Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-07
F|REPROOF BUILDINGS
Suggestion to Be Made by
Commissioners.
IN INTEREST OF SCHOOLS
Estimates for Next Year to Include
Increased Appropriations.
INQUIRY INTO CONDITIONS
INQUIRY INTO CONDITIONS
Revelations Made Regarding Mum.
Der of Buildings Occupied by
Pupils-omcials Active.

Commissioner Mcfarland announced
week recommend to Congress that their
estimates for the next fiscal year relative
to the appropriations for new school
buildings be increased about 10 per cent.
in order that superior type of construc-
ton be used in all new school buildings.
This means that all school buildings will
be constructed of absolutely fireproof ma
terial This fireproofing is also intended
to be applied to the two schools for which
contracts will be awarded during this
month.
This action on the part of the Com
missioners is in consequence of the recon-
mendations for superior construction made
in the report of the schoolhouse commits
sion to Congress last week. Although the
Commissioners are satisfied that the
Washington school buildings in general
are perfectly safe they do believe that
they could be improved on by spending a
little more in their construction. The or
binary modern schoolhouses such as are
being built here, now cost approximately
12 cents a cubic foot, whereas the fire.
proof school buildings are estimated to
cost from II to 90 cents a cubic foot.
In speaking of this increased appropria-
ton for schoolhouses Commissioner Mac
farland said today:
The estimates for school buildings for
the next fiscal year. like those for the
school buildings for which contracts are
about to be let were made, of course,
long before the report of the schoolhouse
commission appointed by Congress to ex-
anime all our school buildings and to pre-
pare recommendations for the physical
Improvement of the whole school system,
for that report was only submitted last
week.
Commissions observations.
ct sums up the observations of the
commission upon the best public school,
house construction in the principal cities
of the United States, and recommends a
superior type of construction, including
more fireproofing than has hitherto been
provided in our buildings 1t ought to be
understood clearly that our estimates nave
called for good construction. including
brick walls and fireproof stairways. but
the schoolhouse commissions report IS
convincing and there is no doubt that
we ought to have the improved conStruc-
tion.'
ut would not only increase safety from
fire. but it would increase the life or the
building and its usefulness. and be more
economical in the long run. The Com
missioners are having prepared exact es-
Inmates as to the increase in cost, which
they will promptly bring to the attention
of Congress. They will ask Congress TO
consider adding to the appropriations for
the three buildings for which contracts
are about to be let. as well as adding 10
the estimates for the buildings which are
entirely in the future.
Prompt Action Assured.
I'VE shall act promptly as soon as we
have the figures, and there need be no
delay in the construction of the three
= ;,l, dc oh RI
opened, since Congress, being in session,
can authorize the expenditure of the ad-
ditional amount at an early day. 1t is
manifestly the duty of the Commissioners
to bring this important matter to the at
tention of Congress, in view of the report
of the schoolhouse commission. The COL
linwood disaster may be used as an Illus
tration of the necessity for the best con-
struction, but If that disaster had not
occurred the schoolhouse commissions
report would have required that the SUI
perior type of construction should be
adopted"
MIR. mcfarland outlined the position of
the Commissioners. as above stated, 10
Chairman Singleton and Vice Chairman
Allen of the public schools committee OF
the Board of Trade. who called upon him
today to say that the Board of Trade VIII
support the Commissioners in their efforts
to secure the adoption of the recommen-
dation of the schOOlhouse commission
and their application to pending, as well
as future school building contracts.
The inspectors of different District de-
partmentS having to deal with such con-
ditions are looking after them, and will
report to the Commissioners any changes
that ought to be made Commissioner
mcfarland added that it was very desir
able that parents and teachers should dis
courage any panicky feelings among the
pupils which might make it difficult to
q n a in nc NJ
real danger.
Conditions to Be Remedied.
Disclosures made by The Star yester-
day in regard to the condition of the
Morgan School building and the peril, in
particular, of the kindergarten pupils,
aroused the interest of both parents and
school authorities. 1t is expected that
the situation, especially as regards the
kindergarten class, will be remedied
without delay
Supervising Principal Clark. who has
jurisdiction of the Morgan School, stated
today that the peril of the little tots on
the top floor in case of fire had been
brought to attention so impressively by
the holocaust in Collnwood that it is
realized change in the kindergarten
quarters must be made, and the small
4
exits.
Under the direction of Supt Stuart,
the supervising principals are making an
investigation of the conditions in the
| various buildings with reference to fire
! danger. Information has been called for
as to the number of three-story school
| buildings without proper fire escapes, the
number of two-story structures with
wooden stairs. schools in which the out
side doors open inward. and the number
and condition of fire extinguishers The
reports are expected by next Monday, and
then the exact situation in the local sys-
| tenn will be known. With the data in
hand. it is expected, steps will be taken
by the superintendent and by the board
of education to see that objectfona bile
conditions are remedied as soon as nos
| sible
Views Of Capt. Oyster.
The school buildings of the District are
| in bad shape" Capt. James r. Oyster
| president of the board of education, de.
clared today. .'They are much in need oil
| repairs and alterations and the board has
| asked for the appropriations to do the
| necessary work"
Capt. Oyster mentioned one school
| building here the outside doors of which
open inward, and declared that the board
| has been trying to get the doors changed
| to open outward for a long time. With re.
| neWed vigor the request was made again
yesterday. By 10 O'Clock in the morning
| reparmen of the District were making the
change and that particular source of dan.
ger has been removed
| Conditions which have alarmed parents