in very dilapidated condition.
There is constant danger Of them falling
down or OF children's clothing catching
| FIRE from them. Again, too. they are To-
Gated close to the exit door.
1.-The partitions separating these school
| TOOIS are WOOO. idtIeu pidctSIcu.
One Of the rooms on the second floor is
occupied by first-gade children. Such
children should be on the first floor
| Underneath the center Of the front
| part OF the building Is a cellar extending
| the length of the front and eight feet
| wide This room is used for the storage
| Of sawed and split wood and coal. In 1t
| were also a number of wooden trestles.
boxes etc. The joists and the floor are
exposed
II consider this building in its present
condition to be extremely dangerous and
totally unfit for school purposes.
| When the meeting was opened. with
| Mrs Hill and Messrs. Oyster. Cox, Hoo
yer. Evernann and Cook present. Presi-
dent Oyster called attention to the report
| fire chief saw the necessity to advise the
| board of the conditions he found at the
two schools by special delivery.
President Oysters Comment.
1.-The report Of the fre chief Is very
clear and positive" declared Capt Oyster.
| "Our attention has been called to the
conditions, and Commissioner Mcfarland
says that the Commissioners are relieved
Of the responsibility. In the case Of one
of these schools a new one to take its
| place is being built. but II will be over
| two years from the time the appropria-
| ton was made until the building will be
| ready On q visit to the old school we
| found that the rails OF the stairs were
rotten and other conditions bad. It 10 in
| excusable and objectionable on the part
| OF the District authorities to allow the
school to get into its present condition.