Evening star., 1940-10-03
Better Exits in Six !
Schools Needed, Says
Fire Marshall S Report
Board Of Education
Is Told Conditions
Improved Over 1889

A fire marshals annual inspection
report of hazards in the public
schools yesterday told the Board
of Education that conditions have
improved over last year but cited
the special need for better exit
facilities in six schools.
The six mentioned as being de-
fective in this way included the
French School, Seventh and G
streets Sc; Gales, at First and G
streets NV: Lincoln, at Second and
c streets Sc; Wallach, Seventh
and D streets Sc; Armstrong High
School, First and o streets NV,
and the Berrett Administration
Building.
Supt. Frank w. Ballou told board
members that all defects consid-
cred as urgent or emergency are
Immediately taken care Of by the
repair shop. The report was re-
ferred to the Finance Committee
for consideration in connection with
budget estimates and to the Com
mittee on Buildings, Grounds and
Equipment for study.
Other Changes Recommended.
Fire inspectors in making their
report listed conditions as emer-
gency. necessary and desirable as
far as repairs were concerned. No
less than 1874 out Of 180 buildings
were found to have some emergency
condition, but school officials saw
no cause for alarm, pointing out that
the emergency conditions were
repaired as quickly as the repair
shop could get to them or funds
were provided to permit them.
They denied that any conditions
existed or were allowed to exist
after they were notified where the
actual safety of the children was
at stake.
Recommendations in several cases
included new heating systems where
old hot-alr systems are now in use,
and number of suggestions were
MADE for modern fire alarm sys-
TENS. Each school, it was stated,
should be provided with a city fire
alarm box as well as independent
| alarms in the schools.
The inspectors took a dig at class
room activity programs in which
the children build things out of
orange crates and cloth and other
highly infiammable material.
This practice should be curtailed
or less hazardous materials used
in making the structures" the re-
port said.
Criticize Propped Doors.
They also hit at leaving doors
propped open to facilitate traffic.
This Is poor practice" the re-
port said, ''inasmuch as it renders
the purpose of these doors worth
less. In case of fire in the build
ing smoke, flames or heat would
sweep up the stairways and
through the corridors, possibly cut
ting of some means of egress from
the building"
The inspections were made bv
Inspectors E. L. Jones and B. r.
Holmes.
DR.. Ballou told the members the
Commissioners will hold budget
hearings on the 1912 school estI-
mates Monday at 10 am.
Members approved appointment
OF a committee under chairman.
ship OF DR.. Elmer S. Newton. prin.
cipal of Western High School. to
plan lectures on the effect of alco-
| hol and narcotics
Spokesmen in behalf of the pro-
posed new senior high school at
IWenty-fourth street and Benning
road for colored pupils of the North
east area urged that enough funds
be sought to provide a school big
enough for $500 pupils. Present
plans, now. under consideration by
a board committee, look toward a
building for 750, it is understood.
Funds to start construction on this
project are sought in the 1912 budget.