National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-09-08
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
LARGE ACCEssIONs AT THE OPENING.

butIdings-UFQent heusous lot Nonerfs-
sionai Aid-Thc Present school Fand
Iaadeauste-Thoreus Of Oar sys-
tem-1be Normal and Hiab schools.
one week ago we gave the readers Of THE RE
PUBLICAN very full and complete history OF IN
public schools from 1883 down to the prescn
time, but want Of space and desire TO NOR
fully verify certain facts and statistics, com
PEELED the omission OF certain portions OF tn
history which are given herewith.
The prediction made last week that the school
would be unusually full this year has been com
pletely verified. There never was such q rush
and In one or two OF the districts the trustee,
are at JOSIAH to provide accommodations fol
all who desire TO avail themselves OF the advan
tages afforded by our school system. The record
for September will probably show larger at
tendance than ever before In the history Of the
schools. 70
When It Is remembered that great proper
tlon Of the pupils are the children Of onice-hod
ers who claim citizenship In different States, NO
one will doubt the justice Of our demand for
CONGRESSIONAL AID FOR Tue SCHOOLS.
While every State In the American Union has
been benefited by donations Of land or money
for educational purposes, the city OF Washington
has occupied an exceptional position. We have
never had one dollar from the General Govern
iHts " u luuttcT VNtut UlDUltHt W UuI
people, and as the Justice OF our claims will he
urged when Congress again meets we devote
considerable space to this point. Mr.. Rhecs, In
his admirable report for 1880. referred to else
where, says upon this topics
1.-THE nrst application made by the Councils to
Congress for AID In reference TO establishing a
school system was In 1880, aud 10 1891 another
was made bv q Joint committee from wHshing-
ton, Georgetown, and Aiexandria. In Ic:o, lion.
II N. Young, Commissioner OF the General Land
ggmss, and Hon; X y; Wsiker seerstnIy q the
solicitation, earnestly recommended TO Congress
grant OF land for the benefit OF schools at the
Gin issa a memorial. signed by more than
eight thousand citizens Of Washington, was pre-
sented % Congress, asking aid for the establish
n msnt o. school system Ia lse. another spp.
recommendation Of tho Secretary OF the intc-
.it was stated in the memorial, which was
ordered TO be printed by Congress, That the funds
Of the corporation applicable to purposes OF edu.
cation were quite inadequate TO erect sufcicnt
number Of c0mmodlous school.ho,fses 10 supply
tue wants OF the city, and furnish them with
suitable books and apparatus, employ competent
teachers, aud provide for the instruction Of aJi
the children OF . suitable age to attend school.
brief statement was given OF what had been
done by the corporation, with their very limited
means, toward the establishment Of a well.cOn.
sidered system OF public schools,
THE messages and Recommendations OF WASH
ington, Jefferson, Madison, aud Monroe, and
the reports OF the Commissioner Of the General
Land once were referred to, recommending
n"na1ss 81 land aud other appropriations for
.'lt wss iuitner suggested, In the memorial OF
the trustees, that II u were deemed incompati-
bic with the public interest to make grant OF
public land, 10 conformity with the recommend
atoms which have been referred TO foe educa-
tonal purposes within this city and District;
Treasury OF the United Stateh from the aggre-
gate proceeds OF the sales heretofore male OF