The Washington times., 1908-12-15

FIRE PRECAUTIONS
ARE OFTEN LACKING
Board of Experts TO Advise on New
Construction Is Rec
commended.

That the District OF Columbia has
not kept pace with other cities in its
school house architecture, and that the
fault lies with Congress in falling 10
provide the necessary funds, is the find
ing of the School House Committee
headed by Appleton p. Clark. 5r., in its
report of the inspection Of 100 school
buildings, which was made public by
Commissioner Morrow today
The school buildings, as a whole. a.
cording 10 the report, are IN fair con-
ditiOn- No attempt is made in individ-
ual instances TO fix responsibility in the
matter of defective construction or in
ferior janitOr service
The committee states that it realizes
that the position OF one who has only
the opportunity TO present unfavorabIe
criticisms Is not pleasant and desires il
TO be understood that such criticisms
are with the sole intention OF lettering
the condition of the schools.
Recommendation Of Committee.
With regard to existing buildings the
commission makes the following recon-
mendations:
That the school buildings be remod-
eled so as to remove all unnecessary
fire hazards, and to reconstruct stair
ways fire-prOOf: TO fiTe-prOOf the spaces
above boilers and heating apparatus.
and 10 ire-protect the ceilings OF base
ments.
That the buildings be remodeled 10
provide proper storage for fuel, ashes.
etc.
That playroOms be restored. heated,
benches provided where there are none
That toilet rooms be improved where
necessary with suitable fixtures and the
ventilation be given special attention
Remove carpenter shops from build
lngs and make suitable provision there
Thu; the exits Of buildings. incIud-
ing vesubules, doors halls, stairs, etc.
he improved where possible
That the heating and ventilation sys-
TEN, where defective, be changed"
The committee urges that an apprO-
priation should be made 10 cover the
foregoing work which should. be avail
able by March !.
Urges Board of Experts.
The committee recommends that in
addition 10 municipal architect, an ad-
visory SchooIhouse commission be Gre
ste5. consisting Of three experts recog-
nlzed as possessing most recent knowI- I
edge in sanitary science, pedagogy, and /
architecture, TO be appointed by the /
President OF the United States The /
duties OF the commission 10 be 10 pass
upon the work Of the municipal archI-
teCt as far as il relates to schOolhOuses !
and approve plans and specifications
and the selection of architects where
such are TO be employed The commit
tee urges mat the rate allowed for con-
StTuCtiOn OF SChoOlhOuSes shall be in
creased 10 allow for buildings equal to
the best standards Of construction
The committee takes ND the question
OF FIRE hazards The committee noted
considerable quantities Of more or less
iunamable materials stored in buildings,
but noted also in this respect an i'm
proved condition over the recent past.
Criticism is made also of the use of oil !
as floor dressing and of a more or less
extensive use OF wood in the older build
ings, wooden wainscotting, wooden ven
tilating ducts. and various wooden par /
titfOns and wooden lockers. and other /
furniture.
Halls Generally Satisfactory.
Halls and passages were found to be I
satisfactory. except in a very few in /
stances Railways were, however, found \
in considerable number Of cases 20 be /
considerably hampered by distractions /
in the way Of furniture
Generally stairs are Of ample size but /
in a few cases they have minor defec-
tive arrangement and in some cases are
not regarded as sufficient. As to the
construction OF the stairs, criticism Of 4
the nOn-fireprOof stairs IN the older
buildings is made and the work Of re-
placing these stairs as was done in
some cases during the past summer
was commended
The committee favOrs the installation
Of fire eXtinguishers, but looks with dis
favor upon the idea of these exiting Uisn-
ers being used except ~ the ianitor-
Questions of Fire Escapes.
on the subject Of hre-escapes. the
committee prefaces its criticisms by a
recognition that It is entering upon de-
batable grounds in discussing the use
and misuse OF fire-escapes. 1t con-
demns without question the old straight
ladder fire-escape. and recommends
that all such be removed as soon as
possible. 1t commends the standpipe /
type used at the Jefferson school, and
also as an escape cOmmends the type
OF exterior staircaSes OF
about the same rise and tread as in
terror stairways.
In order that unjust criticism NAV
not be. leveled against Building In
spector Ashford, the committee states
that its comments apply only 10 a lin
tied extent to the buildings erected un-
der his administration.
me committee. which serves without
compensation and at the request of
commissioner Morrow. consists OF the
GLOWING members Of architects and
builders firms: Appleton p Clark, ir..
chairman: Samuel J. Prescott. secre-
airy; Paul j. Pelz, James L Parsons,
md Leon DesseZ.