Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-10

The committee on public library report
gratifying progress. having secured the
intia tory Legislation to establish and main
tain a free public library in the city of
Washington.
In accordance with this, the Comm ssion-
ers have appointed board of nine trus-
tees, and included in their es innate for the
District appropriation bill the modest ap
preparation of $500 for the maintenance
of a public library as an adjunct of the
public schools.
We urge all members Of the board of
trade to give this project their hearty sup
port by gift Of money or contributions of
books, so that Congress may be encouraged
to do great things for in the future.
They wish the continued support of the
board OF trade in securing additions to the
three classes of subscriptions. and sustain
ing tine Comm. ssioners and the library trus-
tees in their efforts to secure liberal appro-
priations of money and books. BY united
Washington may at last have public Ii
br2ry worthy of the national capital
Public Schools.
The committee on public schools make
most interesting report, and. after personal
examination, commend highly the general
good character of the school buildings and
their appointments, speak in praise of the
evident interest in their work by the teach
ers. and make special mention of the pro-
SieSS Hldue Dy DOtn boys ana girls IN INDUS
trial education, with the 4 few hours each
week devoted to it, and with the limited
facilities at command and close by sug-
gesung that money could not be spent to
better advantage than by erecting build
ing specially devoted to the higher grades
of industrial education.
rms committee suggested the celebration
OF Washington's birthday in the public
schools The plan heartily Endorsed
by the superintendent. and a plan
formulated and carried into effect, which
embraced exercises of a patriotic charac-
ter in the principal public school buildings
singing of patriotic songs and an address
in each school by some distinguished citi-
zen. either of the city of Washington or
from Congress. The exercises were great
ly appreciated by the scholars of the pub
lie schools, were favorably commented on
by the press and we have been urged 10
continue the celebration on each succeed
ing anniversary of the birthday of our il
lustrious first President and foremost citi-
zen.
Committee on Railroads.
The committee on railroads report that.
after several interviews with the railroad
engineers and the Commissioners, they
found that the whole matter seemed to
hinge on the depth of the cut between 9th
street and the tunnel. the railroad COM
pany declining TO go below ten feet below
datum at Delaware avenue, which would
bring the roadbed just on top of the present
arch or the sewer near South Capitol
street The Engineer Commissioner after
Careful consideration of the subject, was
unable to agree tc this line of grade, and
holGs that if the railroad company deems
1t 1mpracticable 10 deIress their tracks
TO the depth of four feet above the des-
lgnated datum, no other solution of the
problem remains than for the company
10 adopt the system of track elevation
within the city limits.
In regard to the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. they report that the text of their
conference and discussion has been the
Senate BILL which provides for two via
ducts for bringing their tracks into the
city. The committee. the District Commits
sioners and the Northeast Association all
Unite in opposing this, and believe one
track viaduct Is amply sufficient and
here the matter rests at present.
We regret the disagreement between the
pennsylvania railroad and the District of
Columbia Commissioners and board of
trade committee on the question to ele-
walton or depression of the tracks in South
Washington If the Commissioners are
correct in their claim that it would be IA
tai to the future welfare of the city to
consent TO a settlement of the question by
a partial depression, as i. would seem
they are: and if on the other hand
serious injustice would seem to be
done the railroad company by compell-
ing them to go TO an unreasonable ex-
pense to elevate the tracks. 1t would seem
to be just that part of the expense
should be borne By the District, In view of
course has been followed in Philadelphia
and Buffalo. and would undoubtedly prove
OF great value to Washington.
Public Buildings.
The time has now arrived, in the judg-
ment of the committee. when the board of
trade should cooperate with the people Of
the District in general, to secure an appro-
priation for the erection of a building on
Judiciary Square for the accommodation Of
81 . eric a,,I 81
nicipai offices. II Is Thought that in the
near future an appropriation can be OBJ
tanned with which to begin the erection of
the new building.
Attention is called to the fac. that both
the courts and the municipal offices are
now badly located. A comparison made
with ten other great cities of the country
shows that in such cities the federal courts
are in buildings costing from more than
one million to about nine million dollars
each. In other leading cities the cost of
buildings for municipal purposes alone
ranges from nearly one ana a half million
to fourteen million dollars each.
The committee is unanimous in the opir-
ion that the site now occupied by the City
Hall, or Judiciary Square, should be Sc
fected fer the proposed building, or in
reality for two separate adjoining build
ings, to constitute, enthusiastically. one
building. one part for the courts and the
other for the municipality, the total cost
thereof not to exceed two ana n half mil
lieyed by the committee 70 be the choice Of
the people of the District.
1t Is believed that this estimate of the
cost of the new building cannot ne regarded
as excessive i'm view Of the great import
ance to the national capital that the home
of its municipal government should be in
all respects suitable for the purpose The
recommendation is submitted that the
board of trade heartily approve the esti-
mate made by the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia for The fiscal year
ending June ~. 1S.,S, of Slp,nU for the pur-
pose of beginning the erection of q new
municipal building and cour. house, and CO.
operate with them to the end that said
amount may be Appropriated BY Congress
River and HarbOr improvements.
The committee makes special reference
to trip taken by its members and their
guests. early in March last, up the Ana
cstia river, the members of the commit
tees on rivers and harbors of the House
and of the commerce of the Senate, the
United States engineers and the District
Commissioners. a result of which the
remberS of both of the congressional COM
mittees well as the engineers agreed that
on account of both the public health and
commerce the improvement of that river is
q matter of immediate necessity. The fact
is regretted that the chief of engineers
failed to recommend an appropriation for
this purpose.
Tho apnroy,r ion made nv