New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-12
.SEE BIG SCHOOL WASTE
sooineerS Report How $500, 900
a Year Can Be Saved.
roo PR0DIGAL WITH COAL
Seating Capacity, if Utilized
Properly, Is Ample Now,
It Is Declared.

Many Of the public schools OF New York
-. IN a deplorable condition, according TO
N. report made yesterday 70 the Board
n Estimate and Apporionment by Charles
n Armstrong & Son. consulting engineers,
rso were employed to make the investi-
ration. Here are some Of the things that
/ ibe engineers found to exist:
Inefficient and inadequate mechanical de-
arns. unnecessarily high coal expense and
lack ~ proper records, Anticipated and
wasteful heating systems, poorly designed
and improper ventilaung systems. anti
ouated and unsanitary method Of cleaning,
totally inadequate fire protection. lack Of
proper control over the operating force.
unnecessarily high architectural expense,
en- inefficient and too numerous corps Of
Inspectors and supervisors financial losses
due TO improper letting Of electrical con-
tracts. and that the present seating ca
pacity Of the schools is by no means utl-
Ted TO its fullest extent
The engineers. however, DO not believe
that the situation is hopeless. They sug-
Gest remedies, among them that means be
found whereby a less expensive grade OF
coal may be used and its better consump-
ton be assured. The ventlatng plants
should be overhauled, and proper air,
washing and conditioning apparatus IN
stalled. according 10 the report II Is
also suggested that the use Of modern
vacuum cleaning systems would eliminate
rs far as possible disease germs and other
9th
Not Enough Fire Protection.
With regard 10 the lack OF protection
against fire. It was deemed that too much
inhammable material was allowed 10 col
lsct IN the school buildings. and that there
was decided shortage in the matter OF
fire escapes and fire 1ghting apparatus.
Il Is pointed out that standard design
Of hreproof construction should be adopt
81 and used in all new school buildings.
Az 70 the expense Of electric lighting, It
e said that the bills may be reduced
either by obtaining from the public service
companies the same rate which is given
70 private consumers, or falling in that
current should be manufactured on the
premises
Regarding the utilization Of the fun seat
tng room Of the school buildings 1t IS said
that the capacity Of the now existing
schools IS fully adequate and that reform
ran be accomplished without crowding and
without the erection Of a single additional
Building at this time. with the possible
exception Of added schools In the newly
developed territories. The details Of these
Recommendations are set forth IN some
twenty-five pages Of closely typewriter
matter
The report declares that the New York
Edison Company in its published schedule
Of prices offers a rate Of IL cents the kilo-
watt hour for current at the regular trans
Mission voltage 20 consumers using 5000
worth Of current annually. Considering
that the Board Of Education pays about
uaE4 year for its current Il is thought
that It should be entitled 10 the low rata
The annual saving, It is said. would be
essd, or an expenditure Of only $+os92.
Can Save $2o5,ooo on Coal.
In the matter Of coal for heating pur-
poses II IS said that the city can cave
IS.ooo year
At present the Board Of Education pays
Eg,H5 for inspection service, and, accord
Tag 70 the report this amount can be re
Iueed fully 60 per cent At the same time
The work may be more evidently done
The schedules as made out in the report
chow savings TO the board OF approx
nately $4,000 every year. Further saw
ings can be made, - IS sat9, in the reor-
ganizstlon OF the architectural and en-
cheering departments. IN the slmphfcation
Of the clerical force
The report is accompanied by twenty pho
tographs and several diagrams.
One important recommendation Is that
the work Of the building bureau Of the
Board o. Education be divided; that there
be an architect who shall devote his time
70 the designing Of buildings and an eI-
pert engineer who shar take charge Of the
ventilation heating and plumbing IN the
schools At present the work Of the two
Departments is done by one man, and 1t Is
sssd that no matter how efficient he may
% the responsibility IS too burdensome
tof one man.