Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-06

by Congress for a new sixteen-room
school building on Mount Pleasant to re-
lieve the Morgan School. This money
was made available about a year ago,
and the school authorities say that no
start has as yet been made on the con-
struction: This delay is blamed on the
District building authorities. but they in
turn. assert that the year was needed
for preliminary work
Snowden Ashford. District building in
spector. said today, that there has been
TO delay in preparing the plans for the
proposed sixteen-room school building for
Mount Pleasant. as is intimated by the
members of the board OIL education
He explained that the $4,000 appro-
priated by Congress for the purchase of
site and the construction of this build
ing did not become available until last
July. Several weeks were necessary to
procure the proper site, and when this
was accomplished the work of prepar-
ing the plans was commenced.
THESE plans, he said, were completed
and placed in the hands of the Commits
sioners four weeks ago. and since then
the work of preparing the specifications
for the contract had to be completed
The bids for this building will be opened
March "A. He said the work on these
plans has been rushed just as rapidly as
possible. and there is no just reason for
criticism
Mr. Ashford concluded by saying that
there Is no law requiring the District au-
thorities TO refer the plans for school
Du1idings- to the board of education for its
approval.
Problem Hard to Solve.
Supervising Principal c. S. Clark. who
has Jurisdiction over the Morgan School
building, stated today that the crowded
condition Of that school brought a prob
lem which is hard to solve. If the two
basement rooms of the building could be
utilized as classrooms for the pupils of the
third and fourth grades. he declared, the
situation would be relieved
The rooms are we'll lighted and have
been found always dry" he declared to
Star reporter. They could easily be
heated by stoves as is done in several
school buildings in the District For
these grades the only property near the
school available for rent is a store In
that the light is poor and there is no
provision for ventilation.
In the basement rooms there are spe-
clal provisions for ventilation, and light
comes from windows on two sides. They
seem altogether preferable to the store.
II We could overcome the natural objec-
ton of parents to basement school rooms
would be in favor of utilizing them
under the present conditions"
Mr.. Stuart's Views.
community could be persuaded to give up
their natural objections to the basement
rooms he would allow their use for school
rooms. Both of these officials thought it
inadvisable to put kindergarten pupils
who are Of tender years. In the basement
rooms.
In regard to the door found by a Star
reporter to be bolted at the Morgan
School building the tanitor stated that he
had unbolted the door earlier in the day
and that one of the pupils must have
pushed the bolt down while playing
Conditions of the johnson Annex.
To the Editor of The Star:
In view of the appalling disaster at Col
linwood / have inspected the Johnson
School in Mount Pleasant where my chill
dren have attended, and find conditions
which are dangerous and which / think
should be Immediately remedied. Where
the responsibility lies for structural de-
fects and lack Of proper safeguards In
our schools is. I believe, a debatable
question. and I therefore appeal to all
concerned through The Star
The Johnson School annex Is an old,
two-story frame building which has seen
many years service and has been at
least ten years in its present condition.
1t has two large classrooms on each floor,
all heated with stoves and provided wifi
doors which open inward. The building
has no fire escapes.
The west upper room is perhaps In the
most dangerous condition. This room is oc-,
cupied daily by about forty children. 1t has
practically but one exit. consisting OF two
doors close together, both opening inward.
1t Is heated by two stoves. one being close
to the exit. The only escape from this
room Is by somewhat steep wooden
stairway having two right-angled turns
In It, The other upper classroom is
used as kindergarten department. While
do not wish to be considered an alarm
list think 1t an outrage that very small
children should be permitted to occupy
the second floor of this Anticipated build
ing with such insufficient means OF es-
cape in case Of fire.
The new building of the Johnson School
10 undoubtedly quite safe in case of fire,
although it could be improved. The main
stairways are none too wide. and for some
,Inaccountable reason the outer doors are
not in line with the main stairways. OW-
ing to the situation Of the school the
driving distance from the nearest ffre
engine house is fully double the air line
distance, which adds slightly to the dan
gers above pointed out. The citizens
have begged for many years Tor more
direct street approaches to this school.
b,,t I'm vain Notwithstanding the assur-
ance of the Commissioners and school OF
f,cials as to the safety Of our schools
which have been published during the iast
MANY precautions for the safety of chill
dren in our schools have been overlooked
or neglected j. A. WATSON.
MORE PAY IN THE ARMY.