Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-07-05

joyed therefron from the sacrifices Of our fore
fathers; for our common school system, and for
this appropriate building, and asking the hi.
vine blessing on 1t. on those entrusted with the
management Of our school system, On the
President of the United States and on Com
gress, and on our country-that the clouds of
war may soon be dispersed and the sun of
peace and righteousness and concord shine
upon Us again.
The following dedica'ory hymn, written by
Il. Richards, Esq, was snng with fine effect by
the pupils, led by Prof Daniel, and with
Wiss Lusby at the piano:
Tune-Americd
Author of Light and Truth;
Great Guardian Of our youth
The God ofLove:
To Thee our hearts ascend;
In praise our voices blend,
And we in reverence bend
To Thee above.
Amid the din Of strife,
And sacriGce Of life.
And to this temple fair.
SOr Learning reared, repair,
wilt Thou presideP
,2ound knowledge ever be
Impaired 70 he free,
W. thin these walls; i.
And let us dedicate
This "bul~ark Of the State"
To Truth-so consecrate
These pleasant halls.
Great God stretch forth Thv hand
And saveour beedius land
Prom traitor foe;
And let this temple be
The fount of Liberty.
Whence waters, pure and free.
Shall ever flow.
Then came the ceremony OF presenting the
Key to the building
Major b. b. French, Commissioner Of Public
Buildings, came forward and said he had been
requested by the Building Committee to present
TO the Mayor the keys OF the noble building
they were now assembled to dedicate. 1t was
indeed an ornament 70 the city, and he con-
graduated the Mayor that it had been built
under his administration aud bore his name.
MAJOR French proceeded to call up interesting
"reminiscences of the old Mccormick school
days, and contrasted the school buildings of that
day with the magnificent structure In which
they were gathered. Revie wing his O. n course
In our city councils and elsewhere, he believed
he could take some little credit to himself for
labors for the advancement of the public
schools Of Washington. 1t was pleasure
TO him to be present on this occasion to take
part In these exercises dedicatory OF this noble
edihce. Might it long stand to do honor to the
Mayor, to the Committee and all who have had
anything TO do with its erection! [Applause.l
Mayor Wallach advanced and received the
Keys and responded as follows
Gentlemen Of the Board of Trustees of the Pub
&c Schools: As was natural on my induction
into ofhce as Chief Magistrate OF the city, I
sought TO ascertain wherein could make my
administration most beneficial. -.
Many projects OF improvement readily sug-
gested themselves TO my mind, among them the
advancement Of our public school system.
The growth and expansion OF our city de-
nanded an expansion OF the means and appli-
ances OF education.
That our own well as the children Of the
thousands who were fiocking to the metropolis
of the Union might reap the advantage Of that
particular branch OF the public interest you
mad In charge rendered it imperative that We
should improve the character and add yearly
TO the number Of our school buildings, and
that the enhanced character Of the instruction
you intended should be impaired should be
met by IAN equally ample provision for the
comfort and con venience of both scholars and
teachers. fApplause.I
, 1t was, therefore, that 1 embraced the first
opportunity afforded me to direct the attention
OF the City Councils to the glaring deficiency
of our buildings for school pur poses, the utter
inadeQuacy 10 the numbers to be provided for,
and urged upon them the necessity for their
placing school within the reach of Q very child
In the city.
The Oty Councils. with due appreciation
OF the importance of the subject and the inter.
ests to BE- subserved thereby, met my sugges-
lions with ready response, aud passed an act
setting aside, for the erection OF "school houses
alone elk and two-thirds (6sD per centum OF
all the city's revenue, which, in addition to
the thirteen and one. third C135) before appro-
pratsd Tor the purposes Of instruction, devotes
and pledges twenty per centum, or one-ffth,
OF onr whole income for educational pur.
poses.
A committee of two members Of the Board Of
Aldermen, two members of the Board Of Com
mon Council, and three members of your own
Board, were entrusted with the duty Of select
ing plan and sits tor the first school house to
be built under the generous provision OF the
City Councils.
careful scrutiny Of the accommodations
for school purposes, and the wants in this
respect of the several school districts, satisfied
the committee the greatest necessity for new
buildings existed In this the Third District, and
induced them TO apply the first money accrulng
10 the fund TO the erection OF this buildina ON
this spot. ...-H ..I ~.
public instruction in Older and larger comma.
mites convinced The committee OF the expedi.
ency OF adopting plan of building in which
greater concentration OF pupils, reduction In
the number Of teachers, and a more perfect
classification of scholars could be obtained. as
more useful and economical than in many and
scattered schools
To suit these views q plan was prepared BY
those skill!ul architects, Messrs. Clus Il Kram-
merheuber, adopted by the committee, and q
contract for the building awarded TO Mr..
The f1rst fruits and results OF That generous
oroyisiop OF the City Councils, the ,nbors or the
building committee, and the zeal and fidelity OF
the architects and contractor. We are here now
10 dedicate and devote 70 tue purposes for
which N was intended-the enlargement OF the
sphere and meaUs OF educauon. 81 4-
II may be, aud is probably liable 70 criticism
and exceptions, absolute unanimny =, opinion
cannot be found 10 any community oaAay
subject and there are always persons 10
oppose " hat in the estimation OF most OF others
would materially coEtribute 10 the promo'oo
and success Of an object, it Is natural TO e4pec'
that come objection will be made TO the manner
in which The committe have discharged tnoif
duties {. . !.
thus new feature In city, alike credita ole "a
vou and horerahl 70 its citizens, the beginning
Ola benefit to postertty and the commencement
of q new era Of scooo! mouse arsonsst are y
ms Will for the future be adopted. b-test
ADAPTED IN interior arrangements for the par
pose intended, ard In exsernaiappeafanse aad
architpcturai beauty and proportions, rsnktnl
then ssnsnS The sosse public edinsss wnis,