Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-11-26
BRAND
SCHOOL F|RE-TRAP
viii Demand Elliot Street
Building Be Replaced by
New Structure.
tcontinued from First Pageo

i
his knowledge of existing conditions
He is said to have repeated, with
notifications, the same story he told
the parents in the assembly hall three
weeks ago, for which statements he
was called before the Board of Edu-
cation.
Principal Gives Views.
He spent more than half an hour
in the retailing of the actual con-
ditions at the old building, and laid
particular emphasis on the fact that
1t is only a question of a short time
when the old building in its present
state will not be able to accommodate
the rapidly growing, enrolment. He
called attention also to the fact that
the pupils in the third floor class
rooms wishing drink of water are
compelled to walk to the ground floor
in the rear to satisfy this desire. The
need of improved toilet facilities was
also impressed upon the committee.
1t was after this talk by Mr..
Shaffer that the committee made its
way to the old building through a
rear door so as to escape notice. Con-
siderable time was spent in looking
over the only three exits in the
building. It was while examining the
rear stairway that one of the COM
mitteemen lighted a cigarette. Cau-
toned by some of the others to be
careful of the match lest he might
set the place afire. he replied that it
would be a good thing if he did.
nuIR.1;-~ n.~udod U;.otran
Returning to the office of the prin-
cipal, the committee took up the
question of the safety of the build
ing. There was a difference of opin-
ion on this score, but all were unan-
imous in condemning it as a fire.
trap. This comedies with the report
of Ernest F. Guilbert, who. as super
vising architect for the Board of
Education, made an inspection of the
structure and referred to 1t in his
report as fire hazard" Mr..
Shaffer vas recalled at this point
and he told of the manner of egress
which the children would have to
follow in leaving the building in case
of fire.
The committee who have taken
matters in their. own hands as the
of the parents. follow
ing the decision of the Board of Edu-
cation that the structure is safe
enough, is made up of Hamilton T.
Disbrow, chairman; John Montieth.
DR.. Wicks Washburn, the Rev. F. r.
Jones, James Duguid, jr., Robert o.
George d. Johnson, James
W. Silley, Thomas McEntee and
Robert Berry.
Lacks Fire Protection"
avor of immediate action on the part
# the committee in bringing the mat
er before the school authorities, one
# the committeeman pointed out that.
wen If all of the other defects in the
structure, such as the weak and
Iunken floors, the cracked walls and
he fallen ceilings, could be forgotten,
he lack of proper protection from
Ire could not be dismissed from
memory. He said the building was a
lre-trap and should be dealt with as
uch.
Any attempt of the Board of Edu-
alton to dismiss the question by the
'romise of repairs to the old building
will be vigorously fought by the COM
nittee. They took the stand last
light that the structure is beyond re-
'air, and that any of the citys money
pent in this manner would be
wasted. Nothing short of a new
would satisfy them.