Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-28


changes in the appearance OF the District, and
in its increased comfort, attractions and ador n
ment. The liberal appropriations made by
dences that the public spirit Of our people In
voluntarily undertaking the grand work Of em-
bellishiDg and improving the nations capital
meets its approval, and will receive fts future
aid. The amounts thus appropriated largely
exceed all made from this scarce daring the
past seventy years, and proclaim the fact that
the whole country is determned 70 make the
metropolis worthy to be the seat o. Govern
ment. '1-
Detailed statements from the treasurer, engi-
neer, auditor and assessor of the board, here
with transmitted, furnish atsummary of its
transactions from its organization 20 the present
time, from which 1t appears thst the total
amount Of accounts audited y 1910, 621 80,
amount of cash payments, IS, f92, sf635; leaving
outstanding indebtedness. S1,E0, S0e 20; from
which should be deducted amounts advanced
on account OF water fund, markef- houses,
pumps, &C., which are to be reimbursed by the
District, aggregating s12i ,o65.sE lea7sing actual
liabilities, 81 ,44y,f40S6. :.
The material on hand equals In value the
fore, this item has not been added to the liabili
ties in the above statement, as the engineers
report establishes this fact.
The report of the engineer, herewith submit
ted, shows the cost of completing the contracts
outstanding on all work in course of completion
to be s4I4 ,304.92 To meet this, the report of
the assessor, herewith transmitted, shows that
there will be realized from assessments on pri-
vate property, on work already done, 81 ,9Z :
$40 II; from balance due on account of 81 Co..
eco appropriation, $4,000. Total, 50, 49,
5i911.
The report also shows that there is an appro-
priatiOn available after July I, 1873, made by
the United States government, OF 1918, 900, to
meet its proportion of work in progress and to
be commenced, from which, with the amount
due from the District, additional assessments
will accrue to the amount of $500 900.
Owing to the extent of the improvements now
in progress the amount of special assessments
against private property for such improvements
will be large. 1t will afford relief to the tax
payers if the time for the payment of these as
sessments can be extended over period of
years, and made payable in installments. Under
existing laws these assessments cannot be made
until the completion of the improvements upon
which they are to be based. Hence a large pOr
ton of the resources of the board are for the
time unavailable. To remedy this, and thus
relieve its creditors, as well as the Taxpayers, IL
is suggested that the issue or coupon certificates
OF Indebtedness, bearing fair rate of interest
shall be authorized, and that the assessment
certificates against private property be hypothe
Gated as collateral security for their redemption
with the commissioners of the sinking fund who
shall collect such assessment certificates and
apply the proceeds to redemption of such GER
tticates OF indebtedness, retiring annually such
proportion as you may authorize.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Our public schools have rapidly advanced in
efficiency, and in the extent and character OF
their accommodations. In excellence of dis
cipline and thoroughness of instruction their
superiority is recognized, and many of the best
citizens and residents of the District now gladly
educate their children III these schools. They
are attracting attention and receiving fayora-
bic notice from distinguished visitors from other
parts OF tie United States and from foreign
countries It has been, and, / trust, will con
tinue to be, the especial desire and purpose OF
citizens and authorities alike OF the District to
make its public school system one of its promi-
nent attractions.
The expenses necessarily incurred in carry
ing forward this great work Of popular educa
ton has thus far been met by the people of the
- - hal
rendered any aid as in the case of other Terri
tories and many of the States.
Many spacious and commodious school build
ings, elegant in architecture and furnished
with every modern comfort and convenience
have been erected; but Others win be needed
to keep pace With the growth of population
In the Second school district provision must be
made for the accommodation of the schools
which have for many years occupied temporary
structures on Judiciary square. This site must
shortly be vacated, Congress having already
made an appropriation for the Improvement OF
the square; and it is believed to be the inten-
ton of the Commissioner of Public Buildings
and Grounds to commence the work during the
present season.
Upon the Inauguration Of the new District
government there were outstanding contracts
for school buildings in Washington amounting
to s215 1880, including the proportion due,
under the act OF Congress, 70 colored schools.
The total amount expended by the District
government for school purposes up to January
], 1873, was S55S, 02I g. The tax realized for
school purposes to the same date is Siis, Az Sc.
The expenditures for current school purposes
tor the coming year will be over 100000 less
than during either OF the past two years, owing
to the fact that the contracts for new school
buildings referred to have been completed and
paid for, with the single exception of the school
building in Georgetown, for which the tax
levied last year. The estimate for school
purposes for the ensuing year are S126, 4J5 less
than they were last year.
CoLoRED SCHOOLS.
The colOred schools, under the management
OF board OF colored trustees, have also att aimed
a high standard of discipline and instruct IN; in
both of which they will compare favorabIy with
the public schools of this and other cities. With
few exceptions the teachers employed in them
are colored.
The unqualified success of these schools at the
capital of the nation can not fail to exert ben
eficial influence upon public opinion throughout
the country. The capacity of the race, not only
to be educated but to manage and control a sys-
tenn of education, has been here demonstrated
beyond q doubt. This fact dissipates many false
theories, and will encourage and stimulate the
efforts OF millions of our newly eAfranchised
citizens IN their endeavors to rise above the
ignorance of their late servitude, and to qualify
themselves by education for the responsibilities
of their new position.
COMPLICATION OF THE LAWS.
The report of the commissioners for the coli
ficatioH and revision OF the laws of the District
of Columbia, requiring the confirmation of both
the Legislative Assembly and Congress- having
been completed before the adjournment of the
last session of Congress was submitted by me
to that body. 1t had been previously Submitted
10 tne supreme OF the Dictrlct eNaInl-
nation and amendment.
Printed copies of the report are herewith
transmitted for such reyisionary action as you
may deem proper.
HARBOR COMMISSION.
j transmit herewith the report of the harbor
commissioners, appointed by an act of the late
Congress. The survey of the channel and of
the overlooked and partially overlooked grounds
adjacent thereto is very thorough and complete;
and the plan OF improvement recommended by
the commission win add very greatly to the
commercial facilities of the harbor, and incl
dentally to the health of the city and District.
WASHINGTON ASYLUM AND GEoRGETowN POOR
HOUSE.
1t is believed that consolidation of the
Washington Asylum and the Georgetown Poor
house would greatly lessen the expense now at
tendant upon the maintaining of these institu-
lions separately. Since the Consolidation Of the
District government there is no necessity for
separate establishments.
SALE OF CITY HALL AND PROVISION FOR A
NEw DISTRICT BUILDING.
Upon memorial made by the Governor and
Board of Public Works to Congress an appro-
priation was made by act Of March 3, 1913, of
not exceeding 1000, for the purchase by the
United States Of the interest of the District in
the present City Hall building in Washington
now used solely for government purposes, upon
condition that the purchase money should be