Evening star., 1897-02-08
ANTHONY BOWEN BUILDING
School Trustee Hasen Explains His Posi-
tion.
Why 1t Is Desired to Move the School
Petition Circulated Among
Citizens.

! School Trustee D. H. Hazen thinks that
| the speakers at the meeting Wednesday
| evening Of the South Washington Protective
Association who condemned him and 9TH
ers who want the Anthony Bowen School
| removed to a new location are in error or
the matter and do not understand the rea-
| sons for which the present movement was
| started.
| 1T seems to me-" continued DR.. Hazen,
| that the colored people stand very much
in their own light by wanting schools
which have been set apart for their use
| continued in white localities when the
them live elsewhere.
Before taking any active steps looking
| to the transfer of the Anthony Bowen
| school, as have proposed canvassed the
| matter with nearly every member of the
| school board, and each one who went over
| the ground said he fully agreed with me
| that the change ought to be made. It is
| true that Mr.. Cornish said to me in speak
| ing on the subject: Doctor, 1 do not see
why you should move in the matter, as the
| change. If made, would result in damage
| to your property. To this replied that 1
| was not actuated in the project by any mo-
tives of that sort and did not take into
| consideration whether the change would or
would not damage any property owned by
me.
Il am willing to allow the colored people
uii thS ii6htS tHty are oIptltiGQ TO ana more,
and amoEg the colored people who live in
| South Washington I have hosts of friends
l have lived in that section for twenty-five
years. and l think 1 know the wants of
cur citizens. both white and coored pretty
we'll - '
Seventy per cent of those who attend the
Anthony Bowen School come from that
part OF the city east of Az street and south
of l. street, and Of the entire number of
pupils not more than iCa live in the vicinity
OF the scnool- Day by day the value of
the school in its present location is grow
Ing less. and If it was transferred to the
section where most of its pupils reside its
value would be constantly enhanced
lEe prime mover of the opposition to
the proposed change lives on Capitol Hill,
as does also the chairman of the South
washington Protective Association and it
Is dlHicut Tor me to see why they should
1eel SO much interest in the matter
petition which Is being circulated
among the colored people interested, and
Whlch Is being numerously signed, shows
tne true feeling of the patrons of the
school in the matter"
Petition.
The petition which is addressed to the
District Commissioners is as follows:
Ihe undersigned residents and property
owners of South Washington, beg to re-
spectfully represent, as follows:
Ihat the act of Congress of June II.
lS9G public No. 2l2), making appropria-
lions to provide for the expenses of the
governme mt of the District of Columbia for
the fscal year ending June 3D. 1897, cor
tains page 12 an item of $4,000 for ad-
ditional ground and reconstructing Anthony
Bowen school building, said school build
ing being located on the corner of 9th and
T. streeIS southwest, and used for the pur-
poses of coloIed school
ihat the enlargement of said school
Duliding is 1nexDedicnt and :nadvisabie,
1t being located in a territory in which
there is comparatively a very small num-
Der OIL cciored people, whose needs in the
way OF school facilities are abundantly ac-
commodated by the present Bowen building
and the Ambush building, located on L
street near the corner of 7th street south
west, the two buildings being only seven
squares apart.
That by very far the larger proportion
OF the colored people of South Washington
reside in the section east of AZ street and
south of Virginia avenue, In which section
there is now but ore school building de-
voted to coiored people, viz: the Randall
pulldlng. on The corner of 1st and 1 streets
southwest, whose accommodations are far
short OF present requirements.
That there Is urgent need of an addi-
say somewhere below K street and east of
Az street, which section is densely and al
most exclusively populated by colored per-
sons, who are now subjected to much in
convenience in sending their children to
schools at remote distances from their
homes.
That We are strongly of the opinion that
the appropriation already made for the ex-
tension and repair Of the Anthony Bowen
school, above referred to. could be used to
much better advantage in the interests CT
the colored population of South Washing
ton. by diverting the same. upon proper
authority. to the purchase of site and
the erection of a new building in the sec
ton above indicated, viz: South of K street
and east of Az street southwest.
Wherefore, your petitioners respectfully
pray that your honorable body recommend
to Congress the insertion of a provision in
the pending appropriation bill for the ex-
penses of the District of Columbia for the
next fiscal year to the following effect, viz:
Provided That the sum of 10000 ap-
propriated by the Act making appropria-
tions to provide for the expenses of the
government of the District Of Columbia
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, and
for other purposes" approved June II, 1885,
for additional ground and reconstructing
Anthony Bowen school building, shall be
used. and is hereby made available, for the
erection Of one eight-room school building
and purchase of a site for the same. to be
located south of street and east of AZ
street southwest: and the further sum of
5000 is hereby appropriated for said pur-
poses -"