Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-27
POPULAR EDUCATION IL GEORGE.
Town
Enterprise West Of Rock Creek.
A MagniRcent Central Public school
Building TO he Erected.

Institutions IN the c0untry-feorgefown college
ton for young ladies-together with q consider
able number OF private schools, has Jagged
somewhat behind her sister city OF Washington,
especially in respect to public school facilities
Recognizing and regrettirg this deficiency, q
number Of her publc-spirited citizens talked
the matter over some months ago, and de-
termined to do what they could to keep pace
with the march OF Improvement, and to secure
for the community west Of Rock creek all the
advantages enjoyed by the most progressive of
our large cities In all that relates to their men
tai and material elevation. Washington now
possesses some Of the finest school buildings on
the contint Mt, and the board of public school
trustees OF Georgetown, not to be outdone in
tbie respect, are about TO erect public school
edifice which shall equal, II not exceed, in its
appointments any similar structure in the Dis
triet of Columbia.
The annual report Of Mr.. j. Osmond Wilson,
superintendent of the public schools OF Wash
iDgton and Georgetown, for 1s71-'2, dated Oc
tober 4th last,) shows that the
SCHOOL POPULATION OF GRoRGRTowN
betw cen the ages Of six and seventeen years,
numbered 1855, while the attendance az the
public schools aggregated but 500, or less than
thirty tnr,y per cent cent while IN Washington the at
ton. Ii should be stated, however, that the
attendance has increased nearly one hundred
pupils in Georgetown since the date ct Super
int ndent Wilson's report
There are at present but three public school
buildings in Georgetown, all of an inferior
character, the total number Of seats being six
nearly seven hundred. it is easy to understand
the necessity fer additional accommodations
The three buildings referred to are situated
near tbs outskirts OF the town, and lines drawn
q triangle inclOsiDg the central portion OF the
city. I'm his last annual report of the
CONDITION OF THE esoRsRTOwN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS,
Superintendent Wilson says "a glance at the
statistics will show the marked inadequscy OF
the provisions thus far made for educating the
fuUn fhnn and nt.s r.
city. The public schools of Georgetown cannot
take their proper place in the esteem aud affec-
ton OF the people until they present to them
good accommodations for at least twice the
number of children for whom seats are now
furnished. And while the present buildings,
located in the suburbs of the town, are suitable,
and will be required in the future for primary
schools, large central building, EN- body ing the
latest improvements in school architecture, and
presenting to the eve evidence OF the importance
and dignity OF the institution which IL repre-
senfs, should be provided at once for the ad-
vaDced grades"
Prompted by a desire to afford to the people of
Georgetown publicsc facilities not inferior
to those OF Washington, the board of school
trustees-Messrs. Anthony Hyde, president
w. W. Curtis, secretary and treasurer,) q.
w. Beall, VIM. l.. Dunlop, and F. w Moffut-
seconded by Governor Cooke, Superintendent
Wilson, and other progressive gentlemen, de-
e1ded about year since to erect
A LARGE AND HANDSOME SCHOOL BUILDING
IN the central part of the city for the education
W,
this view bill to carry Out the project was in.
trOduced in the House of Delegates OF the Leg
lslative Assembly by Mr.. w. K. Collins, dele
gate from the third legislative district, aud
passed that body. IL would doubtless have
passed the council but for lack OF time. AS the
cost OF such building as X is proposed To erect
together with the site, will be about $50 900. it
was necessary that the tax to pay il be distrio-
uted through a series OF years, and in pursuance
of this view q tax OF twenty-five cents on each
one hundred dollars was levied for the year 1872
q - NrkQn hA Rhl-n of lrA
erection of the new building. IL is estimated
that the fund derived from this source will
amount TO about $500 per snnum.
TIE LINTHICUN INSTITUTE.
Some years ago, Mr.. Z. N Lnthicum of
Georgetown, left beguest of $50. 900 "f0r the
education of the indigert white youth of
GeoTgetown." No part OF this fund had ever
been expended. and no institution had been or
gained to carry out the designs OF the donor,
when the trustees of the public schools Of
Georgetown proposed to borrow this fund for
the purpose OF erecting the projected new
school building, and TO repay the amount as fast
as the school building tax would enable them to
DO SO. This, II Is estimated, would require i've
or six years. The school trustees also proposed,
in erecting this new building, to set apart q
room for the use of the school to be established
and supported by the interest Oh the Linthi-
cum FUND, TO be called the Linthicum Insti-
tute," and that the trustees of the fund (Messrs.
Josiah Dent, Vim. l.. Dunlop, Joshua Riley.
VIM: Laird, Jr., and W. A. Gordon, .Jr.,)
should establish here a special school for in
..
engineering, &c, in chemistry, and the physical
sciences, and should furnish opportunities for
young persons to obtain an education in zht
scfool, where drawing, book keeping, penmsn-
ship and other practical branches should be
taught. They also proposed to furnish large
hall In the building, capable of seating seven
hundred persons. in which courses of popular
lectures should be given during the winter sea-
son, to be supported BY the Linthicum fund.
The trustees OF the fund acceded to all of the
propositions made by the trustees OF the public
schools, and the latter have already purchased
sITB FOR THE NEW BUILDING
fronting on "a and Sd streets, between Market
and High streets. The ground has front OF
one hundred and twenty feet on I'd street. ex-
tending through the square to Sd strees-a depth
of three hundred feet. As il Is proposed to ex-
tend Potomac street through from 2d to Sd
street the site OF the building will then be
bounded by I'd, Sd and Potomac streets, and the
new editice will front st. Johns church.
OTHER FEATURES OF THE NEW BUILDING.
IL is also proposed To set apart in the new
DulidiDg suitable room for a public school
library, and besides this and tho rooms already
named, there will be eight large and convenient
sehool rooms, capable OF accommodating five
BILE the present public school facilities Of George
town.
THE PEABODY LIBRARY.
few years ago, MIR. George Peabody, the
Phlanthropist, when on visit to Georgetown
his native city-left in the hands OF trustees
!Messrs. W. w. Corcoran, G. w. Riggs, w. L.
d 1unlGP, a IH GSd t and H. D. Cooke
now about 2D,00O,) to found a public library
and II Is hoped that the trustees OF this fund
Will see bit TO locate the collection in the new
school building. In regard to the funds already
named, Superintendent Wilson SAYS, in his last
annual report: " If the Linthicum and Peabody
funds-bequests made by the worthy bene-
factors whose names they bear to aid in the
work or education, the one to be applied in
furnishing gratuitous instruction, and the other
in providing free library-can also be satisfac-
torily combined with this advanced public
school, thus fully accomplishing the desig gus of
the generous donors, and at the same time rem
uerhg most valuable aid to that system of
education which is of paramount Importance in
every community, the public schools of GEORGE
town will then be elevated TO a position that
will enable them to enlist the interest and COM
mand the respect OF the best citizens"
When the new building is completed the
pupils OF Georgetown will have an opportunity
TO pursue the more advanced studies of the
puohc schools, and that they will avail them
reason to doubt. IL ia due to Superintend.n nj
Wilson to state the board OF trustees OF the
Georgetown schools have had his cordial CO.
operation, and that he has been indefatigable
IN his efforts to bring this magnificent plan for
eDlsrging the public school facilities OF George
town TO asuccessful conclusion.
-
The POSTAGE GRIEvANCR-Pditor of The
Star: The clerk at the post Office handed me a
drop letter this morning having on IL a two cent
stamp, with polite request 20 pay eight cents
postage. inquired by what process he came
to the conclusion eight cents was due, two
having already bern paid on a drop letter the
tue amount for postage OF which was six CENTS