South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-21

CndlrS, tdDleS, boxes. anu SuHuTy
articles of the mo, lnfammable ma
ture? Was this a condition, which
was absolutely safe?
Is il not an ind!sputable fact,
gentlemen that the only possible
means of egress from the basement
room Of the above school, in case
of fire in the main stairway, is a set
Of portable stairs which lead TO a
window? Is it not a fact that these
stairs are only Is inches in width
and Of such design that the little
children who are housed in this
basement room, could not climb
them with any degree of celebrity?
Is IL not a fact, that there is no
railing of any kind on this flight Of
stairs? Is il not a fact, gentlemen OF
the board that 40 little children in
case the above named circumstances
came to pass (Which is not at all
improbable would be compelled to
struggle up this flight of 1s-inch
stairs and Chamber through a win
dow If they were 10 escape the de-
vouring flames? Do you, gentlemen
of the Loard, consider that this is
a condition which is 'unquestion-
ably safe ?"
Is ii not an indisputable fact.
gentlemen of the board that 40 of
our little ones are housed in this
basement room. which is not ade-
quate!y ventilated, is il not a fact
that this room is located only a few
feet away from toilets used by near
" 500 children? Is IL not an indis-
putable fact. that such conditions
as these are pregnant with the dan
ger Of infection from typhoid and
other horrible diseases? Do you,
gentlemen of the board. consider
this AS a condition which is "un-
questionably safe? ?"
Is il not an indisputable fact. gen.
tlemen Of the board that it is impos-
sibIe 10 get a particle of fresh air
into this basement room without
opening a window directly over the
children's heads. thereby exposing
them 20 the bitterness of the win
ter weather and TO all the diseases
which are terminated and nOurish-
ed by sitting ir the draft. Do you,
gentlemen of the board, consider
this as a condition which is 'un-
questionably safe -
Is it not an indisputable fact.
gentlemen OF the board, that if an
alarm of fire was rung from the
Coquillard school building that II
only would be responded 10 by one
hose cart, one chemical wagon and
one hook and ladder from the CEN
trail fire station? Is il not a fact that
this equipment would be called from
a fire station which is 10 blocks
away from the school building and
that no equipment would be called
on the first alarm from No 3 hose
company station which is located
condition. gentlemen of the board.
which YOU consider 'unquestionably
safe?
Your reason as given in the arti-
Gle In the News-Times OF the above
mentioned date that nothing can be
done in the way OF improving these
conditions. is that you are put TO
a great expense in constructing
school building on Sample st But
by your very statement that nothing
can be done 10 improve conditions
in the above building you admit that
these conditions are not ''unques-
tionably safe" and should be i'm
proved Would you, gentlemen OF the
board, be willing 10 tell the tax
payers oA the city OF South Bend
Just what the actual cost Of the
palatial monument you contemplate
constructing on Sample st. is 20 be.
10 you have the temerity. gentle
men Of the board. 20 90 on record
that present conditions in that dis
trict are such. that a school build
| ing with p large rooms on the
ground floor is necessary:
Is il nc; - .Edisputabls sSct. gem