The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-10-29
PIONEER SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
MIR. CIuss' Interesting Statement
About Some of the Oider EdIGces.

Mr.. Adolph Clues, tho well-known architect
was interrogated by a CRITIC reporter to-day
for come information regarding the erection OF
the older public school buildings.
Perhaps no one In the city is better quallAed
10 speak on this subject, and no ones opinions
would be received with moro Difference and
Interest.
At this time they are of particular import
ance In view OF the many conflicting state
"rhe public school buildings erected by mo
from tho year 1862 to 1872 were controlled
by mixed committees, majority OF which
consisted OF tho Mayor, Aldermen and Coun-
cilmen OF the late city corporation and q
minority OF school trustees. The money was
disbursed by the Mayor, on the recommenda-
representing the different branches. Under
this system tho wlllach, Franklin, seaton,
Cranch and Jefferson buildings were erected,
all transactions were above board, aud not
| withstanding tho violent opposition and
| watchful Jealousy OF old-fogyism ID the ex
pendi@tnre @ OF money on modern school build
as TO honest and 1udiclous expenditures.
"The fret OF the sorles, the Wailach, q so.
called twelye-room building ten schoolrooms
and hall equal TO two echoolrooms) erected
in the middle OF the civil war and paid for In
much deprecated & currency, IRENE, cost including
adopted by the city authorities In tho face OF
Mr.. j. o. Wilson's opposition, who consclen-
tiously was predlsposed in favor of Boston
plan.
"The Franklin" he continued, "was awarded
to me after an open competition for plans II
was stopped several times for want OF funds,
and paid for In currency, as above. The other
buildings were erected under similar condi-
tions, and Justify the statement that these
pioneer buildings, the erection OF which paved
the way for succeeding structures, cost, on a
metallic standard, mostly less than the latter.
a model OF the Franklin and plans OF all
tho above buildings brought, not to myself,
but to tho City OF Washington, medal OF
progress in school architecture from tho In.
ternational Exhibition at Vienna in 1873, aud
diploma from the International Centennial
| Exposition OF 1876.
ga plan In which newly sprung.up ideas
had laid dormant for some time was accom-
| panied by model and sent to the great
Paris Exhibition OF 1877. 1t resulted In new
| honors, not TO the authors Of the plan, but to
the District OF Columbia, the authorities oi
| which In return, without the consent OF the
authors, donated them to the City OF Paris, the
educational museum OF which they now
adorn. The original OF the plan, In a diluted
| shape, has since been erected In this city un
| der the name OF the Henry School building
without any remuneration whatever having
been offered TO the authore, and this ia wha
disappointed patriots denounce as ring
work.
''At a somewhat later date erected also the
sumner building, under special instructions
OF the Board OF Trustees OF Colored Schools
and tho Curtis building, under authority OF
the District government. Both are entirely
outside OF the issue now paraded In the daily
papers.
due to the umblemishod memory OF publ,
men like the late Mayor Wallach, Aldermen
Turton, Connolly, Utermuehle, Thomas Lloyd
Governor W. d. Cook and others, whose hon
ored graves arc molested by resurrectionist
schemes for the solo purpose OF throwing
| nines at that live man, G.. o.. Wilson, whom
have learned ina long official intercourse &
| appreciate as an enthusiastic educator OF high
honor"