Palisadian., 1923-07-06
OFFICIALS SEE FIRE
HAZARD IN AUDITORIUM
State Commissioner of Educa-
ton In Letter Makes Recon-
mendation.

On May 25 The Palisadian printed
an article branding School No. (the
Whitman Street School) in Fort Lee
as a firetrap and unsafe for large
gatherings. Following publication of
the article a petition was sent to the
Board of Education, containing thirty
two signatures of Palisade residents,
asking that permission be granted to
the Palisade school to hold their grad
uation exercises in their own building,
giving as a reason the fire hazard of
School No l. The permission was
granted and resolution introduced
providing that all graduation exer-
cises be held elsewhere than the
Whitman Street School auditorium.
Later the board modified their deci-
sion and permitted the high school
students to hold their graduation ex-
ercises in the auditorium.
Further developments in the situa.
ton took place last week when Fire
ant Chief Louis Hoebel made tour of
inspection of the schools of the bor-
ough on Tuesday of last -Meek.4- = -
Whitman Street School was emptied
in one and one-half minutes, there
being $50 grammar and 140 high
school students in the building at the
time the drill took place.
The officials inspected the auditor
ium which has been the cause of
much controversy during the past few
weeks, because of an alleged fire haz-
ard. recommendation will be made
to the board to erect fire escapes in
the rear of the building, leading from
the auditorium and the enclosure of
a window, which opens from the floor
level.
A test of the fire hose proved that
number. Of sections were leaky and
it will be suggested that these be
replaced.
The fire officials will also urge the
board to replace number of wooden
partitions in the basement with a
more suitable and fireproof material.
The board will be urged to place
more chemical extinguishers in the
building.
The Palisade School dismissed its
179 pupils in forty-five seconds, while
the two grades in the annex, of fifty
nine young ones, took exactly forty
seconds to leave: No recommends
tions will be made, the fire apparatus
and school, being in excellent condi-
ton.
In letter, of which the following
is an exact copy, and which has been
received by Cyrus Prosch, of Coytes,
vile, from State Commissioner OF
Education, John Enright, the latter
advices against the use of the audi
torium, of Fort Lee Public School No
l, Whiteman street.
The letter follows:
Department of Instruction,
State of New Jersey,
Trenton, June 25, 1928.
Mr.. Cyrus Prosch,
Coytesville, N. J.
Dear Sir:
| received the newspaper clipping
in reference to the Fort Lee Auditor
ium, which you recently sent me.
After receiving your first communi-
cation MAY 22nd) which was forward
ed through the governor, l assigned
one, Mr.. McDermott, building inspec
tor, to make an inspection of the build
ing. He has reported that the audi
torium is hazardous for housing large
audiences because of the fact that the
exits available would be inadequate
in case of panic by fire or from an
other cause.
We would advise that this auditor
ium not be used for an assembly
room.
Very truly yours,
(SignedD JOHN ENRIGHT,
Commissioner OF Education.
The clipping referred to was the
article published in the Palisadian.