The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-02-03
training, domestic science, and all
commercial work:
In this building the heating, ven.

tilation, plumbing, signal and sani'
tary sy stems are very complete and
most modern. The Webster vacuum
system and Johnson service system
control the steam supply in the
radiators. American blower sirocco
fans in the plenum chambers are
used to force fresh air into the
rooms, and what is not so usual, six
fans are on the roof to induce the
foul air out. In the plenum cham.
bers are to be found air washers
which not only render the air clean
but also put the proper amount of
moisture into the air to be sent to
the rooms. Sanitary drinking foun-
tains are to be found at either end
of all corridors, and hot and cold
water is furnished to all bath
rooms, toilet rooms, domestic sci.
ence rooms, shops, and janitor's
rooms throughout the building. A
local telephone system connects all
the rooms with the Office, the office
master clock controls all other
clocks in the various rooms, as well
as class signals, gongs, and the big
bell on the roof. All these signals
are given automatically. A vacuum
cleaning system, motor driven, takes
all dust from floors, blackboards,
and walls, through piping to tank
| l.
with stand pipes and hose racks at
both ends of every corridor, furnish
protection from fire, although the
building is fire proof.
A new and enlarged heating plant
to serve both the: Technical and
Roosevelt buildings has been con-
structed during the year. This is
located in a separate boiler house
west of the Roosevelt. This plant
consists of two 72x18 feet tubular
boilers, mechanical stokers, econo-
mixers, vacuum and boiler pumps,
and induced draft fan. The plant
has already proved itself an effec-
!
efficient machine for getting the
heat units out of cheap grade of
coal. A 1OO-foot reinforced concrete
stack was erected as part of the
| plant.
Owing to the high cost of current
for light, heat, and power, the board
deemed it wise to install school
generating plant. Accordingly two
l25-H. p. Chuse engines, and two
~ K. w. Sprague generators, with
an adequate switchshoa I'd have been
installed. Something like $50 horse
power, in motors, heating devices,
and lights, will be required in the
new Technical building when every
thing is in full operation.
| Bell, Tyrie & Chapman of Mime
apol1s were the architects of the
building; the Bailey Marsh Com
pany of Minneapolis had the gen.
cral contract, the plumbing and
heating was done by the Virginia
Plumbing and Heating Company;
and the electrical work by the Rich
ardson Electrical Company of Du-
luth. All these people worked to-
gether harmoniously to produce
substantial and commodious fire.
proof structure that is regarded by
experts as among the best school
buildings in Minnesota, state
abounding in fine school houses.
The Board of Education that
pushed this building through to a
successful finish are: Joseph Ros
killy, Guy II. Moore, r. J. McGhee.
Helen +. Coffnan, treasurer; J. II.
Fleming, clerk; N. A. Holmer, chair.
man, and Lafayette Bliss, superin-
tendent. Many people thought
when this building was proposed
for erection that it was not needed,
but the logic of events has proved
otherwise, since the building was
filled the first week of it's occupancy
and there are no vacant rooms in
the system at any point. Virginia
has school enrolment of $500 with
a faculty of so teachers, and has
grown 25O per cent, mostly in the
last six years.
Mention should be made at this
time of the valuable assistance rem
dered at critical time in the check.
cred history of this building, by the
} leading men of the several large
companies that pay heavy taxes
in this district. Notwithstanding
many adverse reports to the con-
trary, these men have always shown
| themselves friendly 10 schools, and
reasonable school expenditures,and a nd
have expressed themselves "in
hearty accord with providing ade-
/ quate buildings and the best facili-
ties to afford proper educational
advantages at all range cities, towns
and Townships" Among the men
who have thus expressed them
selves are: President W. !. Olcott,
J, of the Oliver Iron Mining Company;
2 c. H. Munger, general manager OF
? the Pickands, Mather & Company;
c. T. Fairbairn, formerly general
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