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INSPECTION OF SCHOOLHOUSE AT FOREST, IND.

It is found:

First. That part of the children have to go through an alley which is very dirty, and in a wet season they claim it has mud shoe-top deep. There is a barn on this alley from which all the dirt is thrown direct into the alley and not into a box.

Second.--Whenever it rains the water stands in large puddles entirely in front of the schoolhouse and part of the front yard. The north part of the yard looks like a small lake, and it takes this water from three (3) to four (4) days to soak in.

Third. At the last rain, about a week ago, the water stood about eight (8) inches deep in the basement of said school building. It has been claimed by some of the citizens to be much higher than eight inches in the past when they have heavy rains.

Fourth. The basement walls, March 21st, were very damp. The basement floors over the entire building were wet.

Fifth. The dry closets have practically no ventilation at all. There is a stack heater, but there are no vault heaters nor vault flues, and when the water runs in the basement, as it did the other day, it washes contents of closets out into the basement. There is no way of burning the closets out, as there should be in all first-class dry closets, there being no vault heaters. The janitor says that it takes a day to burn the closets out, and it shows it from the way the door and ceiling of this closet has been charred.

Sixth. Under the furnaces in the cold air duct which supplies the rooms, the water was about six inches deep and it had been there for several weeks.

Seventh. While we were there, March 21st, the odors from the basement closets permeated the entire building. Just last Friday, March 15th, the janitor fumigated the house with formaldehyde which he claims has to be done every day.

Eighth. The front entrance is badly cracked, and in some places you can run your hand between the brick work, caused by settlement and weather. The foundation is made with Kokomo limestone, which slacks and disintegrates when exposed to the weather. You can go along and chip this stone in many places. The foundation and basement walls are cracked in several places, and the area around the cellar windows is full of rubbish and filth.

Ninth.--The walls on the first story, are very damp and the paper is falling off in the room that is papered.

Tenth. You can smell the gas and fumes from the furnace in all the rooms, and the teachers claim it is impossible to heat the rooms to a uniform temperature. In the southeast room it is impossible to heat the floors. The northeast room is too hot on the inside with no circulation of air on the north side of room. It takes on an average of one hundred and thirty (130) tons of coal a season to heat this building, and then it is not satisfactory.

Eleventh.—The walls of the first and second floor are cracked, due partly from settlement and partly from poor brick work, in several places, especially over the windows.

Twelfth. The roof, which is of slate, has sagged in many places. and on examining the plates upon which the rafters rest I find that they are tipped up on the inside, showing there is an outward thrust from the roof rafters. I also found that the rafters have sagged several places from two (2) to four (4) inches and around the chimney have entirely pulled away.

Thirteenth. When it was originally built it was braced with seveneighths (%) inch stuff to the ceiling joist. In the majority of cases these seven-eighth-inch boards have a bow of about four (4) inches. The slate, so far as I can see, is in good condition, with these exceptions.

Fourteenth. The stairways are four (4) feet six (6) inches wide, with winders at each landing from basement to second floor. The stairs are in some places very weak, especially at the first winders from the second floor. Fifteenth. In the primary room they have forty (40) pupils; in the other room on the first floor they have fifty-seven (57) pupils; in the high school on the second floor they have about thirty-five (35) pupils, and the desks are arranged diagonally across the room so as to get the light over both the right and left shoulders. In the other room on the second floor they have fifty-three (53) pupils. This room is kept entirely too hot; the teacher informs me that if the other rooms are kept warm, his room is that way all the time.

Sixteenth. They have a six-inch tile from the building to a tile ditch, which is located about a quarter of a mile from said building.

Seventeenth. It is claimed by the citizens and physicians attending the following pupils that their death was caused indirectly from this schoolhouse: Olive Jenty, and Merle Shoemaker, who were attended by Dr. Hornaday; Blanche Stockburger and Lillian Dunbar, who were attended by Dr. Suhrey; also Mable Blair, who was attended by Dr. Cooper.

Eighteenth.—The trustee, five of the citizens, and one of the advisory board, accompanied me to the building. We were in the building perhaps two hours, and when we came out every man claimed to have a headache. I cannot say in regard to the others, but my headache was extremely severe, and I do not see how the children stand it to stay in these rooms day after day. I noticed that there was not a real rosy-cheeked pupil in the school building.

