Evening star., 1926-10-15
HEATING PLANT SITE
PROTEST ISDEN|ED.
Officials Refuse to Change
Mckinley School Plans De-
spite Citizens Plea.

The District Commissioners decided
today not to relocate the heating
plant for the proposed new Mckinley
Technical High School. despite the
protest Of property owners in the
| vicinity Of Second and r streets north
cart. where the plant will be erected.
At the same time, the Commissioners
decided to locate the proposed public
swimming pool near the southwest
corner of the Mckinley site. Action
was taken on the recommendation
OF a committee composed of Maj.
Layson T.. Atkins, assistant engineer
commissioner: Supt. OF Schools Frank
W. Ballou. and Maj. J. e. Mehaffey.
representing the once OF Public
Buildings and Public Parks Of the.
National Capital.
A vehement protest against the
erection of the heating plant at the
corner of Second and streets was
made by a committee of residents In
that section. headed by &. "A. L.. u.,.
ct public hearing before the Com.
missioners September 10. The COM
mittee pointed out that if the plan
Is carried out the heating plant
would be most harmful TO the resi-
dents and most. dangerous" to the
ira Yelling public because Of the corr
gestion of traffic At this particular
point. Location OF the plant in the
center Of the Mckinley site. in union
with the heating plant OF the Lang
ley Junior High School already there,
was recommended.
Committee Needs Site.
Writing to Mr.. Lyon. the Com
n1issioners said:
Shortly after committee of
which you were member appeared
before the Commissioners, protest
ing against the location OF the heat
ing pla Mt for the new Mckinley Tech
nical High. School at the corner OF
Second and r streets northeast,
committee consisting of the super
irtendent of schools. Maj. Mechaffey,
representing the office of Public
Buildings and Public Parks. and Maj
Atkins. assistant to the Engineer
Commissioner, was requested to make
study Of the grounds with view
to selecting the best location prac-
ticah HE for the heating plant and the
proposed swimming pool. The com
mittee has gone into the matter
thoroughly and recommends that the
heating plant by located as previously
proposed at the corner of Second
and r streets and that the swim
ming pool be located near the south
west corner of the property owned by
accompanied on an inspection Of the
site by Mr. f. c. Graham. president
Of the Board Of Education. and DR..
II. B. Learned, chairman Of the com.
mittee on buildings and grounds,
Board of Education. who concur In
the recommendations Of the COM
mittee.
THE Commissioners appreciate the
objections which the protestants have
offered against the location OF the
heating plant at the corner OF Second
and r streets and would be very glad.
indeed, to change the plans could the
change 10 mace without detriment to
tho rubic interest. Such relief as
might be afforded to. the residents Of
Set.pud and r streets hy the change
proposed could he afforded only by in
te,fering unduly with the efficient ar:
iangemfnt of the plans for service 10
the school \ copy of the report OF
he committee is inclosed for Your m
formation. The Commissioners would
not permit the fact that the present
contract cannot be changed without
considerable expense to stand In the
WAY OI IIle HiVIPuhSCtI
he manifest that it would he in the
public interest to make the change de-
sired
VIII Eliminate Smoke.
The committees report pointed out
that the present proposed location OF
the heating plant seems to oe that
offering the best solution, both me-
chanically and architecturally.
THE elevation Of the heating plant
at the proposed site" the report
added, will allow all of the conden-
sation from the gymnasium and Nc.
Kinlev High and about 30 per cent OF
that from the Langley School to re-
turn by gravity. Any other location
on the school site would not be as
satisfactory as the one chosen and
would make no material difference In
the amount Of smoke from this
source in the area between the school
site and the lexington yards. The
installation Of equipment for the
powerhouse provides for practically
every refinement known to engineer
ing for minimizing the smoke nui-.
sance."
The removal Of the heating plant
from the proposed location the COM
mittee also explained, would require
a change in the present contract at
considerable expense.
The proposed plan for the swim
ming pool calls for two pools cover
ing a space Of about IS by $50 feet