The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-16
FIRETRAPS In
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Continued from Page One.

tiers infinitely worse, the assembly hall
occupies the most dangerous position in
the building. directly over six high-pres-
sure boilers"
Mr.. Daniel was asked for a supplement-
airy report by Asst. Supt. Thurston. The
principal goes so far as to recommend
that the assembly hall be moved or else
the furnaces installed in another part of
! the building. No stretch Of the imagina-
ton is required to foresee the conse-
quences should one Of the high-pressure
boilers burst beneath the feet Of hun
dreds Of pupils who assemble daily in the
hall
The present report made by Mr..
Thurston was brought about through a
trivial action said Capt. Oyster yes
terday. "A boy was injured by running
into low-hanging fire escape on one
Of the buildings and the matter was
brought to the attention OF the board.
We ordered an investigation of condi-
tons and the report of Mr.. Thurston
is the result"
"Must Keep Cool"
Other schools reported with bad fire
protection equipment were the Webster,
Gage, Franklin, Henry, and Peabody
School
room buildings, three stories high. In
side it is considered fire trap in case
of a sudden blaze. Outside the fire es-
capes are officially reported as too dan
gerous for children's use" They slope
at an abrupt angle and pupils stand
every chance Of falling from sheer diz-
illness. At the Henry building a like
condition prevails, the building being five
stories high and the escapes little more
fhon IN he
air. These, like the escapes on the Gage
School, ARE so situated that most of
the winter they are necessarily in a
dangerous and icy condition.
At the Eastern High School. where
the assembly hall is located on the
third floor, the escapes are said to be
possible for young men to descend If
they keep cool heads, but impossible
for young ladies'"
Commissioners Reticent.
Commissioner William V. Judson was
seen last night in regard to the report
of the assistant superintendent, but
would express no opinion.
II have not received the report as yet, "
he said, land have almost no idea OF its
contents. Until I have a chance to in
spect the report 1 cannot say what action
the Commissioners will take. We have
been troubled by lack of fire protection
in the District but conditions are gradu-
ally being perfected"
Commissioner Rudolph was also seen as
he left the farewell dinner to Gen. Har-
ries at the New Willard last night.
81 can say nothing until 1 read the re-
port" he declared. 1T is safe to say,
however, that fire protection must be
secured at any cost"
Snowden Ashford, municipal architect
outlined the dangers Of the situation in
an interview.
Deserves Serious Thought.
THE report OF the board" said Mr..
Ashford, should not be taken lightly.
II is something which deserves serious
consideration. For my part would
rather not discuss the matter until a
still further investigation of the build
ings has been made. 1 have already rec
commended in my annual report better
fire protection for the school buildings.
1 realize that there are certain conditions
which should be changed, but steps are
already being taken to correct these. The
District is expanding money right along
| to improve conditions.
LAS to whether there are dangerous fire
escapes on any of the public school build
ing of the city, 1 have oply to say that
| the type of fire escapes which have been
erected have been inspected by the Dis
trict fire department, and have been APP
proved. Whether they are impossible
| for girls to descend, refuse to discuss"
The report of the board, forwarded by
Secretary Hine, should be in the hands
of the Commissioners by the end Of the
present week.