National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1883-04-05
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COLUMBIAN COLLEGE,
OF the New Building for the
Preparatory school-Sketch OF the InstI-

Completion OF the New Building for the
Preparatory schooI-Sketch OF the InstI-
tuition.
The new building erected by tho board of
trustees of the Columbian university on III
near Fourteenth street northwest for the
preparatory school was thrown open for in
spection yesterday, and from 3 to 3 o'clock in
the afternoon tho various rooms were thronged
with visitors who were loud in their praise of
the admirable arrangements of the school and
recitation rooms. The plans for the building
were made by Mr. w. NJ. Poindexter, under
whose Immediate supervision it has been
erected.
The dimensions are so feet front, SO feet
deep, and three stories and basement in height
The front is faced with pressed and nodded
bricks and North river blue stone; the OPEN
ings being of large dimension and so disposed
as to impress the beholder with the character
of the building. The approach is by mas
sive stoop of brick and stone, with separate
entrances front and rear to the basement story.
The main entrance is by two sets of large
double doors into II hall IL feet in width, COM
municating directly with the staircase hall
16 by 25 feet from which you enter the three
large class rooms and office. This story is IA
feet in height. A broad and massive stair
case leads to the second story 10 feet in height,
which contains the general school room 80 by
so feet, cloak room IL by II feet, and teachers
study. The school room is lighted from two
sides by large windows and is clear of all OBJ
structions such as columns, tho floor above
being carried by two compound iron beams
81 feet in length, dividing the ceiling into
three large panels, deep plaster cornices skirt
ing the walls and beams. Continuing up the
stairs at Il half landing there is another teach
er's study, and on the third floor two large
class rooms, u society hall and library. Above
the third floor is u lofty attic, which serves
only for storage and tho ventilating ducts.
The roof is high pitched and covered with
slate. In the basement ample accommoda-
tiOns are afforded for the heating apparatus
and fuel and the janitors living room. The
balance, consisting of two large rooms will be
play rooms for the pupils. The water closets
are in an annex 10 the basement. All of the
partitions except those over the general
school room are heavy brick walls. The in
terror finHkof the building is neat and at
tractvel I'm appearance very superior
in workmanship and wearing qualities.
The stairs arc of ash and yellow
pine except those to basement, which are of
stone. All other wood finish is of clear heart
yellow pine, finished in oil and shellac. All
rooms and halls arc wainscoted five feet in
height. Special attention has been given by
the architect TO the heating and ventilation
of the building, and from the tests given the
working of the apparatus perfect success APP
pears To have been attained. The system of
heating employed is that of indirect radia-
ton by low pressure steam, combined with
the direct system for the halls The ventila-
ton has been effected by four yentilatiug
stacks, the draught in which is accelerated
by lines Of steam pipes in their entire height
In the attic they are connected by ducts, and
have common outlet above the roof
DIR. James &. yelling, president Of the fac
ulty, and DR.. Mason, who has immediate
charge of the preparatory school, were both
present during the time the building was
open and manifested Just pride in the com
pletion OF the elegant structure, Besides these
Messrs. II. &. Fox, William #. hlattingly and
others of the board of trustees, We're also pres
emit Gen. Birney, of the public school board
was an interested examiner of the arrange
ments Of the building, while Mr.. Poindexter
the architect, was ready to answer all techni-
cal questions as to construction.
Columbian college was first started during
the administration of President Monroe, who
was so deeply interested in its welfare that
he mentioned it in message TO congress
John Quincy Adams also took warm inter-
est in the institution, and loaned il $4,000
during a time of need. When the date of
payment arrived Mr.. Adams generously CON
tributed quito a sum. Although the college
was started as divinity school il has mover
adhered to that, but has been an academic in
stitution with medical and law branches Its
location on Meridian hill has been bar to its
rapid progress. Its preparatory department
is now located in the city and It's college
building which is to be erected on the corner
of Fifteenth and II streets, opposite 81. Mat
thew's church, will probably be completed
in 1885, and then oven greater prosperity than
has ever attended IL may be expected
Tho ambition of DIR. yelling seems to- be
the addition of a scientific school, and no has
already secured assurances from some Of tho