The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-11

IRE department ana Tic DOdIu
so firetraps and it is in still
more glaring contradiction
with the facts established by
the investigators for the DIAL
LY WORKER.
The DAILY WORKERS pre-
diction that the school boards
report would be a slick coat of
whitewash for its own criminal
negligence and indifference to the
lives of the hosts Of little ones en-
trusted to its care has been abundant
ly brought out.
Wooden Fire Escapes Ingnored
Such murderous devices as wooden
fire escapes, wooden stairways. an
tique buildings, either without any
fire escapes or with these refuge
places difficult Of access were quietly
and completely ignored in the boards
report.
None Of the "minor recommends
tons" which they made involve the
spending of more than the meager-
est sum, in spite Of the $4,000, 900
additional revenues that have been
voted by the tax payers when they
raised the school tax from S.75 to
$1.00 on each 500 of taxable prop
erty, at the last election.
Only 80 Schools Visited
Only 80 schools were visited, or
20 less than the minimum number of
fire traps admitted by the fire de-
partment. They said they were
ready to make only minor recon-
mendations.
The Investigators were Frank Nc
Auliffe, of the bureau of fire proven
ton, William Bending, inspector for
the city building department and
Cornelius j. Lamb, in charge of the
bureau Of repairs Of the board Of
education.
The statement Of one of the in
spectors that many children are safer
in school than they are at home,
brought only a smile to persons who
know the condition of some of the
schools. at sounds nice, but doesn't
mean anything. To say that the
public schools are safer than many
tenements is not saying that they are
safe or fit for use,' is the way one
person put it.
Must Tragedy Come?
When Lamb tried to excuse the re-
port of the inspectors by saying that
he did not know of fire in any
public school during the last thirty
years, people who are interested in
the school building problem pointed
out that it would only take one fire
to make a tragedy in most of the
schools Of the city.
The recommendation Of the in
spectors consisted in such suggestions
as that wooden partitions should be
removed in certain schools. None of
the suggestions made would cost the
board of education any money which
is taken as an indication that the re-
port was practically dictated by
board of education employees.
Among the schools visited, the J. N.
Thorp school at 1915 Burley Ave,
the nspectors reported that
this school has zone of the best fire
escapes" in the city. The fact that
the fire escapes are extremely diff
cult of access was ignored as the
Thorp school is, was not made plain.
They said that the sanitary condi-
tions would stand improvement"
The DAILY WORKER found when
investigating the Thorp school that
the sanitary arrangements were abb
solutely rotten.
Principal Is Aghast
At the Brown school on Warren
Ave, the inspector said, they found
conditions very satisfactory" They
recommended that the enclosed spiral
fire escapes should be used in fire
drills. The principal at the Brown
school was informed the superinten-
dent of schools that he would not
take the responsibility of using these
fire escapes because he considers
them dangerous. He has told the
board Of education and the fire in
spectors that he thinks that if the
doors at the bottom of the fire
escapes do not open, children would
be sure to be smothered to death.
This is the oldest school in the city.
At Branch No. J., Of the Mayfair
school, which is two story affair
built in 1880, and which has wooden
fire escapes, the inspectors recon-
mended that fire alarm box be put
| in front Of the building.
They said that the Foster school
on O'Brein St., should have several
wooden partitions removed in the
basement. This is one Of the worst
fire trap schools seen by the investi-
gator for the DAILY WORKER.
At the Fallon school for crippled
children at Wallace and 42nd SITS,
the inspectors found that moving
pictures were being shown and in
fammable film being used. They
recommended that the movies be dis
continued. To recommend that non
linfammable film be used. would cost
the board Of education money and
would run counter to their policy Of
economy. Many Of the crippled kids
az the Fallon school never see movies
except at school.