Local events

10. It was presumed that the gas was ignited by the room heater, the accumulation gradually spreading until it came in contact with the flame.

Cause of the break in the line has not yet been definitely determined, although school officials are inclined to believe that there may have been some faulty workmanship in the laying of the lines. It was first thought that the line may have been broken by settling of the building but an inspection of the corner at which the break occurred failed to show any drop in the building. That shifting of the ground during the drouth, a characteristic of Texas blackland may have twisted the pipe sufficiently to cause the break is also a possibility. Plumbing for the building which was completed just about a year ago at the cost of $56,000 was done by a Dallas plumber, school officials state. A thorough inspection of all connections in the heating system is to be made.

$56,000 Building One Year Old

The Howe school building which was badly damaged by an explosion Tuesday morning was completed in September 1938 at a cost of more than $56,000. Of this amount, $25,000 was furnished by the district through sales of bonds, the remainder being supplied by WPA. The building is considered a model for WPA construction and is referred to as being the pride of the WPA office of district.

Although school officials were inclined to believe the damage to be slight, and probably more to equipment than to the building, Hoke Smith, a Dallas architect who designed the building, told them late Tuesday he feared they had more damage to the building than surface appearances might indicate. No effort was made Tuesday to estimate the damages.

C.E. Wheat said Friday that damage to the typewriters had been established at $500. An estimate of the building damage is to be made Monday, he said.

No explosion insurance was carried on the building, C.E. Wheat chairman of the board said. Faith in the efficiency in the gas installation was believed to have precluded the need for such insurance, although, ironically enough the building was protected against damage war insurrection or rioting.

The board discussed the possibility of obtaining WPA assistance in making repairs but were inclined to believe there might be considerable delay until informed by the architect that approximately $2,000 of the original WPA grant for the building and athletic field was unexpended.

The board of trustees decided Tuesday afternoon that school will not be resumed until Monday, in order that a thorough inspection of the remainder of the building might be made, and repairs to the damaged portion be nearly complete as possible.