The ceiling height in the basement is eight (8) feet, with about three (3) feet above grade. The first and second stories are twelve (12) feet, eight (8) inches. The attic is open through the tower, in which pigeons and birds have their nests, and it is a very filthy place.

After due consideration of this report, the following order and proclamation was unanimously adopted:

PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, It has been shown to the satisfaction of the Indiana State Board of Health, in regular session at Indianapolis, April 10th, 1907, that the schoolhouse at Forest, Clinton County, Indiana, is old, dilapidated, insufficiently ventilated, improperly lighted, unevenly warmed and otherwise unsanitary, so as to threaten the health and lives of the pupils, therefore it is

Ordered, That the said schoolhouse is formally condemned for school purposes and shall not be used for such purposes after June 1st, 1907.

Any school trustee, township trustee or school teacher or other person who may use said schoolhouse for school purposes after June 1st, 1907, shall be promptly prosecuted as by the statutes provided.

INSPECTION OF SCHOOLHOUSE AT COLFAX, INDIANA, APRIL 4, 1907.

Site. The site is high, rolling, probably eight trees on it. Driven well in the southwest corner of the yard. The ground comprises about one acre of land, rolling, clay soil, and subsoil. The building is situated 90 feet south of the Vandalia Railroad and 400 feet southwest of the Big Four road. It is approached by cement walks in street and a board walk from the street to the door. There are no walks on the ground and no outbuildings.

Building. The building is a two-story brick; was built in two parts, the main part, in 1876, two stories, 50x50 feet. An addition was built to the south end of that in 1882, two stories, 25x30 feet. The roof is slate and tin.

room about
The first is
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Basement. This was excavated after the addition was built and is entered from the south end of the addition. Comprises a 20x25x10 feet. There are three furnaces in this basement. under the addition, round metal sheetiron, heating the addition. room, a passageway about four feet wide is dug out under south half of the main building, in which a furnace is located. Another passage is connected on to locate the third furnace under the north half of the main building. These furnaces are large, round and of heavy sheetiron. Each furnace is supposed to heat two rooms. There are no ventilators in the basement.

Hall. The building faces the southwest. The hall is 11x48x14. There is a cloakroom at each end of the hall about four feet wide, and closets under the stairway. The stairway goes up at each end of the hall with a half turn at the top. They are about three feet wide, with a board banister, are pretty well worn, but seem in fair condition.

First Primary Room, Main Building.-Size 25x40x14 feet.

Enrollment

is 45; average attendance, 38. Lighted by three windows on the north and two on the east. Blackboards are of slate, good condition, seats fair. Heating by furnace, ventilated by windows. All windows in the building have wooden shutters. Floor is worn badly, but kept oiled and clean. There are two pillars in the center of the room supporting a joist under the ceiling which is necessary to stay the floor of the upper room.

Intermediate Room, Main Building.-Enrollment, 39. The size of this room is 25x40x14; average attendance, 35. Blackboards of slate, in good condition. Seats, fair condition. Heating, ventilation, windows, the same as the first room described. The floor is badly worn, with cracks between the boards and would have to be replaced if used another year. The drinking facilities in both rooms are tin buckets and tin cups. The light in both of these rooms is good.

Fourth Grade, Addition.-Enrollment is 30; attendance, 25. This

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room is 23x28x14. Floor is badly worn and conditions as to light, heat, ventilation, etc., the same as the other rooms. This room opens both into a hall and to the outside next to the street. This hall that opens into the street is used as a cloakroom. It is about 5x10 feet.

Second Floor.-Seventh and eighth grade room. Its size is 25x40x14. Enrollment, 30; average attendance, 26. The blackboards in this room are painted on the plastering, on the east and south sides of the room. The conditions as to heat, ventilation, light, etc., are the same as in the lower rooms. The seats are comparatively new and in good condition. The paper on the walls and ceiling is badly smoked; in many places the paper is torn, showing the plastering to be badly cracked. Also marks as though the roof had been leaking and water had run down on the paper. The floor is worn. The cloak room consists of a partition set up in the east side of the room next to the door, with hooks on the wall and on the partition on which to hang their cloaks and hats.

