Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-14
ALEXANDRIA.
MoRraAeEs ON THE PUBLIC scHoo,

MORTGAGES ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The question Of the proper movement to-
ward the creation Of a sinking fund to relieve
the debts which now hold in mortgage all the
public school houses Of white children in this
city is not yetse The school board agreed
some weeks ago to ask u small appropriation BY
the city council this year with an agreement to
double the amount each year until the debt
should be paid Another proposal. which
eventuated in an ordinance now on the table
Of the city council, Is to give all the fines and
forfeitures in excess Of 1000 imposed by the
corporation laws to such a sinking fund 1t has
been objected that there is something unbecom-
ing. II not mean, in using for schools q fund
derived from fines It's a matter of fact all
the fines and forfeitures now levied in this
city by any officer other than the
mayor 60 to the support Of the schools, for
since February. 1870, ''all escheats, confiscs-
ions, fines, penalties and forfeitures" have been
by law appropriated to fund called the liter
airy fund, and the code prescribes that the
annual income arising therefrom shall be and
Is hereby dedicated exclusively to the support
and maintenance of the public schools Of this
state and in view OF the fact that this is Thomas
Jefferson's plan, objections arising from an
idea that it is INDIGENOUS to use fines
for the support Of the schools seems
idle. Mayor Strauss has pursued the spirit Of
this law by paving into the city school fund the
money derived from the sales of oonfiscated
pistols sold by the police. In view OF the fact
that when fine or forfeiture is imposed under
the state law it goes to the support OF the
schools, it seems to be a proper method of
making a similar disposition OF portion at
least OF the fines imposed under the ordinances
of the city.
THE VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION.
The university examination of the fourteen
pupils OF public and private high schools is
still in progress at the Washington school build
ing. This is the first year since the examina-
lions we're begun here that Washington bows
have not been numbered among those who take
the examination. This year. however none of
the pupils under examination are Washing
tonians. all the lists being Virginians nine
from the public schools and five from St. Johns
Academy. The examination yesterday was upon
English literature. geography and history; but
today 1t will include mathematics, geology and
chemistry.
THE W. AND A. RAILROAD DEPOT.
Messrs. NJ. B. Harlow, S. G. Brent, J. NJ.
Barrett. A. A. Warfeld and c. Du Putron and
A. D. Brockett, a citizens committee, had an
interview yesterday at the Washington and
Alexandria depot with Superintendent Brooks
of the W. s. railway on the subject Of q de-
crease of local fare. better depot at Alexan-
dria DC. The committee represented the facts
to the superintendent and he informed them
that the managers have had for some time
under consideration plans for u new depot
building at Alexandria, and that il they would
embooy in letter their wishes as to the rates
OF fare. he would send the letter to the authori-
ties Of the road.
THE ASSESSMENT OF 1893.
Maj. Geo. Duffey, commissioner Of revenue,
completed this morning the assessment of The
city. The total valuation Of real estate Is $3,-
S16,573 and Of personal estate s9ss 1874, this
being An increase OF Sl02 900 on real estate and
sl2, l4S increase on personal property since
last year.
pleasant entertainment is announced at St
Pauls lecture room tonight. Miss Matte Bart
lett Of Washington will be among those whose
musical renditions will add to the enjoyment of
the occasion.
George Poulton's dwelling near the Theologi-
cal Seminary in Fairfax county, was destroyed
by fire yesterday.
I. II. Plckford. Alice Trigant and W. H.
Acker OF Washington have purchased building
lots here on Columbus street near PendIeton.
The wedding Of Mr.. Horace Coakley of WASH
ington and Miss Lillian Cats OF West Alexan-
dria is announced to take place next Wednes-
day at the Baptist church here.
Anthropologicai Society Lecture Course.
The interesting course Of lectures at the Ma
tionai Museum under the auspices OF the An
thropological Society has been very successful
and well attended The next lecture, on Saturday
ut 4:so PM, will be given by Maj. John W.
Powell; subject, 1.-THE Elements Of Psychol-
ogy." The next regular meeting Of the society
will be held Oh Tuesday at Cosmos Hail, and the
program will be: "Siouan Phonetic Types" by
DIR. J. Owen Dorsey; 1.-The Indian Messiah and
the Ghost Dance, :" by Mr.. James Mooney, with
illustrated views, and Estimates of Wealth."
by Mr.. Henry Garnett.
HANDSOME RESIDENCE on Acker street nor tn
east at auction tomorrow at 5p.m