Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-05
MAGRUDER SCHOOL
FOR CR|PPLES IS
CLOSED BY COLD
Heating Plant Fails and
Classes Are Sent Home
by Official.
TEMPERATURE IS SIS WITH
FURNACE IN FULL BLAST
Educational Executives Amazed
by Complete Breakdown After
Passing Inspection.

One of the National Capitals two
schools for crippled children was closed
for an indefinite period yesterday be-
cause of the cold.
The buildings antiquated heating
plant, which District inspectors passed
as adequate and in good condition at
the opening of school in September,
simply quit working, and despite roaring
fires in the CRATES of the furnace the
maximum temperature which was re-
corded in the "warmest" rooms was SIS
degrees.
And so, at practically the same hour
that Congress was receiving the largest
District budget in history, a definite
part of which is calculated to eliminate
some of the inadequate school facilities
of Washington, the class of crippled
boys and girls in the Magruder School,
at Seventeenth and M streets, was sent
home.
The sudden breakdown in the already
late schedule of the crippled children's
schools, which came as a climax to a
series of i'll fortunes, was put before the
Board of Education at its meeting yes
terday afternoon. With no alternative.
the board approved the recommended
ton of school officials to discontinue
the classes in the Magruder building
until the rooms can be provided with
sufficient heat for the children"
Effort to Correct Trouble.
The Magruder School happens to be
for colored children. Garnet G. Will
kinSon, first assistant superintendent
in charge of colored schools, and Jere
j. Crane. first assistant superintendent
il. charge of buildings and grounds, ex-
hausted every means of correcting the
inadequate heat problem which devel-
oped there during the last three days.
The low temperatures first inspired an
investigation of the fireman's work
Deep and efficient fires were found in
the CRATES, however. Then the fires
were tried with new coal to determine
whether or not a poor lot of fuel had
been encountered. But the results were
the same when, after firing the fur
naces at full blast from 5 am. Monday
until A pm. that afternoon. the highest
temperature reached was less than so
degrees.
Acting in the emergency, Mr.. Wilkin-
son yesterday morning ordered the little
crippleS sent back home rather than
submit them to the danger of illness
from the school. The school boards
committee on buildings. grounds and
equipment received detailed reports from
and that body's recommendation to dis
continue classes was accepted by the
board.
Time Required Unknown.
When asked by board member the
approximate length of time required to
make the necessary adjustments to pro-
vide necessary heat, DR.. Learned replied
that that is an unknown quantity"
heat failure must first be determined,
and the length of time required of
necessity will depend upon the nature
of the trouble.
Following the board meeting, Mr..
Wilkinson explained to The Star that
he hopes to have steam heat installed
in the Magruder building to replace the
old hot-air system now in use. He
pointed out that a Steamboat boiler
already has been installed in the Sum-
ner building, adjoining the Magruder
School. with view to supplying steam
to both structures. Radiators never
were placed in the Magruder building
however, and he is of the opinion that
the only solution to the present prob
lem will be to equip the closed school
with the necessary facilities and pipe
steam to it from the Sumner building
plant, as originally proposed. This work.
Will Ill duGQudbC IOICC Vi IlGIl, lie Sdld
could be completed within 10 days.
Cause of Amusement.
The complete breakdown in the heat
ing plant of the Magruder Building
was regarded with amazement in school
circles in view of the annual system of
inspection and repair to all school heat
ing plants. AS soon as schools are
closed in the Spring, force of District
Workmen visits each school building and
takes down its furnace. The parts are
inspected, replaced or repaired as nee
esSary and reasSembled before school
opening in September. The Magruder
plant received this treatment during
the past Summer.
Although scheduled to be opened for
the first time nj mid-September both
the Magruder and the Weightman
Schools crippled children classes &C
tually began November l. Even then
much of the equipment which was ex-
pected to be in place in the schools
was not delivered. The shortage in
cluded such simple things as linen for
the cots provided for the youngsters
rest. Most of the therapeutic equip
ment still is undelivered. Meanwhile
the two schools have worried along"
on a hampered schedule, lacking vir-
tually all of the treatment which was
| a. L. aIr