OCR Text |
Show CHARACTER AND CONDITION OB SCHOOL PLANTS. An examination of the buildings and plants of the Indian school serv-ice, which were erected years ago, shows a deplorable deficie~lcy in con-struction, sanitary andhygienic requirements, and conveniences. These conditions may be primarily attributed to inadequate and unprofessional methods of thc time, as the devising of plans was freqnently intrusted to Indian agents or school superintendents, who, in turn, being devoid of the necessary technical qualification, would enlist the services of the ageucy carpenter or blacksmith or outside person to evolve and formu-late projects which should require the best of architectural skill. In some instances, where proper plans and specifications covering mate-rial and workmanship were available, no efficient practical superintend-ence of the work during constrnction was provided, so as intelligently to enforce the terms of the contract, resulting in the introdnct,ion of bad material, careless workmanship, and the present urgent neoessity for immediate expenditnres looking to the preservation of these bnildings. As intimated in the reports for the lmst few years, sower and water facilities, with proper systems of heating and ventilation, were things u l ~ k ~ ~ oinw tnh e Indian school service, the most pertinent fact being that buildi~~gwse re an imperative necessity, and these important adjuncts were omitted, either from economy or the lack of appreciation of their atlvantages to a perfect school system. The omission of these essential elements of construction is now o111y too apparent, and, con-sidering the hereditary ailments-consumption and scrofula-to which the Indian is predisposed, it has become necessary that good sanitary and hygienic expedients should be as speedily inaugurated as funds 'are available. Reports upon school plants indicate that there are evidences that the building6 of the schools have not received the care and attention requi-site to their proper maintenance and preservation, in tbat defects of little moment in their incipient stages, yet if permitted to co~~t inusoeo n develop into jl~jarious proportions, have been overlooked and reme-dial applications too long deferred. These results no doubt arise in many instances from an overzealous desire on the part of the responsi-ble parties to make a record for economy in the adnlinistration of their respective charges. Notiug tbis defect in the administrative syatem, in the new Indian School Rnles its regulation has been provided for. A mail leak, slight deterioration in brick or stone work or other matters of a similar kind, if promptly taken in hand would save many dollars to the Government hereafter. There should be a happy medium between extravagance and parsimony, and ageuts and superintendents have been properly instructed in tbis matter. The value, as reported to this office by the agents and superintend-en*, of the school plants of the service amount to over $3,000,000, and in all probability the original cost was in excess of this. Much of this property, by reason of its construction under earlier systems, is of |