Evening star., 1934-11-17
No Poisonous Gases Found,
Chemists Inform Of
ficiaIs.
WE'LL STRIKE" SAYS
PARENT-TEACHER HEAD
Air Bad for Our Children" View
of Mrs. Green, Quoting Medical
Department Inspector.

Unmoved by the statement of angry
mothers of Blair School children that
they would take their children from
classes Monday unless action was
forthcoming Immediately, Engineer
Commissioner Dan l. Sultan said this
morning that demands for a new
heating plant will not be met until
next Summer unless an emergency
develops.
His position was based on a report
of chemists who analyzed the atmos-
phere at the school and failed to fine
any poisonous gases. They did fine
SCOT and dust escaping into the class
rooms from the antiquated heating
plant. which was installed in 1884.
That's all we want to know saic
Mrs. Edwin Green, president of the
Blair Hayes Parent Teacher Associa-
ton, when told of Sultan's stand
We'll strike
Il don't care what they say" she
continued, we know the air in the
school is bad for our children. WHY
one of the Medical Department inspec.
tors said only yesterday that hi
wouldn't want his child in the Blail
School,
Hazen Approves Stand.
Commissioner Hazen sided with Col
Sultan when they reviewed the matter
at board meeting later. Col. Sultan
reported he had talked by phone with
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
of schools and said Dr. Ballou is op-
posed to closing the schools for re-
placement of the heating plant un-
less an emergency exists
IF the mothers stage a parent
strike Monday. as they declare they
will, will that constitute an emer-
gency?" Col. Sultan was asked.
NO" he replied.
by an emergency, mean a finding
that the health of the school children
is in danger"
Personal Inspection.
The Commissioners then were askec
if they would make a personal inspec.
ton of the building. Hazen said h,
would, and was willing to 60 Monday
Col. Sultan first said he didn't know
whether he wanted to do any sniffins
around" He said he had had practi
cally everybody from the District Re
pair Shop already up there and hae
reports from all experts.
Later, however, he agreed to make {
personal inspection. He refused TO say
whether he would go Monday, sayins
that depended OH his other schedules
blue Fumes Thick"
"You could have cut the blue fume.
with a knife yesterday morning. De-
spite what the chemical analyst.
showed. you can't tell me all those
fumes aren't bad for our children.
The Board of Commissioners was
expected to review the matter at 9
meeting today which was to have
been held yesterday Commissioner
George E. Allen is still out of tht
city, but Commissioner Melvin C
Hazen has returned and Col. Sultar
also is available.
The Health Department report, pre-.
sented by DR.. Joseph A. Murphy. ir
charge of public school inspection
stated there were no noxious case.
which would constitute a health
hazard
To Watch Like Hawks.
I'VE will watch the heating plant
like hawks" said Col. Sultan. I'll
conditions change, creating an emer-
gency, we will take drastic and imme.
diate action.
I'VE are just as anxious as any one
to protect the health of the children
The analysis of the air in the school,
yesterday did not reveal the presence
of poisonous gas. 1t did show dust
and SCOT.
Our first step will be to have the
air ducts vacuum cleaned.
1 don't know what the condition
of the air will be next week or the
week after that. I am not saving We
will not replace the plant, but my
present plan is to adhere to the sched
ule of installing new plant next
Summer. If an emergency arises, how
ever, we will meet it."
Chairman King of the Senate Dis.
trict Committee became involved ir
the heating plant controversy TO-DAY
when he called the Commissioner.
and expressed interest in the matter
He said the city heads told him they
would confer with school officials over
the possibility of closing the schoo
for 80 days to install new equipment
and indicated the affair would bt
settled promptly and amicably.
The attitude of school officials ir
case mothers withdraw their children
from classes Monday remained unde.
termined today, according to Robert
L. Haycock, assistant superintendent
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