Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-30
NUMBER 141.

Of the Trustees Of Public Schools substantially as it
was read, at length, to the members Of the COM
mon Council on the 10th instant II will be rec
objected, that It was referred to the School Com
mttee, who Immediately reported a bill which was
unanimously passed by the Council, and sent up
the same evening to the Upper Board simihr
report was sent at the same time to the Board of
Aldermen:
| OFFICE or THE TRusrEEs OF PUBLIC ScnooLs,
WAsHlSaroS, April IA, 1855
DR.. Aisrander Med. Dapis, President of Mei
4 Board Of Common Council
Sir: The undersigned, Trustees Of the Public
Schools, Of Washington, 10 compliance with the
/ law Of the Corporation, which requires them ito
make, from time to time to the Board Of Alder
men, and Board of Common Council, what
ever suggestions they may conceive proper for the
better accomplishment OF the objects over which
they exercise practical supervision, beg leave
respectfully, to present for consideration, the fol-
lowing "suggestions": =:
For many years past the Board Of Trustees has
annually recommended the erection Of building
| for the better accommodation of tho schools in
| the first district, which includes the First and
Second Wards Of this city,
| Appropriations have been made for the erection,
| purchase, and repair of school houses in all the
other districts, and the Corporation now owns one
or more school buildings in each Of them In the
First District, however, all the school houses, with
the exception of the one at the corner OF l4th and
G streets, which belongs to the United States are
rented at an annual cost Of $666, and in addition
/ to this sum, the care of the rooms cost 800 more,
4 making total Of $763-which is the interest of
4 nearly $1,000
/ Il. 4 .
obtaining even the most Indifferent accommoda-
tions while the rent demanded for apartments,
wholly unsuited for school purposes, is annually
i growing higher. A few years since tho highest
sum paid by the Trustees for school-room was
| $60 at the present time, but one school-room in
the First District is hired for less sum than 800,
while the highest Is 5000.
| The Trustees have recently been compelled to
| direct the removal of two teachers and one hun
dred and twenty pupils from the First into the,
Second District, in consequence of the dampness
| and unhealthiness of the room which they occl-
pied, it being below the grade and close to an open
sewer, which passed through the yard and within
few feet Of the door No suitable school-room
/ could be had at any price in the First District
! An appropriation of $4,000 was made in 1853
| for the erection of schoolhouse in this district
but as stated in the last annual report the sum
not having been sufficient for the purchase of the
grounds, and the erection of suitable building,
has not been drawn from the city treasury, as the
Trustees have been unwilling to commence work
of this character without the means of It's compile
ton, and equally unwilling to involve themselves
by exceeding the appropriation"
Within few days past, the proprietor of Rugby
Academy has offered to sell to the Corporation that
excellent and well known building, on terms which
the undersigned believe to be highly advantageous
to the city.
For information in respect to the character of
tha hui far In thaI Iatfa ofM
Morrison, accompanying note OF the Secretary,
appended to the printed report, on the condition
of the Public School houses, which, 1t Is understood
will be laid this evening on the tables of the Coun-
ellis and also to his letter to the Secretary OF the
Board, dated the 10th instant, in which he propo-
ses to dispose of the property for SIC, ,000 one
fourth in cash. and the remainder in five equal an
nual instalments.
The building is four stories high, the main part
being A feet by 40 feet and the back building Is
Of the same. height and measures 81 by 80 feet,
and contains exclusive of the attc,) twenty eight
rooms, and, II II be thought desirable, it may be
converted into twelve rooms by the removal Of a
few partitions; of these rooms four would accom-
modate about $50 pupils each, and the remaining
eight about sixty pupils each.
IL would be unnecessary for the present, to
make any material change in the building as IL
now contains four large and handsome school
rooms capable Of accommodating about 500 pupils;
III ~ Lnub ihTES cuOuBu pItStut Whuts VI u
considerable portion Of the First District, and
portion of the Second District
The remaining rooms are admirably adapted for
lecture and recitation rooms for school library
for the reception Of apparatus, minerals specimens
of natural history, museum, and for the safe
keeping Of the hats, caps, bonnets, and garments
Of the pupils and for the accommodation Of the
jantor and his family.
The best disposition which might be made AZ
present Of the building in the event Of purchase
by the Corporation, would be to place here four
primary schools, averaging about one hundred and
twenty pupils each and the male primary, the
male and female departments Of the district school,
each Of which will probably average about fifty
pupils there would remain besides school-room
| capable Of accommodating about sixty pupils,
which might be made, by the appointment Of a
teacher, the foundation OF high school; adjon-
ing each of these eight schoolrooms Is recitation
room thus the, noise and confusion incident to
most of our schoorooms in which recitations
heard by two teachers at the same time, would be
avoided.
II may be added, that II the terms abovenamed
are not considered satisfactory, Mr. Morrison is quite
willing TO sell the property at valuation 10 be
fixed upon il by three competent persons, two Of
whom may be selected by the Mayor, aud one by
himself
II should also be stated that the lot contains
nearly 5000 feet Of ground.
Inc bitc VI tuc buhuthb ~ hbfctoo'ty puitht
pleasant in every respect; healthy, with ample
space around IL for the recreation OF the pupils;
fronting fly -four feet X, the widest and one Of
the pleasantest streets in the city, and running
back on Fourteenth street about one hundred and
fifty feet comparatively retired; and yet near
enough TO the more settled portions of the city for
all practical purposes, and out Of the way Of floods
| Of water and whirlwinds Of dust.
The exterior ana the interior Of the building ex.
hibit good architectural proportions; il Is wen
adapted TO inspire children and the community
generally with respect for the object to which II Is
devoted. 1t Is believed TO have been built in
workmanlike manner throughout. The rooms are
spacious, lofty, and well lighted that the pupils
will always have ample room, and the teachers
| comfortable accommodations, and both healthy
and abundant supply, which they are now in want
Of, that pure and wholesome air, with which the
Creator in the largcness and richness Of his benef-
cence, has surrounded the earth and filed the
sky.
II has a southern and western aspect, from which