National Republican., 1881-11-26
THE COMMISSIONERS.
musd6om First Poo,l


bonied debt Of The District. while i would pToba.
bly result in considerable reduction OF thc lHrgc
annual APPROXIMATION no" iSll,,vn ~, ''v v,lc to
meet the requirements Of debt winch, nvmDers
aud resources considered, is unInIalliSl in my nuy
o'her civilized community, aud for which tht inN'
piying citizens Of the District nre not rC;p0uslmc,
now Hbsorbs more than otc.lhird Of me Snur1
revenue the District, including the Federal con-
triburidn Ot 50 per cent; aud II leaves the Commits
sioncfs without adequate means Tor thc proper
suppnrt Of cducation for tic Improvement aud
extension Of streets aud avenues and for other liz
dispcnsabe works with which tue arc chhfgeu'
Congress alone can supply the deficiency
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Under authority Of the fouth section orthc act OF
81 March, 1851 making appropriations for the /
government of this Dis rct, tue parcels Of lahd |
therein described nave been sold by the chief of
Engineers, United States army, ana the proceeds
of the sale amounting to the SUN Of T,dj2, have
been deposited In the Treasury for the erection Ot
a high school building in Washington. Under au'
hofity OF the net OF I'd March, lsI9 granting tn the
no. 100 known Hs lomcads Cemetery, aud of
appropriations made in pursuance Of SAD net tue
bodies Inferred ~ that cemetery nave peen re- rei
syauRble pro- erty snow available ior the uses
tOwn,ch IL has becn dedicated, Whenever the Com.
misSOncfS shall he authorized to dispose OF the
same. The four new sCnOol. houses mentioned III
our last annual report as In course OF erection
have been completed Except two rooms in one of
The county buildingsl az nn hggrsgate cost not M
Guiding sites and furniture OF se9,b523l The two
located IN the second school district contain twelve
rooms each, with an aggregate CaphciR
for the accommodation OF about l,5OO
pupils. aud are models OF convenience. comfort,
aud the most approved school architecture. ono
Of them Is for cOlUred pupils Tue two IN the county
arc plain but convenient aud substantial brick
buildings, and will accommodate about iOO pupils
The Ave additional houses including the
high school provided for in the tho anpropria.
progressing satlsfhctoi lily. ahd will no doubt
all be ready for use nt the beginning of the next
school year. thus addiug sincc 1878, eleven iiist-
class buildings, including spacious aud commo.
diouS cdiicc LOT boys high school. TO the accom-.
modatonN Of the public school OF the District Of
nui tnn In yf.
dence Of progress in the work Of public eduCati N
at the Capital isa subject for congratunton, 1t Is
to be reg cited that thus far II seems TO have been
regarded by Congress rs q matter of merely local
concern ald not rs snhec as y really is OF ne
lions have been aviShed by the Federal Lcgisla-
ture to foster education in the states aud Terri
tories the bunlen Of this high duty and response
bty nt the National Capital has been thrown
upon the scnty and wholly inadequate resources
OF the people of this District Is il unreasonable
10 ask and expect that the Capital Of the Union
shnll receive from CnngrcsS equal consideration
with the States and Territories OF the Union. and
tnat its common schools, under Federal care and
nurture, shall be made convenient steps to the
YestiDue and halls oi great National University
This was thu wise and patriotic counsel of Wash
ingtun and is value and obligation have already
been acknowledged by the establishment of n Ma
iional Bu'eau OF Education. The wisdom. cul.
ture, and worth Of the Union may reasonably be
supposed 10 be more fully represented at Its capi
ial gum elsewhetei and The people Of The Union,
highest types Ol their Institutions ana the most
perfect methods of national DEVELOPMENT aud
resources the District OF Columbia can ever meet
this popular demand; nor ought II be expected.
For detailed information In regard TO the public
schools reference Is uinde To the appended report
OF the Board vi School Trustees.
