Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-06

sity for a considerable expenditure By the
District TO provide suitable improvements
for the large rumber or buildings that will
be erected in the immediate future many of
which will doubtless be in localities where
little or no improvement has been made.
WATER RENT
The commissioners, in abiding 10 the
Water Registrars report, endorse his recom-
meDdation for modified and Increased rate
OF water rents.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Commissioners venture 20 call the at
tention OF Congress to the fact OF the District
now owning valuable property in the city
of Washington, known as Corcoran square,
originally purchased for market PURPOSES
but which they are of the opinion could be
more advanta geously used for the public in
tereSts IN AID OF the public schools. The Dis
tTict purchased this property under the act
Of the Legislative Assembly, approved June
10. 1862, and for It's payment issued its bond
for the sum of 100000 at per cent. interest
per annum, ayable in 20 years, which is now
outstanding. Cash expenditures to the
amount OF Sd, sSl6i have been made on the
premises, making the total consideration and
outlay S13i,SSl ca.
The claims of the schools upon the favor
able consideration OF Congress are strength
ened by the facts stated in the Trustees re-
port. that about one-third of the school pop
ulatiOn is cOlOTed. who have come into the
District since the beginning OF our recent
civil war, and contribute little to the school
revenues; and that about thirty per cent. OF
the enrolment In the white schools is COM
posed of children whose parents or guardians
are in the Sc. vice of the United States, from
whom little is received for the support OF the
public schools.
The apport ionn8ent Of the school fund be-
tween the white and Colored schools. as pro-
Vided by law, is satisfactory To all classes Of
citizens of the District, and ought not 10 be
sturhed. In harmony with IL the COmCli,-
sjOI e~S recommend congress siOnai appro-
priatION Of S2I .2i6 for the cOlnrCI SCHOOLS,
being The rrCpOTtiOnate amount due them on
account OF the appropriation Of so ,S65 made
b. the last Congress for the erection uc the
new school building in Georgetowu-the ap-
preparation TO be made on the like terms
with those for the Georgetown school. and 10
be expended in the erection Of school build
Ing for colored school children in George
town.
The Commissioners recommend that al
tb0Tlty beglYen the District government to
sell the property at public auction at pr ice
not less than the total of said one hundred
thousand dollar bond, with the interest
heretofore paid thereon, and the cash eX-
penditure OF S3i 1891 "a, and apply the process is
as follows: One hundred thousand doll ars
thereof To the immediate mption, il
practicable, of said one hundred thousand
dollar bond, and, if not practicable, to be in
vested in securities of the District at not
above their par value, as fund for the pay
ment of said bond on its maturity; the res
due TO be applied in the purchase OF proper
sites and the erection thereon of suitable
buildings for school purposes; the avails to
be divided between the white and coiored
schools according TO the appOrtiOnment pre-
scTibed by law.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION
legislation be had as will give the District
government, under proper restrictions and
conditions, power to make such purchases;
and In this connection recommend that like
authority be given the District government
TO purchase such real estate as may be
needed for the erection thereon of station
houses for the Metropolitan police, for Po-
lice Court, and for the use of the Fire De-
partment, with power TO sell the Central
guard house and lot, on Louisiana avenue.
and the police station house, corner of K
and 9Th streets, and expend the proceeds in
the purchase of other real estate and the
erection of other police buildings; and to
sell other real estate used and held for
Sc and tTe department purposes which
real estate owned by the District not needed
Tor government purposes. The total expense
for the support of the public schools for the
school year ending August 81, 1875, was
$50. 2iG.6S, and including the payments of
debts due on account of expenses of previous
years, S530,I374i. The estimated expense for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1871, is
S3SG. 800.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The report ofthe Fire Commissioners, with
its accompanying reports of the Chief EngI-
EeeT and the Superintendent OF the Fire
Alarm Telegraph, presents a satisfactory
statement OF the transactions Of the fire de-
partment Tor The past year, and of its pres
ent condition.
We are gratified to know of the satisfac-
ton OF the department with the new fire.
alarm telegraph, which went into operation
last september. 1t will be remembered that
both houses CfCODgresS, at its last session,
passed a bill recognizing the Importance of
anew fire alarm telegraph, and appropriat-
ing the sum of So 800 IN aid OF its construc-
ton, on condition of the District government
expanding like sum therefor. The bill
failed TO become a law in not having been
enrolled through clerical inadveTteace
The necessity for the immediate const-uc-
ton OF the telegraph was such that
we did not feel at liberty TO delay it until
the meeting Of the next Congress. The whole
np1n "a
trict treasury, which we hope may be reim-
bursed by Congress in the one b llf- S37 800 -
Ehich 1t would have contributed had the
Dill IL passed become law; and we respect
fulIy ask an appropriation Of that amount
We invite the attention of Congress TO the
Recommendation of the fire commissioners
for the organization of two additional en-
glne companies, with the necessary appa-
ratus, and for an additional hook and Ladder
company. If Congress be not prepared TO
make an appropriation of its portion of the
full amount asked for, we venture TO recon-
mend that sufficient sum be Appropriated
which, with the aid OF the District, will en-
able the department to purchase two engines
ana organize ore engine and one hook and
ladder company.
wAsHINGToN ASYLUM.
The commissioners hope that on the COM
pletlon of the new government jail the Dis
lrlct prisoners then in the asylum may be
removed there, and thereafter all such GRIM
mas VIII be 1ncarcerated In that prison.
The asylum needs some additional improve
ments for the proper and humane accommo-
dalton of the pauper inmates, which the Dis
trict government will cheerfully make. The
Commissioners invite the attention of Com
gress to the suggestions of the commissioner
for the reorganization of the
PUBLIC CHARITIES OF THE DISTRICT,
10 the end of having them put under the
control of commission, TO which shall be
intrusted the disbursement of all moneys,
whether appropriated by Congress or con-
rlbuted by the District, for the support OF
such charities, and who shall account for the
same to the District authorities under such
regulations as shall be prescribed by law.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Under the Intelligent admins tration of the
Board OF Health the sanitary condition of
the District is excellent, and compares cred
ltably with that of the most favored cities OF
the country.
IN CLOSING THEIR REPORT
the commissioners make the acknowledg-
ments 10 the officers OF the District govern
ment for the intelligence and fidelity with
when they have discharged their respective
duties. and express the hope that Cons ress,
as The legislature of the District of Column
Dla, may enact such laws and make such APP
preparations in its aid as will permanently
advance Its material aud moral interests.
Public Works I'm the District
ANNUAL REPORT OF ENGINEER HoXIE.