Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-11-04
Plan of Water Company Is Not Ap-
proved by Board, However, on
Ground 1t Is Too Costly.
PLUMBING CONTRACT rs
AWARDED TO PURvINB FIRM
Schools Are Crowded, and More Room
win Be Necessary, According to Re-
ports to Board.

sured Of absolute safe fire protection
by using city water unless the pipes are
attached directly to the mains, City
School Architect Legg told the school
board last night S. A. Parks, of the
Salem Water company had said. Mr.
Parks told Mr.. Legg that owing to the
great amount Of friction caused by the
high pressure water passing through a
meter, the disk in the meter is liable
to drop down and shut off the stream
completely.
The matter of furnishing fire protec.
tion for the Lincoln, Park and Grant
school brought up the discussion in re-
gard to the advisability Of making the
proper connections with the Salem
Water company's system. It was fig.
ured by the board that there is not
likely to be fire in any of these
schools more than once in five. years,
and that with the meter system used.
the district would not be taxed a cent
for the protection, providing the I'M
derground and standpipes were tight.
Would Benefit Company.
The members of the board believed
that it would be useless TO expend $3.50
month for each school, or $50 year
for the privilege of connecting direct
ly with the water mains. Mr.. Park ad-
vised Mr.. Legg that this is the Port
land rate, $3.50 per month per stand.
pipe, and that the district would be
asked to pay $45 for the connection di-
rectly on the main, and to draw the
emergency water from the mains direct
is much safer than to draw it through
meter.
The board did not settle the prob.
lem last night, but will take action
one way or the other within q. short
time.
The Purvine Pump& Implement com.
pany was awarded the contract for do.
ing the plumbing work on the stand.
pipe systems in the Park, Lincoln and
Grant schools. The Purvine company
put in their bid at $l65. Theo. M.
Barr & Co. submitted a bid for the
work of $1S3 and the Rogers Plumbing
& Heating company bid $233.51.
Schools overcrowded.
The enrolment in the city schools
this year is so large that additional
room will have TO be forthcoming be,
fore very great while. The school
board sized up the present conditions
last night and found that another
building will be necessary within a
very short time, and it is likely that
the district taxpayers will be called up
to take this proposition up at the next
annual meeting of the voters.
The Richmond and Highland schools
are taxed, it is said, aud the other
buildings are being overcrowded with
pupils 1t was suggested last night by
Director Miles that either a new high
school building should be built or one
Of the other schools remodeled into a
high school, in order to relieve the con
gested conditions in the main building.
A junior high school could be easily
started with 800 pupils, said Mr. Miles.
Truant Officer Census Taker.
The board last night appointed Mrs.
Fannie Penn truant officer Of the city
schools, and Mrs. Mary Watson to take
the next school census in Salem. Here
tofore one person was appointed for
this position, but the board concluded
last night that they could get the work
done by paying $35 and an additional
fee Of % cents n name.
Mrs. Penn submitted report show
ing that 42 children Of school age were
found not attending school 50 far this
year, and that the parents were in.
structed to send the pupils to school