Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-10-22
WILL GET FIRE ESCAPES
Authorities Will Receive
Bids Next Thursday Night
10 Safeguard Building.
DISCUSSION AS TO COST
Parent Threatens to Take
His Children out Unless
Steps Are Taken.

After short discussion and the
teading of communication from
George w. jackson relative to school
No. being fire trap, the Board of
Education at an adjourned meeting
Fast night, decided to take immediate
tction for the safeguarding of the sew
Eal hundred children in the building
8 motion was offered by Mr.. Seaman
hat the secretary advertise for bids
sOr fitting the building with fire es-
@pes. Commissioner Harrington s.e.
mded it and 1t was carried. The bids
fill be received at special meeting
iext Thursday night.
At a recent committee session Presi-
lent Arner appointed Commissioners
larson, Harrington and Moore as mem
lers of special committee to investi-
pate the conditions at the school and to
sscertain the probable cost of fire es-
apes.
Secretary Colyer read the letter from
Mr.. Jackson in which he stated that,
inless some action towards safeguard
ng the school was taken immediately,
he would keep his four children home,
beginning next Monday Mr.. Jack
ION Is letter, which is given in full be-
ow, was ON motion of Mr.. harrington,
,feceived and laid on the table.
.Tr As chairman of the special commit
8fee on fire escapes, Mr., Larson said he
bad found an old estimate, procured
6ast year, giving the approximate cost
1T $3.50 Mr.. Seaman said he under
stood that the fire escapes ON the Odd
Fellows building had cost consider
ably less than $3.50. Mr. Arner said
he did mo- think ii would cost over
1850 to install them at the school, as
be knew building in Jersey City that
was larger than school No. 4 and
Where fire escapes had cost but 5000
When the motion to advertise for
+ bids was carried, the board decided that
each bidder must submit two figures,
one for putting fire escapes on the
easterly and westerly sides of the
building and another for placing them
on the easterly, westerly and northerly
sides.
Letter From Mr. jackson.
Mr.. Jackson Is letter was as follows:
Perth Amboy, n. j.,
'sOct. 21, 1909.
"To the Honorable Board Of Educa-
tion.
81 have been waiting patiently for
months to have your board take some
action relative to making school No.
freproof, but ] regret to state from
a personal observation that the heaters
have been started and this school still
remains a fire trap.
do not care to 90 into public
print as a chronic kicker, but / have
four children of tender years, from
four years up, occupying the upper
floors of this trap, whose lives l. as a
father, must safeguard irrespective Of
party or religion, and ! would be un-
worthy of the name of father if ! per-
mitted them to endanger their lives.
This is to give you due notice that
on next Monday morning unless prompt
steps are taken to make this school as
1t should be, safeguarded against fire,
] will on that day withdraw my chill
dren from said school and publish my
reasons in the public press to that ef-
feet.
trust that your honorable board
will not miseonstrue this statement as
threat, but rather from a father who
win protect his young regardless of
circumstances.
While have always been demo-
crat and am at present democratic
judge in this ward, ] could not close
this communication without giving
credit to George Moore. member Of
your honorable board, for calling my
attention over one year ago to the con
dition of this school. IN addition to
this, member Of your board at the
high school denounced this school as a
fire trap.
In conclusion, ! do not propose to
play the lives of my children against
any reason that can be advanced as to
who is responsible, as | care not what
the reason may be.
If you eannot get the money, close
the school until you do.
Very respectfully,
'1GEO. W. JACKSON. y 7.