Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-14

I" the feop|e Of the CItg an! County Of Alee-
dndria:
The law establishing system of public free
schools IN Virginia, makes it rIy duty ito visit
and examine ali the schools, uuder my CHARGE
aud to luqulre into the condition Of the school
hous s. aud in genera, ia;o whatever con-
cerhs The uSeiulnes, and pert ctiJu of she pui-
lie free schools - 1t is in the pertornal,c. Of
| that duty thai | now address YOU
!he coIorcd children IN the city are we'll pro-
Vided Tor; they have cvmmodous school houses
with good seats and desks, and though the
ltcommodatio rs provided for them are not as
elegant Or substantial as those have eeen else
where. they are just as convenient and com-
Portable. The white schools, however, are but
poorly accommodated, using, for the most PART,
reuteI houses, 10; Intended for school purpoS-
cs and totally unfit Tor them. R,oms lucasur-
my but about four thousand cubic feet have
ht'y children crowded into them, without the
slightest lheans OF ventilation, except such as
Is afforded by the occasional openilg OF the
coorS aud the lo"etlug Of tn" wind VS. when
the state OF the weather permits ~ it IS csll-
mated that the brcatilng Of each child viii
render poisonous almost cuhic foot Of air
every minute and there are but eighty cubic
t;:et ut air for each Child Ia the room, the da!u-
hours, or three hunare} minutes dag in such
rooms is apparent. TIE furniture too, though
probably not so dangerous TO health as the
rucI1s. Is not Of Il character to ref .rt credit
upon the community. Most of the schools
have lNng heavy forms with beuche, without
backs, forcing the children tn lean forward ali
The time they are In school. This state Of
'hlngS has nos lasted n,orr than three years
and uneS- you can be Induced 10 lnt crest Your
selves IN the matter it is likely To continue.
Now, what is the remedy? Richmond has
answered the question By devoting over $500
OrIU to building and furnishing school houses
Norfolk I'as school property valued u; $3II, OOD
Petersburg and LyuchJurg have recently butt
school houses ut cost OF S3U,OUO 10 tUIlvw
their example would be the most obviols an
swcr 10 the Question, but unfortunately, that
course seems IL be impossible; the heavy debt
aud oncruus taxation under which we labor
preclude the thought Of such expenditures
About six thousand dollars from the Peabody
Education fund are available, but to build a
school house Tor the girls alone, sufficient III
size and substantial enough TO meet the prob
able wants OF the school wlthln the next ten
years, vii! cost nearly Sj OUO, and 1t Is very
doubtful! whether tn: Cl!y School Board will
lie able 10 erect the bnldlul; while even II 1t
nunJeTou>ly attended. ard much worse acc M
ucdatrd, will hare to remain in Its present
contracted quarters for year. to COME The
Board wouI willingly rent proper houses If
they could be had, and the City CouGcli wuud,
doubtless, as willingly provide for the necessary
expense; bus there are no suitable buildings III
the city.
What then cin We do? Ic,nnot suppose you
to be- willing that your cuildren should yntluue
TO suffer from the cause | have mentioned,
white it Is possible TO fad remedy, and that
remedy, ,rink can be found In the act Of
retroce>sion Congress granted the lot gu which
the Court IIyuse stan:iS for the joint use Of The
city and County. not ecIy'ng the e TO be
mutt of It The city has provided much
more Convenient Court House for itself, and
the county authorities Are authorz d by an
act Of Assembly, to use that Curt House upon
the payment Of suitable rent. There is but
ouc obstacle in the way Of their doing So the
want OF proper re;ori ro IN. Now, there is
but Que place IN the new market building where
such room eau be arranged for, aud that Is
tn" hall now occurlcd b. the Sun Fire Com
ia y. As au I'd frcuI!n, | we'll know how
ulucn is asked of thai coupsuy, in requesting
the giving up of hall, bu know the pub
lie spirit of lt> members, and remembering the
many acts of self Sacrliic, By which, 10 days
gone by, hey have made their corporate name
dear 10 the community, | cannot doubt that
they will be ready To aid in WORK so essential
to the public welfare There is room enough
below tor their apparatus and a hall age
enough for meeting,, aud adequate comp"nsa-
tiou would Of ,urse be made for the rein
uuishmeDt OF their rights.
TO the people OF the county, | appeal, with
confidence In III IT disp ,slon to act as literally
towards the city as The city is wiling to do TO-
wards them. They do not really want the old
bull ling; the city does. | cannot allow myself
to suppose that they will act the part of The
dog 10 the maneer. The repairs OF the OIL
Court House have alrc. dy cost them s'mcthIEg
they wi cost great deaf more hereafter; aud
their rccprds are br 90 means secure IN that
out OF tn" way place The city Court Ii u~c
would aft ,ri far better accommodations Tor
their Cour;s an.i officers, and they are not X
ed. iG removing to It. t. r.Hql II the SMALLEST
of ,hrir rights in the did oul ,llng. l. 4 toe
authorities rrnl u the CITY tll"lr snare IN thc
old Court House az The rare ask ii Tor their &c
cuparcy Of The new one, and, Whenever they
think It ,ieslrabl:: t. divide the prop Try. they
| vii. ind tie city school authorities ready 4"
meet them on the ru">t mlcablC terms lhus
H.. courtY would save he rxpcis' Of kecrlng
up the huitdiur and !hr cry would cure the
| best POSSIBLE location Tor IT male SCOUTS, Win
hnu>e which comparatively small suA wnulu
render exactly ii; for >ch'l rurp'S's.
RICHARD j. CAnNE
Supcrintcn,1cnt OF Public Schools.
ST.. JOHN ACADEMY. March II. 1874.
LIST OF LETTERS
Remaining in the Alexandria, Va, P">toiice