The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-14
BOSTWICK AVE. SCHOOL ACCEPTED; BOND OF THE
 BUILDER IS RELEASED
Board of Education Hears Architect Contractor and Building InspectOr--Delay in Selecting Site for
 School in North Bridgeport

+h Bridgeport.
 of s1oo to bind the option was au- thorized.
 Bridgeport. Conn. Dec. 1S. 1909. To the Honorable Board of Education,
 Bridgeport, Conn:
 Gentlemen-Your communication of Nov. sth. inclosing copy of criticisms concerning the Longfellow school, on Bostwick avenue, this city. and re- questing a report from me relative to the same, was duly received In ac- cordance, with your request. I beg to submit the sub-joined report
 The criticisms referred to appear to me to divide themselves into three separate charges. as follows:
 First-That a certain frame Qath- and-plaster) partition in first-story corridor over boiler room renders the building unsafe by increasing the dan- ger from fire.
 originally intended to be of brick was so understood in the contract. and was subsequently, changed to frame by the contractor. without authority and to the detriment of the building
 Third-That certain portions Of the floors cornices, water-table.- etc. are somewhat out of level. thereby indicat- ing inferior workmanship, and tending to increase the alleged danger to oc- cupants Of the building.
 
 ing and the original plans with par ticular reference to the above matters and am of the opinion that the build ing. while somewhat roughly built In parts. is thoroughly strong and sub- stantial, and in no more danger from fire or other hazard than are other schools of the same class in this city. My reasons for this opinion are as fol- lows:
 ' PARTITION PROTECTED. ' First The lath-and-plaster parti- ton referred to does not increase the where comes in contact with or ap- breaches the boilers below. Over the tops of said boilers there is a, free air space of more than four feet Above this air-space the ceiling is protected on the underside by a heavy coat of plaster. which plaster in turn is cov- cred throughout with sheet metal as a further protection This method or protection being used in nearly all of the new school buildings in the city. In addition to this protection the floor above is double. and between the two thicknesses of the floors there is an extra protection of "Salamander fire proofing." This partition is further protected by several rows of fire stops which makes the same impervious to draughts and effectually prevents the spread of fire through the voids.
 It should be borne in mind that this partition is of minor importance It has no connection with any classroom or vital part of the building. but is merely a light scroone separating one of the cloak rooms from the corridor. I would also remind your honorable board that precisely the same condi- tion obtains in other of our schools. notably the one on Sterling street, de- signed by the same architect, and that no criticism appears to have been made concerning such arrangements previous to the erection of the Long fellow school.
 Second-I am of the opinion that the partition in question was not changed from brick to frame. The original plans are indefinite as to it's character. the only notation thereon being that it was to be eight inches thick The carpenter-contractor in form me that when estimating upon the work the indefiniteness of the plans concerning this point caused them to be in doubt as to what was intended. They therefore appealed to the architect for information. and were instructed by him that it was intended to be a frame partition, Of six-inch studs. with one inch of plas- ter on each side. making a total thick ness of eight inches. as figured on plans.
 BUILT AS PER PLANS.
 The carpenter-contracto-s further in form me that they made up their es- inmates and bid on this basis, secured the contract. and built the partition in accordance herewith. with no ref erence to the mason-contractor. in whose contract it would have been if of brick.
 This Is borne out by an inspection of the general scheme of construction as laid out on original plans. Had a brick partition been intended, some support in the nature of a wall col umns or girder must necessarily have been provided in cellar. since it would manifestly be impossible to let the weight of a brick wall rest upon the floor without some such support be- low On the other hand. a light frame partition or screen could safely rest on the fioor without support below; and this is exactly the construction shown on plans, there being no support be- low. nor any possibility of obtaining such support without changing the en- tire design of that portion of the building.
 In view of the foregoing. I am satis- fled that the frame partition as built is in accordance with the original in tent of the plans and the understand ing of the carpenter-contractor that no change occurred after the award ing of the contract.
 Third-That certain portions of floors. cornices. etc. are somewhat out of level is. in my judgment. neither the cause nor the effect of any weak the slightest degree endanger the oc- cupants thereof. or detract from it's value for school purposes The same or similar so-called defects exist in most of our schools and other build ings, and, so far as l am aware. have never been regarded as source of danger to the occupants.
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