The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1913-04-01
EXPERT TO EXAMINE
SCHOOL STEAM Plant
Education Board Still Dissat.
iSfi0d With Installation.


tect Oscar B. Smith, jr., Engineer
Runyon, of Runyon & Cary, and Con-
tractor Cooney regarding the installa
tion and operation of the heating
and ventilating system in the Maple
avenue school building the board of
education Friday evening instructed
its operation and maintenance COM
m1ttee to engage an expert engineer
to examine the plant and report on
his findings, after comforting with
Counsel Willard w. Cutler, at the
next meeting of the board In the
meantime the bills of Mr.. Cooney and
Mr.. Smith are held up
During the discussion of the plant
Mr.. Runyon was called sharply to ac-
count for his aggressive attitude to-
ward the board and its counsel by c.
Franklin Wilson, who told the New
ark man that he was talking at the
meeting only by courtesy of the board
and was doing neither his own cause
nor Mr.. Cooney's any good by his at
titude.
Judge Cutler reported to the board
that there was nothing in the speci
fications to show that one boiler was
to be a reserve boiler and the full
load of direct radiation and ventila-
ton carried by one boiler in modera e
weather. Mr. Runyon asserted that
the plant had been so laid out that
there was plenty of steam for both
purposes but there was no intention
of having one boiler carry the full
load even in moderate weather.
In answer to question if the
plant was now in good working order
Mr.. Cooney said he would take his
oath to that effect and that the
boilers would carry 100 pounds press
ure. Mr.. Runyon went on to explain
that either boiler would carry either
the direct radiation or ventilation.
Judge Cutler and superintendent J.
Burton Wiley asserted that one
boiler would do it and the other
would not. To which Architect Smith
replied that if so it was only by
the grace of God for no such Thing
was intended by the architects en-
gineers.
Mr.. Runyon slurred at he man in
charge of the plant, saying that the
boards "so-called engineer is steam
filter and janitor and there is a
dlfference between an engineer and
an artisan" He was unable to ex-
plain why one boiler should work and
The other not, saying that he did not
control the engineer, but when Mr..
i Cooney's man was at the building the
plant worked right.
This statement brought a denial
from President Hinchman which was
in turn denied byMr. Runyon Archi.
tect Smith asserted that Engineer
Gilbert the day Mr.. Hinchman was
present and had Cooney's man here
had attempted to run the direct radi-
alton, ventilation and fans all on one
boiler and all the water left the boil
er. He had told Gilbert, said Mr.
i, Smith, that the plant was not SO
planned and that he considered such
an attempt by Gilbert good grounds
for his dismissal by the board of
education. Tests had been made by
Mr.. Runyon, he claimed, of both
boilers and they were both working
according to the plans
What happens if boiler breaks
down, does the building go cold?"
asked Mr.. Todd.
Use direct radiation only" replied
Mr.. Smith and when continuing asked
what happens if teacher is taken
sick?"
"The rest of them work." was the
quick retort.
''Laymen are making serious
charges against experts" asserted
Mr. Runyon. 81 have installed heat.
ing and ventilating plants in forty
seven buildings in New Jersey and
all have been passed by the state
school department. How about this
one?"
''lf they worked like this one the
state officials are careless" retorted
Mr.. Todd.
Mr.. Runyon asserted the plant to
be absolutely correctly designed for
the work it has to do and in proper
hands will do that work. Mr.. Todd
questioned Mr.. Runyon closely re-
garding the details of the plant and
finally was told by Mr.. Runyon that
the latter could not answer the ques-
tions as he hs not his field notes
at hand.
Architect Smith asserted the plant
: had been running satisfactorily since
the previous board meeting in the
hands of men mot licensed engi
neers."
There are no licensed engineers in
this state," said Mr.. Hinchman
On Mr.. Cooney's assertion that Jer
sey City had licensed engineers il
was explained that they were licensed
not by the state but by the munich
pality, some of the cities having char
ters that permit such procedure but
which is impossible in Morristown
and other towns.
In answer to a question by Mr.
Conkling whether the local engineers
were competent to run the plant Mr.
Runyon claimed it had taken a long
er period of time to teach them its
workings than had been necessary in
other places. The statements OF
the Assistant Engineer Leonard be
fore the board at its last meeting
he claimed he could have punctured
if he had been present. In explaining
why one boiler "threw water" Mr.
Runyon said, it was because it was
overloaded with both the direct radi
alton and ventilating systems, which
: was never intended, and if one boiler
carried the load and did not "throw
1 water" it was a miracle. The coal
had been bad but that was nobody's
: fault connected with the board as
people had to take the coal gwen
them by the railroad. He had ex
amined the last lot of coal and found
it good. Instead of taking out seven
or eight cans of ashes a day the en-
gineers now removed only two and
one-half or three.
! Harrassed by continued questions
by the board members Mr.. RunyoI