The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-06-17

others Is that the building shakes
very badly in q strong wind. 80 bad
ly that at times In years past, school
has been dismissed during heavy
winds because of apprehension for
the safety of the school children.
In my presence, Mr.. Hunting
caused the windows to shake very
violently by jouncing up and down
moderately while standing In the
middle of the floor OF one of the sec
ond story school rooms. That indi-
Gated not only that the floor was
timber, due to the long span joists.
but that the wall was actually shak-
en- since the window frames are set
in the brick walls.
Brick walls Of their thickness and
moderate height should not be 30
easily shaken. I was informed that
the mortar used In the construction
of brick buildings In Eureka Of about
the age of the schoolhouse was prac-
tically q mixture OF ebay mud and
sand. / believe that the poor quality
VI INC hOEtaN huu tNS hcaSy WEn4o
from the south and probably some ef-
feet from earthquakes are respon-
sible for the bulging condition of the
north and south walls and for the
tendency of these walls to shake un-
der slight provocation.
While 1t is possible that the build
ing would stand for many more years
as 1t has In the past. believe 1t Is
also possible that 1t might fall with
out warning under no more unusual
conditions than the action OF a very
severe wind, and that 1t is highly
probable that the occurrence of q
moderately severe earthquake any
where within 100 miles of Eureka
would wreck the building.
Some Of the other faults of this
structure. not yet mentioned are: In
sufficient windows to properly light
the schoolrooms in cloudy weather
or Winter afternoon6 The impos-
sibility of heating thu rooms ct all
comfortably in cold weather. and
poor arrangement Of the build
ing for facilitating removal of the
children in case Of fire.
Aside from the matter Of actual
danger to life, 1t is impossible for
teachers or pupils to do the effective
work they should do, when under the
mental and nervous strain they must
suffer in that schoolhouse in windy,
cloudy or cold weather.
School buildings, housing as they
do for so large portion Of the total
time, the youthful representatives OF
most of the families of their respect
i've communities, those who are COM
ing citizens, now in training for fu-
ture service, these buildings are real
ly the most important buildings in
our towns and cities. and their safe
ty and their facilities for rendering
the best possible service in the way OF
instruction to our beloved children,
demand our careful attention and all
necessary financial sacrifice.
do not consider the Eureka School
building good enough to be remod-
led as a whole, and would not recon-
mend extensive repairs. but think the
building should be wrecked and re-
placed by good one or possibly two,
If the decision should be for two
one story schoolhouses, 1t might be
practicable to remove the second
story of this building and strengthen
the first story by. the insertion OF
good brick partitions extending north
and south, cut in more windows,
provide an adequate heating system,
and otherwise remodel it. But be-
fore deciding in favor of such pro-
cedure, a careful comparison of es-
Inmates of cost and future life and
usefulness should be made as be-
tween such a reconstructed one story
building and a new one story school
on the same site.
Respectfully submitted.
H. p. BOARDMAN