Evening journal., 1920-08-31
TWO SCHOOLS
FIRE TRAPS,
SURVEY SAYS
CONTINUED From First Page. J

Continued From First Page)
subject. is executive secretary Of the
general body.
Although the inspection Of No. and
No Q schools was made last June and
the reports on the schools were sub
miiled TO the Board Of Education on
/ August i2. last night was the FIRST
meeting the board had held a. which
they were brought up 10 was en-
phasized today that the committee
which mad the survey had gone 10
George ROmmcl, Of the Board OF Edu-
cation and Ohiainfd his uarmiss on 10
make the Investigation, the aim being
10 cooperate with the board In every
way possible howard safeguard
ing he lives Of the ciiy's pupils.
At that time, members Of The commit,
tee today said Mr. Rnmnal en-. red
willingly into the scheme and ex-
pressed the hope that the survey
would result in benefit. The COM
mitiee in no way sought 10 interfere
with The functions OF the board, but
TO be Of aid
When the reports were presented
in the board meeting last night. DrsI
/ c Anthony Beck. who is the boards
visitor 10 School No. 4. became angry
and demanded 10 know who gave the
committee authority 10 make the in
VestigatiOn Mr.. Rommel promptly
! responded that he had.
Are they going TO look at all the
schools?" pursued Dr. Beck, adding
that he thought he snould have been
notified before such an investigation
OF school No. 1 was made There was
no reply and Oscar c. Draper moved
that the report be laid oyer for one
month. The motion was adopted
The reports which bear dates OF
July 2s and July %, are exhaustive
and give In detail the defects found IN
the school buildings Drawings and
photographs are appended to give
clear ideas Of the dangerous condi-
or No. / school II is said that lt is
one Of the oldest and Is located In the
connagrhion section Of the city
Fifth and French streets. 10 is three
stories high, with low attic and base
lment, built OF brick walls, wood ioist
floor and wood roof The interior
finish is lath and plaster Its lighting
facilities are gas and electricity
both installations considered hazard
Gus" The report continues:
"Heatng-low pressure steam boiler
4 located center basement, unproiCct-
led and dangerously close 10 open
wood ioisied ceiling above. steam
pipes In contact with wood work. No
inside fire extinguishing appliances.
fOulside Drotfcilon-city hydran.-
Wilmington volunteer fire depart
mont Exit facilities-fair; outside
fire escape OF rather inferior design
and unprotected from the exposure Of
window and door openings. Alarm
esrvice, city-good; building service
manual.
There are two very hazardous con-
ditions In this school which serious
, ly ieopardize the building and occu-
pants; namely first. the presence OF
. The old heating system, and second,
, arrangement Of the present low pres
! sure steam boiler These should re-
ceive attention before school begins
; this fall.
! building should be thoroughly
d house cleaned and all combuslibl'
c material which Is not needed removed
The practice Of storing paints il
Q small rooms, south corner formerly
n used for manual training or domestic
4 science, should be discontinued.
u "The hazard introduced by the 0l,
@ gas ligh tins system should be elimin
{ lated and the present electric lightini
n system. though OF fairly recent in
r. siallaiion, is moi Of approved design
I The outside fire escape needs over
: hauling and reinforcing
II The report for school No Q, Eight
and WonastOn streets. also Gays th
I building Is located on edge OF con
Il fls sgratiOn section Of city. The build
\ ing Is three stories high, attic an
= basement. lie construction Is brio
and stone wall, wood ioist floors. tn
e Interior finish Is wood laih an
plaster There Is a small amount q
metal ceiling. Stairs are open fror
FIRST 20 third floors, Inclusive. Thos
between nrst iloOr and basement ar
poorly enclosed Lighting, both ga
and electricity, as now arranged ar
considered hazardous. The heatin
7 plant is a low pressure steam Ollie
N located In fre resisting room, part
ally cut on from main building
Z steam pipes are In contact with woot
work. No inside flre eXtnguishin
apparatus. The outside protectio
h tho same as thet at School No.
Exit facilities are provided only b
lg the inside stairNNays. The alarm sci
r. vice Is gocd.
m "The most prominent inherent m
.e hazards in this school building ar
lighting from heating and housekeeI
D. ing. HOusckccping as hrougnl ot
r. above, was found 90 be good, althoug
" there are several places where 10 ca
e be materially improved. The low pre-:
q surt steam hn'lcg and fucl supply, cor
sisting Of bituminOus coal and WOO
are located In brick arch ROOF
e under areaway. Boiler rooms con
: municate with the school hou'
s through one unprotected doorwa'
I The installation OF one fire door wi
I completely cut OF and protect thl
; hazard.
: 'The lighting system, consisting {
o both gas and electricity, Is considere
particularly hazardous, especially
: the attic, where the open wiring Is !
Q contact with or in close proximt
with the gas piping. Hereinafter, 3
this report. IL will be recommends
. that the gas installation be enirely r.
|, moved and that the oltcirir system b
y thoroughly overhauled, bringing IL u
2 10 the national electric code and cN
\ tended TO cover portions now illum
mated by gas.
= zone ofihe principal inherent IN
= hazards can be safeguarded (ther
being an absence Of the hazards foun
In the higher grades, such as manuS
training. domestic science, chemic'
and physical laboratories. etcl IN
huilding is OF combustlble constru,
ton and would be extremely FIRE