Fifth and Sixth Grades. They are in the addition. Size of this room is 23x28x14, and the condition as to walls, ventilation, floors, light, etc., is the same as the other rooms. The enrollment in this room is 25, average

attendance, 23.

Enrollment,

High School Room.-Main building. Size is 25x40x14. 40; average attendance, 37. Seats in this room are comparatively new and in good condition. The same conditions obtain as in the seventh and eighth grade rooms as to walls and ceiling, floors and ventilation. There is a small room partitioned off in the hall for a recitation room. This is about 10x20 feet.

Remarks. This building is so close to the railroads that they are obliged to close the windows, without regard to heat or ventilation, during the greater part of the day, in order to hear the recitations, as the noise of the trains switching and changing around is so loud that it would be impossible to hear anyone talk while they are at work. The principal estimated that there was an hour a day lost in recitations on account of the noise, and through my own observation during twenty minutes when a freight train was switching around there today, I think that his estimate is very conservative, indeed. The principal also complains of the heating and ventilation. There is no means of ventilating any of the rooms except by windows and doors, and the heating facilities are such that at times it is almost impossible to heat the room sufficiently to allow the pupils to continue in school. He has not had to close the building on account of cold this winter, but has had to shift the pupils from one room to another on several occasions. The trustee, Mr. Bailey, reports that the insurance on the building has been canceled by the companies who had written the policies, on account of the bad risk of the building, and the' trustee, and an ex-member of the Board, Mr. George Rhinehart, both gave it as their opinion that the building was unsafe, that during a heavy wind or storm, it would shake very perceptibly. Outside walls are cracked and in bad condition.

Recommendations.-I would respectfully recommend that the building be condemned as unsanitary, insufficiently heated, and the location is such that it is a loss and detriment to the township to have the building located on its present site. I would also suggest that in the condemnation and ordering of the erection of a new building, that an order be given that a

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different site be chosen. There are two sites near the town, either of which would be very desirable for the location of the building, as there would be sufficient elevation for a basement and good drainage, plenty of room and absence of noise to attract the attention of the pupils.

After due consideration of the above report the following proclamation was unanimously adopted:

PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, It has been shown to the satisfaction of the Indiana State Board of Health, in regular session at Indianapolis, April 10th, 1907, that the schoolhouse at Colfax, Clinton County, Indiana, is old, dilapidated insufficiently ventilated, improperly lighted, unevenly warmed and otherwise unsanitary, so as to threaten the health and lives of the pupils, therefore it is

Ordered, That the said schoolhouse is formally condemned for school purposes and shall not be used for said purposes after June 1st, 1907.

Any school trustees, township trustee or school teacher or other person who may use said schoolhouse for school purposes after June 1st, 1907, shall be promptly prosecuted as by the statutes provided.

SANITARY INSPECTION OF CENTER GROVE, WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP, JOHNSON COUNTY, HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.

Inspection made March 30, 1907.

Site. Is situated on a hill, and is, indeed, beautiful in every respect. The ground has a clay sub-soil, gravel about ten feet below level. Drainage excellent.

It

Building.—Built about twenty-five years ago. Two-story brick. Stone foundation. No basement. Walls slightly sprung and slightly cracked. was found necessary to pass iron rods through the building several years ago. There is a broad gravel play-ground in front, but no walks. The entrance is by a narrow vestibule, and a narrow winding stairway leads to the upper story. This stairway has two turns, is steep, 21⁄2 feet wide, has eighteen steps and is much worn. It makes one shudder to look at this stairway and contemplate what would happen if the house were to catch on fire when school was in session. Doubtless, many lives would be lost in this trap.

Interior.-Four rooms, two above, two below. The lower rooms are entered first, by outside door into vestibule, then by narrow door into the cloak room, and from thence by narrow door into schoolrooms. Three turns are necessary to enter the lower rooms. The cloakrooms are cold and damp.

Primary Room. This is on the lower floor and on the north side of the building. It is 24x28x12, giving space for forty children. Enrollment and average attendance not secured. There were thirty-eight desks in the room. Lighted by three windows, two on the north and one on the west. Windows very narrow and small, and although the day was very bright, this room was dark. There is much complaint on account of the darkness of

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