The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-23
lABovsl NEW SCHOOL SHOPS CBELoW) Old SCHOOL SHOPS

III TIE pupilC itllliu ltlt oCIAOoI
system consists Of teachers, pupils,
buildings and Fairgrounds, but il
esldom thinks of another side OF,
the system. less SNOWY, less APP
parent to the eye, but equally i'm
portant
This is the work Of keeping up
the physical equipment of the
eighty-three grade schools and
tbFee high schools and the libra
ries in the city. And it is no small
task to keep heating plants, seats.
desks. clocks. drain pipes, window
shades. windows. automobiles and
all the other multitude Of items Of
school equipment in condition
This is the task which falls upon
the building and grounds depart
ment Of the schools. George H.
Rickes. superintendent For the
first time in years the department
is in a position to cope on a scien-
tific business basis with its prob
lens. This has been made pos
Sible 10y the completion Of the new
shop building and garage at Yam
des and SixteenthsSts. The plant
was erected at a cost Of about
$4,000. and according to Ricltns.
salvage gathered from schools dur.
ing the last twenty years has
more than paid for the new build
ing
The new building has been the
chief ambition Of Rickes for years.
He has asked for it and fought
for it year after year. but In the
past school boards, hard pressed
for finances. were more anxious TO
make a showing than 20 spend
money in an unostentatious shop.
But finally Rickes' dream came
true.
Will Save Thousands
With the new plant we can
save thousands Of dollars and do
our work far more efficiently he
said In the old days old chairs.
seats and tables We're broken mp
and used for kindling Now they
are sent in here, the useful parts
salvaged. the wood used for var
ious repair purposes. There is
mighty little junk. In few years.
we are going to have the system
down SO fine that the school board
Will have to buy kindnng. The
time when splendid pieces Of oak
lumber, far better than what Is
obtainable in the market. are
shoveled into heating plant for
kindling are gone. Before We had
"A place for a stock room il fire.
quently took 50-cents-an-hour
skilled man two hours to make a
trip to the school board Office for
a requisition for fifteen cents
worth Of nails to complete job.
Now We have our own stock room
and everything is systematized.
Run Like Factory
The new plant with its modern
equipment. would be a credit to
any industrial institution in the
city. and Rickes says he intends-
to run it with the same degree OF
efficiency and business methods
that a private concern would use.
Here are few activities at the
shops: Chairs. tables and desks
repaired, paint shop, window
shades manufactured for every
window in every school; 1900
clocks kept in repair all auto
mobiles for schools ana Libraries
service, well equipped machine
shop for all kinds of work.
The telephone system connecting
every part Of the building did not
cost the city a cent. Rickes said.
In 1916 the system was dis
carded at ShOrtridge High School"
Rickes said. 1T was supposed to
so to the junk heap, but / saved
it. hoping for the day when I could
use it in shop. 1 had to wait
eight years, but here it is work
ing" he said
Officials of the business depart
ments of public schools who met
here recently characterized the
shops as among the best equipped
and most complete in the country.