Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-05

What Cato Thinks about School Matters here Dis
gust Of Cato at the Beni2kted CoRditioa Of
the People Of Washington.
A meeting of the Board of Trustees Of Col
ored Schools was held last evening at the Ste
vens schoel-house, the three members being
present
PICTURE RECEIVED.
Mr.. Syphax presented q large steel engraving
OF the late Thaddeus Stevens, Of Pa, hand
the friends of Mr.. Stevens at Lancaster, to be
suspended in the school-house here bearing his
name.
Mr.. King submitted a package containing
$500, which he had received from Mr.. Cook
tn late superintendent, money collected from
children to whom books had been furnished.
ANOTHER PICTURE
Mr.. King also submitted letter from Miss
Chamberlain, of Boston, Mass, presenting 20
the board a portrait OF the late Eliza Chamber
lain principal OF the Georgetown school.
Mr.. Syphsx.-" Well, now, that's two pictures
we have received this evening Of persons who
we have named schools after.D
SCHOOL WANTED AT BUzZARD POINT.
Mr.. King stated that he had visited Buzzard's
Point, where he found about one hundred chill
dren not attending school. They were cut of
from the city By swamp, and he thought it
best TO establish q school in a frame church on
the point, but the building was in a dIlapidated
condition, and he mentioned to the leading men
of the church that if they would raise about
500 towards repairing the church the school
board would advance them some rent to help
putting il in order. The report was accepted
and il was decided to establish school there.
II was also decided to establish a school on LIST
street east, between I'd and south, Capitol Hill.
Mr.. Syphax pre- scented applications of Mary j.
Perry and Carrie a. Thomas for positions as
teachers; referred.
ME-. sYPHAx AND THE FRERDNEN's BANK.
MIR. SyphaX, the treasurer, presented his &C
counts and pay-rolls, with the vouchers there
for; which MIR. King proceeded to examine care
fully. The payroll not having been added up
2 hos N hnx nt.1
as they might see at a glance what the expenses
were, and how TO estimate for the future.
NICE THING FOR THE BANK.
MIR. King inquired of Mr.. SyphaX, the treaSu-
rer, what disposition he had made of the corpO-
ration bonds. MIR. Syphax replied that he had
borrowed $4,000 from the Freedmen's Saving
Bank by depositing the bonds, and was paying
therefor 10 per cent. interest. Mr.. King thought
this very high rate OF interest, and inquired of
the treasurer If he had deposited the s. 900 in
the First National Bank. MIR. Syphax replied
that he had net, but had drawn 81 900 and left
the other 8, 600 in the Freedmen's Bank. Mr.
Ming thought II very wrong thing to leave that
money with the bank from which it had been
borrowed, as the bank could have the use of IL
Tor weeks, and at the same time receive from
the school board 10 per cent. interest on it,
besides having the use ofthe money. lie thought
more liberal arrangements might have been
made with other banks. MIR. Syphax said he
had applied to several other banks, but had
been refused. Mr.. King desired to paw the
teachers promptly, but he was opposed to these
money could be obtained at less interest The
accounts OF the treasurer were found to be cor
rect and approved.
The pay of Horace W. Parke, assistant SUI
perintendent, was increased to so per month,
on motion of Mr.. WOrmley. He also reported
that be had accepted bids OF a. p. Clarke and
Dixon x King to furnish COAL at ~ 50 per ton.
and VIM. Beckett to furnish wood at 50 per cord
The superintendent, Mr.. Cato, read lengthy
report in favor Of grading and classifying
the schools, prescribing studies, &c. He pro-
poses to divide the schools into primary, inter-
mediate, and grammar, with high school, to be
composed OF pupils from the grammar schools.
In his report the superintendent said he had
been considerably embarrassed in the prepara-
ton thereof by the absence Of every thing
from the superintendent's Office, and the posses.
sion Of the trustees, that could give any idea of
the present condition, needs or supplies that the
schools require.
Nh. KING THINKS CATO SHOWS BAD TASTE.
The report having been read, Mr.. King said he
was fayorably impressed with some of the
features thereof, but would like to have time to
consider il more fully. He, however, thought it
had taste in the present superintendent to make
insinuatiOns in regard to his predecessor in
office (Mr. Cook as many of the schools had un-
til recently been under the control of various
benevolent societies, and it was impossible to
grade and classify them.
MR.. SYPHAX STANDS BY CATO.
Mr.. SyPhaN thought the superintendent was
stating the truth in his report. and he waS pre-
pared TO vote for its adoption Immediately.
y.
MIR. Wormley was prepared to vote with Mr..
Syphax.
NIr. King thought the main features of the re-
port as to grading the schools were good and the
community would sustain them.
MODEST CATTo-PEoPLE IN WASHINGTON
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SCHOOL MATTERS.
Mr. Cato did not ask TO be sustained by many
OF this community, as they knew nothing about
school matters, and did not understand things
MR.. KING SAYS WORD FOR THE BENEFITED
PEOPLE.
Mr. King suggested that the hoard and ito
officers were but the servants OF the people, and
he for one desired to be sustained by the com
munlty. DE was put there as trustee to carry
out the wishes Of the people, and intended to
do so.
Nh. Syphax confessed that lie was unable to
give any information about schools, As he did
He spoke Of the report of Mr.. Newton, issued
some lime since, when that gentleman was su-
perintendent, and thought it an able one.
MIR. King said he had hard work to get Mr..
Newton's report published, as the publication
had been opposed by Mr.. Syphax. Adjourned
TIE LATE FLooD-Editor Star: Now that the
late disastrous flood is passing away, and it's
great destruction is fresh in our minds, allow me
through your columns to express a few thoughts
upon the subject. The suddenness OF the rise in
removal of goods, and many merchants and
citizens of both Washington and Georgetown
have suffered heavy losses. This rise of the
water occurred during the night and early
hindrance TO the free flow OF the river been out
OF the way, time would have been given during
the day Of Saturday to have guarded against
much OF the damage done, even suppospg
the water would have reached the point IL did
thereafter. This hindrance to the flow of water
Was clearly the Long bridge as at present con-
suucted, with a solid eduse0dy OF stone and dirt
over nearly half its length, and the low trestle
work OF the balance, so built, to catch all the
drift wood, and in a great measure impede the
free flow OF water. And where is there another
instance of so great river being thus INSTRUCTED
at so largely inhabited point? Merchants and
citizens have suffered immensely. Georgetown
has likewise suffered by the river being hindered
In its progress; and all because these citizens
have lstlessly allowed the existence Of a struc-
ture that was built against the judgment of all
the prominent engineers of the time. When Con-
gress lately transferred the bridge to the Poto-
mac railroad company, why was not the Board
OF Trade OF the District on the alert to insist
upon an amendment to the bill, requiring said
company TO rebuild the bridge upon stone piers
with wide spans, so that the river might pass uns
obstructed to the ocean? II is to be hoped that
indlnerence to the subject will no longer be ex
hlblted, and that universal effort will he made
10 dodfe the nuisance. Now that IL Is in the cus
tody OF those who are indictable let there be no
hesitation about pushing the matter to the paU
In ADDITION to the great damage to property that
hls nuisance involves, Is the danger to life In
many ways, and In none more certainly than the
spread OF disease by the malaria from damn
Ne Ia