Evening star., 1934-11-20
REPAIRING BEGUN
NbLA|R FURNACE
Workmen Start Patching Up
Today, While Mothers
Await Results.

Workmen this morning began patch
ing up the antiouated heating system
at the Blair School, where a mothers
strike was averted yesterday after a
personal inspection by Commissioners
Hazen and Sultan.
The officials promised that the So
year-old furnace would be given an
overhaubng which would put an end
to any grounds the mothers might
have for their contention it allows
SCOT and gas to escape into the class
rooms. Replacement of the plant is
scheduled for this Summer.
Mothers Remain Skeptical.
Meanwhile, the mothers remained
skeptical. Mrs. Edwin Green, their
leader, said: 1T may work, but we
doubt it. We can't see why they
don't 60 ahead and put in a new
furnace instead of spending all that
money and effort repairing something
which will be discarded in Q few
months anyway"
w. A. Draper, engineer in charge
Of the District Repair Shop, who is
directing the work, said joints of the
30-foot pipe, which conveys smoke
from the furnace to the chimney
will be sealed with asbestos cement
today. He found several small leaks
at the joints yesterday, but said he
does not think these are serious
enough to allow any appreciable
amount of gas to escape into the
building.
The smoke pipe is comparatively
new, having been installed since last
Summer. he said. A wind which would
cause smoke to back up in the Chin
ney might result in some gas being
forced out through the leaky joints,
Draper admitted. He said he did not
consider that bad workmanship was
displayed when the pipe was in
stalled. explaining that leakages are
common unless joints are sealed.
The air ducts will be vacuum
cleaned Saturday, when the heat may
be turned off. This is expected to do
away with SCOT and dirt being blown
into the rooms, Draper declared. The
inside of the air ducts was cemented
years ago and the cement has de-
Perforated with age, producing a fine
white dust.
AVA SACdhiuS 1uouhSSitluBs
The interior of the furnace is Of a
similar construction, and this, too,
will be cleaned, but not until the
Thanksgiving. holidays, when the fire
may be allowed to die.
Yesterdays inspection led to the
conclusion that some of the dust and
dirt may come from the playground
through the intake of the hot-air sys-
tenn. When the wind is blowing in
a certain direction, the engineers were
| told, the suction Of the intake vent
pulls a considerable quantity of dirt
into the air ducts.
This difficulty probably will be met,
Draper said, by putting an air filter
at the mouth of the intake. He. said
also that it might be moved to q more
sheltered location.
The ultimate decision of the
mothers whether to allow their chill
dren to remain in school depends on
the success or failure Of this repair
work, Mrs. Green stated. pointing out
that the strike has not been called OF,
but only postponed. ,....,...
The mothers went to school with
their children yesterday morning. de-
termined to take them home again If
they did not receive some assurance
from the District Building that their
demands would be met.
While they waited in the school cor
ridors, q delegation called on Com
missioner Hazen and he promised to
make a personal inspection. He
brought with him Col. Sultan and DR..
Thomas A. Murphy Of the Health
Department.