The San Francisco call., 1910-06-23
STEAM and HOT AIR
HEATING DISCUSSED
Education Board Hears Argu=
ments of Plumbers as to Best
Method for Schools
City Architect Fayors Official
Test and Directors Defer
Their Decision

About two hours of the time of the
board of education was taken up yes
terday afternoon in the discussion of
the steam and hot air systems of heat
ing and ventilating schoolhouses.
The matter came up at the request
of the plumbers union of this city. The
committee from that organization was
M. McKeever and Robert Wilson. They
were accompanied by T.. B. Hunter
Thomas Morrin, w. E, Leland and r. A.
Hudson of the engineers union; John l.
Nolan, representing the home indus
try committee of the iron trades coun-
Gil; A. j. Gallagher, the San Francisco
labor council, and John o. Walsh, the
molders' union. NJ. Russell represented
the city architects Office and IL. W.
Kerrigan the hot~air system.
PLEA FOR STEAM SYSTEM
The plumbers and engineers pre-
sented arguments in favor of the steam
system and declared that it was the
most perfect and safest for school pur-
poses and asserted that the hot air sys-
tenn generated dangerous gas which
mingled with the atmosphere and pro-
duced lassitude and headaches when
inhaled by teachers and pupils.
Hunter presented the result of
long research for information as to the
value of the two systems and read let
ters from educational bodies in Denver,
Colo; st. Louis, Mo-; Nashville, Tenn,
Toledo, o.; Seattle. Wash; Minneapolis,
Mimi, and Bay City, Mich, which were
to the effect that the hot air system,
except as to small buildings of three or
four rooms, had after full trial, been
Il iSf.a rHp II far Sf hoo
BEST SYSTEM WANTED
The question of cost of installation
and maintenance of both styles of
plants was gone into, when President
Banerman said:
consideration. What the board wants
is the best system combining the most
healthful conditions for the occupants
of the schoolrooms and their safety.
Morrin said that the plumbers did not
represent any person interested in the
installation of q heating system, but
that they wanted the board to listen to
arguments as to which was best for
teachers and pupils. He gave lengthy
account of the construction of boilers
and furnaces and added that there was
danger of the escape of ''f1ue air" from
the hot air furnaces. He concluded by
saying: There is but one way to de-
termine this matter and that is to have
the board order a complete. test of the
two systems.
ARCHITECT SUGGESTS TEST
Architect Russell said: You ght
sit here day after day and listen to
statements from every one who desires
to speak without being able to deter
mine which system is the best. This
can be determined only by an actual
test at which there should be present
representatives of the board of educa-
ton, of the board OF public works, the
architects Office, the plumbers, the en-
gineers, the hot air system and chem
ist. By such a test you will settle this
matter for all time"
John T. Nolan and A. j. Gallagher
smoke in favor of home Industry and
others gave their views, while III. w.
Kerrigan asserted that the hot air sys-
tenn had proved satisfactory in school
houses of 20 or more classrooms.
The board announced that it would
take the whole matter under advise
nent and in all probability act on the
suggestion to have test.
WORK FOR SCHOOL CHORUS
The sangerfest committee, through
Max Magnus, asked that Estelle Car
penter be permitted to form a chorus
of school children to render two or
more numbers on the afternoon of Fri
day, September 2, during the German n
singing festival in this city. The re-
quest was granted.
Miss F. Woodward was appointed to
take charge of the domestic science
work in the elementary schools during
the absence of Miss Bartlett, supervisor
of that branch.
Director Whelan was instructed to
appear before the police commission
ers Monday to protest against the
granting of license for a saloon at
Powell and Clay streets, if it appeared
that the place was within $50 feet of
the oriental school.
The resignation of Mrs. j. Langley
as janitress of the Oceanside school
was accepted.
APPLICATIONS FOR POSITIONS
Applications for positions in the de-
partment were received from S. P. May
back, Portia C. jacob, Anna t. Crersa-
tian, F. v. Simonton, II. c. Hall, Jessie
j. Patton and Charles Munday- These
were referred to the committee on
schools.
The following recommendations were
presented:
That all athletic activities in the pub
lie schools should be under the control
of the board of education.
That steps be taken to urge upon the
proper authorities such modification of
the law on vaccination as would re-
lieve the public schools of the burthen
of its enforcement
For the modification of the compul-
sorry education law.
Favoring a reduction of the maxi
mum of the number in primary classes
in order to permit a greater degree of
individual attention.
For medical supervision of the
school.
That as soon as the presence of any
case of infectious disease occurred in
school the room in which the pupil
was discovered should be disinfected.
These matters are to be considered
later.
The city's architects Office submitted
plans for the Polytechnic school, in
Frederick streets