Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-23
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

III the habit OF regarding the Boston schools as the
best in the country, but, judging from what we
have seen OF both, and from the last reports that
have been placed in our hands, we think they must
yield the palm to those Of New York For many
years, this city has been making large appropria-
tons for the improvement of these institutions,
and especially for the erection OF large, commodi-
Gus, and beautiful school-houses for the New
Workers understand that there is direct connex-
ion between good school-house and good school.
II any one would have some idea Of the subjects
that are taught in the public schools of New York,
we beg him TO look over the portly volume OF some
two or three hundred pages, which contains simply
the questions asked of the pupils at the late ex-
animation, and that were answered, too. We doubt
il there Is an institution in the country, not even
West Point, which furnishes to its pupils so extern
sive and 80 thorough course of education as the
Free Academy of New York.
We quote paragraph from the New York Times
Of Saturday, especially to show the size and char
acter Of the school buildings, and the amount ex-
pended for their support:
:" 1t appears that there are 262 schools under
thejurisdiction of the Board, including the Gram
mar Schools for boys and girls, Primary Schools,
Colored, Corporate, Evening and Normal Schools,
and Free Academy that the whole number of
pupils taught during the past year was lag, $50;
and that the amount expended in the support Of
these institutions during the year, including the
expense Of new buildings, furniture, repairs, &c,
was S776,973 3s. About 5000 900 of this amount
has been applied to the purchase OF sites and the
erection Of ten new buildings
"There are now, in different sections of the city,
some Gfty school-houses Of the largest size, capa-
BILE OF accommodating from tDo to three thousand
pupils each, and divided into three departments
male, female, and priaary--each department oc-
cupying separate story. The buildings erected
during the past year are fine specimens of archi-
tectire. internal and external, costing, including
site and furniture, &C., from $4,000 to $50, 900
In addition to these, there are about sixty Pri-
mary Schools, in each of which some three or four
hundred children are taught, preparatory to their
entrance into the higher schools. Then there is
the Normal School in the Hall of the Board OF Ed
ucation, in Grand street. where some six hundred
teachers assemble, on Saturdays, for instruction
and discipline and the Free Academy, in TWEEN
tythird street, constituting the apex fthe noble
pyramid Of Popular Education, provided for all the
youth Of the city"
When good buildings are in similar manner
provided for our public schoos,~ve shall have good
schools too then it will be considered respectable
and for the advantage Of all our citizens and espe-
cially Of those who now send their children to pri-
vate institutions, to patronze the public schools
for there is no reason why they should not be the
best schools.
fla moiety of the one or two hundred thousand
dollars, which are now paid annually by our citi-
gems, at much Inconvenience to themselves, to the
private schools was appropriated for the improve
ment Of the public schools they would receive an
impulse which would soon place them on a level
with the best schools in other cities.
Happening to be in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
sometime SINCE we found in one of the public
schools the sons Of Mr.. Everett, Prof FELTON,, Prof.
Agassiz, and Of many other distinguished gentle
men. When our public schools shall be as respect
able, best and most distinguished citizens will
prefer them for the education of their children to
private institutions The first thing to be done is
to provide good school houses.
An opportunity will be afforded this evening to
our City Fathers to take step in the right d.
rcction; we hope it will not be lost.
FlREs.-t seems we are again to be visited with
the destructive element, and our fremen have
again to encounter and endcavor to save property
from the raging flames.
Last night, between z and o'clock q fire was
discovered in the silversmith's shop on ID street,
between 10th and 18th streets, occupied by Mr..
Seldner, adjoining clothing store, occupied by his
brother and the interior of both entirely burnt
out. The building being frame one the flames
spread very rapidly and threatened with destruc.
ton the plumbing and gas fitting establishment Of
Messrs. johnson a. Guy, who succeeded however
In removing their stock from the building Their
store was saved through the exertions of the fire.
men.
The brothers Seldner lose considerable amount
not covered by insurance. The building itself was
probably insured, as the badge of the Firemen's
Insurance Company was affixed upon the front
There Is some mystery connected with the origin
of the fire, the shop having been locked, and no
person having been in since Saturday night
The fremen appeared to work together with
great cordially, and the officers tell us that they
are pleased to say that they stood up and worked
together like men.
The alarm on Saturday night was false. About
IL o'clock fire broke out in the residence Of
Samuel Grubb, ESQ.,, paper near the fue catching
FIRE from the stove pipe. 1t was put out without
raising an alarm.
WooD & CHRIsTY's MISsrRKLs--0ur readers
will perceive that this talented company, who for
eight years played with great success in New York,
and who only left upon being burnt out in Decem-
Der last, will appear in Washington for four nights
only. They claim TO be the best Ethiopian Band
ever organized. Whether they are entitled to
that distinction our citizens must Judge for them.
selves, which they are sure to do in cr9yds.
The popular Dramatic Company of the PEOPLES
Theatre, Of this city, win appear this and to-inor-
row evening, at Washington Hall, Alexandra, and
Thursday evening at 0dd-Felows' Hall, Navy
Yard, and on Friday at Forrest Hall, Georgetown.
STREET PLATEs.--We sometime ago alluded to
with cast-iron tablets, which we are glad to find
the city authorities have determined to adopt add
which will, we have no doubt, be great improve.
ment over the present iegible mode, and be a
great convenience, especially to strangers as being
much more conspicuous. We have also seen Mr.
Ms plan for applying the principle of these plates
for shop windows, wiDdow-sills, &C., which have
very elegant and conspicuous effect We UNDER
stand that he has been patronized by very many
OF our rstrate shops and stores for his iron sign
letters, which are highly ornamental, and, We I'M
derstand, much cheaper than wood-block letters
as well as ten times more durable.
0uR readers win not fail 10 notice the card Of
thanks Of the Franklin Fire Company, to various
parties, which show their due appreciation Of any
favor shown TO them, in commendable spirit.
We are pleased TO see the vigor and energy man.
ifcsted by this Company in It's efforts 10 extingush
the fire, last night, on D street and, indeed, all
the companies come in for credit on this occasion.
WE are grati6ed to see the rich color of the
grass In each and all of the reservations about our
city. They are veritable cases in the desert of
sand and dust which this city resembles so strongly