WASHINGTON ASYLUM
The south wing Of the work house, which is a
part of the asylum, has been completed, making
the total cost Of the building S)7, ,OG3jl. In II few
dHysthe female convicIs, now confined in the aims.
house, viii be removed u this wing and the evil,
heretofore the subject of just complaint OF keeping
Offenders agMinst the law IN contact win the hon.
est poor Will be ubatcd. Many other important
improvements, as reported by the commissioner
and inIcndtnt Of the asylum, have been accom-.
plishGd during the past year and II Is believed
condition OF equal efficiency and usefulness at
pr.Sght, Much more, however, remains to be done.
involving Increased expenditure, to meet the i'll
creased demands Tor Accommodation and for
needed and INDISPENSABLE reforms aud improve
menls. We invite careful attention TO tho ntclli.
gent ana practical suggestions of the intcndunt On
t9s subject; he again recommends the purchase
Of u ihTn Tor the use of the asylum, aud for the
more profitable utilization OF Its uskillcd laborers,
IN which the Commissioners heartily concur
INDUSTRIAL HOME SCHOOL.
The new building, for the erection of which
provision was ina,ie In the District appro-
priuliOn bill for the current fiscal year, Is
heary completed, and will be ready for occt.
pancy before the lst III January. During the past
year, also, other minor Improvements, including
conservatory, have been added. The new build.
ing viii provide accommodation for about thirty
additional Inmates and is intended us an
experiment OF the cottage, or family, plan Of ud-
The economical management of this home for
destitute nnd neglected. children aud youth OF
both sexes has enabled It's public.spirited and
hrlf-Savrhcing managers, at very small cost 10
dispense lasting and widespread benefits To the
helpless and unfortunate, as we'll as TO the public
VINO Indirectly share the beiciccnt results OF their
laOors.
CHARITIES
We again recommend tho establishment of n
board ul charities, to whose SUPERVISION lie man
agement vi all charitable, IefUrnatuTy, and penal
Institutions, supported IN whole or In puTt by the
District OF Columbia, as well MS all expenditures Of
,f a he mn l,, IN
ted. The reasons for this recommendation are
gwen at large IN our last annual report, to which
attention is invited such boards exist in many
OF thc states ana cities and have, MS We are iu-
formed, been attended by favorable results.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
The Inspector OF Buildings reports that permits
have been issued during tue year TOR building i'm.
pIONements Oi INC estimated value OF 1885,, 80
which embraces the sum of 81 s574OO for new
brick buildings whose character and value
structures cIcr,d during any preceding yesr'
The revenue 70 the District from fees for these per-
pOH statement of the damages 10 property in the
@ty by the storm of June 2L 1881, which amounted
IN The ngglegate 10 s36'9iJ, and accompanies the
Of the storm are indicated. lie also gives much
interesting d9ld in connection with tho erection
needs OF other public structures. :
COLLECTOR or TAXES.
The Collector of Taxes reports the collections
during the year, and submits II detailed stateIeii
Of his accounts. lie again refers TO the Necessity
for additional eriCul force in his office 10 Secry
satisfactory discharge Of the duties deyolying
upon 1t.
ASSESSOR
The Assessor reports the transactions OF his oiic,
during the year. including statements of receipt.
from taxes, &c., aud the value of taxable real unG
personal property IN the District. In connection
with the subject OF personal tax he states that thC
returns from Intangible property are rapidly di
ininishing in con equence oil investments beinl
made In exempt securities, aud asks attention Il
recommendations on the subject contained In hi
nus ,
employment Of additional facilities for increasing
the revenue from licenses.
ATTORNEY
The Attorney makes an extended report of tn,
business Ot his ONCE for the year, and transmits
list Of Judgments against the District for whicl
NprOvision should be made
SALE OF PROPERTY.
Under sections 3 and OF the act of Congress
making appropriations for the expenses OF tn,
government OF tile District of Columbia Tor the fla
cal year ending June 80, 1852. the Commissioner
were authorized TO sell 10 the highest bidder n
public auction certain properly belonging W tn
United states and District OF Columbia, situated IL
tile cities Of Washington aud Georgetown, All,
apply the proceeds Of such sale to the purchase o
lot IN Georgetown ana the erection fan engine
house thereon, and the erection of two polio
station houses III tie city OF Washington. Tn
property named IN sections referred 10 was Otiere,
FOR sale hs directed, except the fish whalf ii
GeOrgeiown. The Commissioners thought IL bUs
70 hold this property, with the hope of command
ing better prlte. iAr valuation limit wa
placed on all the properly authorized to DO sold
Only two pieces OI that offered reached a fli
market price, viz: lot IN square 362 and ccrtAiI
parcel OF land in the square south Of square lSl
ceived for tho pr perry IN square lol has beeI
placed to the credit Of the District vi Columbia ~
the purposes named in the act The purchaser 0
the property la square SS2 hns not yet com led Wil
mn