THE HARTFORD PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.

The Hartford Public High School was destroyed by fire January 24, 1882, and a town meeting was immediately called, at which James G. Batterson, James L. Howard, Rev. Edwin P. Parker, Rev. George L. Walker, and Edward S. White were appointed a Building Committee, and an appropriation of $200,000 was made to pay for erecting a new building-$30,000 additional was afterwards appropriated to pay for the furnishing of the school.

While the architect, Mr. George Keller of Hartford, has exercised the utmost freedom in preparing the design, he has successfully embodied the ideas of the Building Committee, to which in general, and its Chairman, James G. Batterson, in particular, many of the excellent features of the design are due. The suggestions and experience of the Principal, Mr. Joseph Hall, have been invaluable in the preparation of plans, the following description of which is taken from the Hartford Daily Times of June 9, 1882:

TWO STORIES AND FIRE-PROOF.

Following the public opinion so emphatically expressed, both in and out of the town meeting, Mr. George Keller, the accomplished architect of this city, prepared plans with a view to a fireproof building, of but two stories in height, exclusive of the attic. To secure school-room enough, it was necessary to enlarge the area of the building, as the burnt structure was of three stories. Mr. Keller laid out his work on an area of 22,000 square feet, and on looking at his plans it is found that he has occupied no more space than was necessary. His corridors are twelve feet wide, there are five exits, and a spacious hall 100 by 64 feet in width. He has arranged the stairways in the most convenient manner, as well as the reception, cloak, and recitation rooms, and the scientific