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47
than of No. 3 Substance, but does not appear to me to have any
serious weight. There are in fact, advantages in a low toned floor
which become marked if contrasted with the glare of a light brightly
reflecting surface.
Comparative Economy.
I regret I have not the data that would enable a strict comparison
of cost to be made of the two methods of treating school
floors, namely, by washing or by oiling.
Against the increased cost of oiling, there is to be set off the
immediate reduction of floor washing and scrubbing. This is
supposed to be carried out once in three weeks throughout all the
public elementary schools. There is thus at once a saving in the
labour entailed in scrubbing about 30,000 square yards of flooring at
these intervals throughout the year. But there is more than this.
The clouds of dust which are raised in sweeping an untreated floor
settle on everything in the room, and this leads not only to increased
dusting, but to more frequent cleansing of walls, ceilings and
windows in order to maintain a given standard of cleanliness. I
hope, however, that this balance will remain on the side of increased
cleanliness.
There is, however, a third very important saving, and that is in
the economy of the floor itself. Washing not only softens and
disintegrates the wood, but by causing it to swell and warp, is most
injurious to the best laid floors.
The life of a floor will unquestionably be increased by the use
of an oil dressing in place of frequent washing
And it is unnecessary to labour the advantages offered by an oil
dressed floor. Unless further experience belies the anticipations
raised by that gained by experiment, there will be a substantial gain
not only in the cost and standard of cleanliness in the schools, but in
the health of the scholars who have hitherto been subjected in a
higher degree than now appears to be necessary to the injurious
effects of school-room dust.