The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-23
THE REPUBLIC.


THE PUBLIc ScHooLs.-The examination of the
first district public school (ocated on the corner
Of Fourteenth and g streets) took place yesterday
afternoon, in the presence of large number of
ladies and gentlemen among the latter we OBJ.
served the Mayor Of Washington, and hIessrs.
Richards and Wight, and other principals Of some
Of the best private academies in the city; the
school trustees of the frat district, and trustees
from other districts; Messrs. Callan and Douglass,
members of the City Councils; and male and fe-
male teachers of several of the public schools. We
never before, on any similar occasion, saw 80 many
school instructors "abroad."
Much interest was manifested in the exercises !;
and the examination OF the boys in the studies pre-
scribed by the rules for the government of the
school, was conducted by the teacher (Mr. Samuel
Kelly and the gentlemen above named. General
satisfaction was impaired. The boys, by the
promptness of their answers TO the many questions
propounded, showed that they were generally &C
quanted with the studies pursued in the district
schools
This first district school numbers sixty. three
pupils all Of whom, with the exception Of four or
five, were in attendance.
We were much pleased with their admirable dis
ciplne and neat and intelligent appearance.
The school house is not such as is desired by the
trustees, who, in their last report represented it
unsuied to the purpose for which it is now used,
being so extremely uncomfortable that the health
of the pupils is likely to be impaired by the decayed
condition of the building. The erection of suit
BILE school house was and is now strongly recon-
mended by them of the highest Importance.
And this may with truth be said of other
school rooms, some of them in private houses
| where in each upwards of seventy children are
| closely congregated! ---r--,A
r>la ts. hat
boy in the first district school has good seat and
desk to himself; great improvement over the for
mer poor accommodations, and promotive of good
order.
The Female Department Of this school, under
the charge of MRS. Hcnshaw, will be examined to-
day. The room is in the German Hail. on Elev-
enth near street, and the public invited to be
present.
WEST End IMPRovEMENrs-We learn that John
Rice, Of Philadelphia, has obtained from w. w.
Corcoran, esq, contract for building four of the
eight frst-class dwellings, intended by that gen.
tleman to be erected in the First Ward, and that
Downing and Brother, of this city, have contract
for two of them. The remaining two not yet
contracted for They to be built it is said, in
the Elizabethan style, and located in the neighbor
hood of the public departments.
Workmen have already commenced excavating
on street north, opposite to the front of ST. Johns
church, and also next TO Mr.. Ritchie's residence,
preliminary to the erection of four of the houses.
The West End has been much improved during
the last year by the erection of number of large
and beautiful dwellings,.
Mr.. Corcoran has commenced adding another
wing to his residence, Con the east,) and intends,
learn to change entirely the face Of the present
buildings.
This gentleman recently purchased from Mat
thew St. Clair Clarke, esq, the well known house
on K street north, near st. Johns church.
The HEALTH OF THE Cry, we learn from physi-
clans, is remarkably good, and better than it was
| at this period last year. The comparatively few
diarrhea dysentery cases represented to be Of
mild type.
OMNIBUsEs.-Mr Joseph w. Davis has pur-
chased the Citizens line of omnibuses between
Warrington and Georgetown.
FRuIrs.- Watermelons in the Centre Market,
yesterday, cold at from l2l to % cents
piece; apples at the came prices per peck; pears
from BIZ to so cents per peck; and peaches from
one to two cents piece.