The Wilmington morning star., 1944-11-15
Grand Jury Report R Recommends
School, Fire Station Repairs

IL AN~PoAA0
repairs in nursery. Window lock-
ing devices in need Of repair. Fire
drill was staged at various schools
very satisfactorily.
"All buses were thoroughly in
spected, special emphasis being
placed on safety features, such as
lights, brakes, tires and sturdiness
Of bodies. All buses, except three
which are used only in emergen-
cies, were found to be in good con-
dition. The three emergency buses
were in fair condition a n d feel
would be satisfactory for this pur-
pose only. In keeping with the rea-
sonable request of the national gov
eminent that all individuals and
public agencies do everything pos
sible to preserve the life and use
fitness Of motor vehicles, mechan-
ical equipment and tires, we up-
snimously and earnestly recon-
mend that the County Board of
Education, prior to the summer of
1915, adopt proper measures to
house school buses in their charge,
so that marked deterioration which
undoubtedly accompanied their be-
ing kept in an open lot at 18th
and Church streets, during last
summer may be ended. That the
objective may be accomplished,
we recommend nd urge either
that proper sheds, with flooring,
be installed by the Board Of Ed
ucation, at the site mentioned, pri-
CIR to the end of the present scho-
lastic year, or that suitable and
adequate protected storage quar-
tiers for the buses be rented or
leased. Such procedure as outlined
will result in the protection and
preservation Of valuable county
property.
''When operation Of the buses is
stopped for the summer Of 1915,
we further suggest and recommend
that they be placed on blocks. If
this is done, wear and tear on
scarce and valuable tires may be
reduced to a minimum. Our under
standing is that it is hardly feas-
ible or practical for such protec-
tive measures as are herein rec
commended, to be taken during
school terms, since operators find
it necessary to park buses at their
homes, for over night storage.
County Home: T h inspection
by the special committee Of the
county home revealed that the in
terror is generally neat and clean.
We assume, that it is rather diff
ficult to suppress reaches because
Of the fact that many of the in
mates, because of infirmities, are
served meals in their rooms. The
committee noticed few reaches,
and recommend that continued ef-
forts be made by those in charge
to exterminate the pests.
eve found a very apparent fire
hazard from one Of the drop light
cords in one of the mems rest
rooms. The wiring is exposed and
''receptacle'' should be provided
for this particular light. We found
that the home is adequately sup
piled with fire extinguishers and
recommend that inspection be
made at stated intervals so that
these extinguishers may be kept
properly charged n d ready for
use.
ga fire extinguisher should be
provided at once for the structure
used for the detention of white jI-
veniles.
Recommendation for County
Home: AS the inmates of the coun-
ty home are wards of the county,
many of them infirn, feeble, and
sick, we feel that their physical
needs should be given special con-
sideration at all times. The mat
tresses and some of the beds were
uninviting looking to degree.
While it may entail a rather timely
and needed expenditure if new
beds and mattresses are provided
throughout, and whatever addition
al bed clothing is necessary, we
are of the opinion that such in
vestment is necessary n d fully
justified. Therefore, we unanimous
| ~ recommend that this be done,
and that the beds of all inmates,
except where illness prevents be
removed from the rooms at least
once each week and given airing
and sunshine.
"stockade: We inspected the
stockade building. This is owned
by New Hanover county and is
now under lease to the state for
detention of short term prisoners.
Under the direction of Superinten-
dent Boone, we found in excellent
condition.
"Jail: The Jail and County Court
house buildings were visited and
overlooked by members of t h e