Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-19
Our PUBLIC SCHOOL HousEs AZ THEY ARE

which was laid on the tables of the members
Of the City Councils on Monday evening The
report shows the condition Of the school houses
as they are. We shall tomorrow print An alb
strsct Of report Presented by the Trustees to
the Councils on the same evening, in which
they propose to correct some of the evils of
the present system of renting eetlars for school
rooms by the purchase Of Morrison's we'll
known building on Z street, which is well
adapted for school purposes:
"In regard to these apartments and build.
ings, occupied as school houses In this city,
it may be said, In general, and subject to the
exceptions herein made, that they arc i'll
adapted to the purposes for which they are
used they are deficient in space for the ac-
commodation Of the pupils and teachers; in
facilities for ventilation; in suitable means
for the admission Of air and light; and they
Are so contracted, a. necessarily to compel
teachers and pupils to breathe viiated at.
mosphere,. thereby inducing WEAKNESS, Ian
guor, headache, nervous irrttability, and pro.
noting the development of pulmonary and
other diseases. In many instances which have
been brought to tho notice of tho Trustees,
pupils have suffered from serious illness, the
cause of which might be traced to tho public
school rooms. Some of the school rooms are
imperfectly warmed, badly located, difficult Of
approach, have little or no ground except the
public street for the recreation of the pupils,
or for the necessary outbuildings, and are un
attractive, if not repulsive, in their external
appearance; and furnished with but little ap-
paratus and with but few of the instruments
and means Of instruction, which almost every
where are considered indispensable in we'll
regulated and we'll provided school rooms"
"In the First District all the school apart
m Ara Al nil 6
old building, which was formerly Jefferson's
stable. but now is used, by permission of tho
Government, as school.room. It's condition
has been brought 80 often to tho notice Of the
Councils, and its unsuitableness is so appare Mt
that any further remarks upon it are consid-
cred unnecessary. The Trustees earnestly
renew the Recommendation, which has so often
been made, that immediate steps be taken to
provide for the wants of this District, either
by the purchase or by the erection of suitable
school building
I'm the Second District the school house in
Judiciary Square is the property of the city.
1t was o. iginslly designed to accommodate
two Teachers and ono hundred and twenty
pupils, it is actually occupied by four Teachers
and two hundred and twenty nine pupils"
ain the Third District the building occupied
by the Male Department of the District School
is the property of the city. 1t was originally
designed for one Teacher and about sixty pu-
pills, it is actually occupied by two Teachers,
and the number Of pupils is limited to one
hundred and forty, the accommodations are
so poor that only one hundred and eighteen
are. members n OF the school at tho present
Ten Teachers, and about seven hundred
pupils, which is the limited number, are
placed in five Easements of Churches which,
with one or two exceptions, are, in part, below
the surface OF the ground, and may not i'm
properly be called cellars they are more or
less damp, generally with low ceilings, dimIy
lighted, and badly ventilated, and with no
separate play grounds for tho two sexes much
inconvenience is experienced from hearing the
school exercises and recitations by two Teach
ers, at the same time, in one small apartment.
Nine OF the remaining schools are kept in
separate rooms, which generally have the
characteristics of those that have been already
mentioned - ~
1.-The expense of the system of renting
school rooms is large item, and one which
Is annually growing larger, while at the same
time the difficulty of obtaining rooms, even of
the Indifferent character which has been do.
scribed, is constantly increasing
"The amount appropriated the present year
for rent of rooms is ST ,675, which is the in
soloSI VI uOio Vial pZt iUUU 10 tQl6 must De
added the expenses incurred by frequent re-
movals from one place to another, also the
losses arising from not having, in many cases.
proper out-houses for the security of wood
and coal, and the expenses incurred by the
caro- OF many small SCHOOL houses, instead of
a few large ones; much time is also lost by
Teachers and pupils in consequence of sick
ness Occasioned by breathing, for a long pc.
Rod, impure air. or by colds and other diseases
induced by exposure to the wet and mud
through they are sometimes obliged to pass,
in order to reach their respective schools
In the opinion Of the Trustees, the pres
ent mode of renting school rooms has nothing
to recommend it on the score of economy.
health, or public convenience" 4
The Trustees accordingly renew the recon-
Dendation made by Committee of the Com
mon Council in 1912, which the experience of
twelve years has proved to have been eminent.
ly wise and judicious, and which was referred
to with commendation, in the last annual re-
port of the Board, in respect to the expedien.
cy of commencing Immediately the erection of
substantial school houses, in those parts of the
city in whi,h the most pressing necessity for
them exist
1.-THE Trustees, in conclusion, beg leave to re-
fer to former reports Of the Board on this sub.
ject, and moro especially, to the annual m es-
sage of the Mayor, presented to the Councils
in month of October last"
The WHITE House PAvILLIoS-We yes
terday noticed workmen busily engaged in
cutting down the high bank on the western
and the woods on the southern side of the pa
Wilton, as to give freer scope to the southerly
and westerly winds, and thus render more
airy and pleasant this summer resort. The
marshy ground in the vicinity Is also being
filed up. A large bowling saloon is also in
process Of construction. These improvements
will add greatly to the attractions of the pa
wilton.
TIE SANDER SUIr-Wm. T. Dove against
j. ii. McBlair-was continued to-day 4
The following named witnesses have been
examined for the plaintiff: Charles Il Win,
der, Rev. Charles A. Davis W. P Moran,
W: B. Lee, James Young, Charles e Davis
John III. Eaton, and A. G.. Southall
The evidence was with reference to the pro.
pagation Of the alleged SANDER by Mr.. NcBlair
The testimony for the plaintiff has been
brought to a close; and that for the defence
will probe bly, be commenced this afternoon.
FINE AUsIc.-The store Of our next door
neighbors, Hilbus i Hits, is often occupied
as a free concert-room, during the day, for the