The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-25

states rnaC II all unsafe schools and
other public buildings were closed the
public would protest so much that
that bureau Of fire prevention would
be forced to reopen them.
As an example of the difficulty the
bureau of fire prevention has to meet
with in dealing with those in charge
OF schools the report recites the fol-
lowing incident.
Il have in mind Recommendation
made by this bureau in March, 1923.
concerning the Wentworth school and
the Perkins Bass school, both on the
south side. Sprinkler systems were
asked for in both instances. A fire
escape and changes in the fire drills
were urged. Also that the loose
chairs in the assembly hall be fasten-
ed to the floor. These recommends
tons were sent to the President of
the Board of Education and Superin-
tendent Mortenson, who sharply
Knocked out all recommendation in
letter to the fire commissioner"
Nothing Is Done.
Since then nothing to improve con-
ditions in these schools has been
done.
Is the Board Of Education interest
ed in the safety of the children who
attend the public schools?
In submitting the report Of the
bureau of fire prevention to the coun-
Gil the mayor said that on account of
the present shortage of buildings he
hesitated to close any and hoped that
tragedy could be averted till vaca-
ton when he would advocate emerg-
ency measures be taken. The mayors
message together with the report of
the fire prevention bureau were re-
ferred to the committee on buildings.
6O-Year Old Buildings.
Engineers Of the Fire Prevention
Bureau are at work making up a list
of public schools which they consider
unsafe.
School children are being housed
in buildings more than sixty-years
old. The Board of Education has an
nounced as its building policy that no
building that can be made safe, san
itary, and disable will be replaced by
new structure" Their plans for
the repair Of old buildings and the
erection of new ones makes no men,
ton of the j. N. Thorp school the
condition Of which was described in
yesterdays DAILY WORKER. This
school building is only one of many
in the city that are unsafe, not sani-
tary and not properly disable that the
board does not plan to do anything
about.
Some of the Firetraps.
The following is a list of school
buildings in Chicago more than forty
years old, built before the days of
modern fire prevention construction
and sanitation.
The DAILY WORKER will publish
reports of all these schools.
Moseley school, list ward). The
original building was erected in 1855
and an addition made in 1875. 1t
has Fl rooms seating 882 pupils.
Brown school, (27th ward), War
rem ave. and Wood. street. The orig
inal building Of this school was erect
ed in 1857 and an addition made In
1870. 1t has 20 rooms with CAS- seats
and 1921 pupils.
Newberry school, (43rd ward)
Willow and Orchard streets. The
original building was erected in 1853
and an addition made in 1895. It has
80 rooms with 1907 seats.
Skinner school, (29th ward), W.
Jackson Blvd. and Aberdeen street.
The building was erected in 1859. II
has % rooms with 900 seats.
Clarke school, (26th ward). Ash
land ave. and 18th street. The orig
inal building was erected in 1865; ad-
ditions were made in 1910 and 1918.
II has as rooms and 1872 seats.
Wells school, (32nd ward), N. Ash
land ave. and Walton street. The
original building was erected in 1855