Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06

thousand bathers, but that the limited
means for the operation of the beach did
not admit of the employment of a large
enough force of attendants to adequately
manage and protect It,
ne peach and its appurtenances are in
need of repairs and improvements The
present beach should be sloped farther out
INTO the basin and rcsaIded the capacity
or the floating baths increased and the
bath houses and other accommodations re-
modelled and enlarged.
During the sun mer steps were taken to
ward adapting the inner basin of the Po
tcmac flats for . bathing pool as contem-
plated by the proviso in the District an
preparation law approved June n 1SaG
.ahlh% an appropriation for that purpose
but after a few weeks progress on the
work had been made it became apparent
that the completion Of the improvement
Wouid involve vastly greater outlay than
the commissioners had been led to sup
pose or the projectors of the plan had an
tclpated Other complications arose and
lee TO suspension of the work. the re-
sumption Of which the Commissioners are
now constrained to believe would be mad
Fisable ct least until it shall have been
more Sat;s ''orily demonstrated that the
facilities the proposed bathing beach would
AFFORD would be preferable to those which
the Old beach would provide with a much
smaller expenditure, as hereinbefore pro-
posed.
The experience of the Commissioners
with the bathing beach leads them to be-
neve that it answers a great public need
1t afords excellent facilities for physical
training and exercise. and an opportunity
Tor all 10 acquire without cost a useful ac-
compHshment. which often enables the
beneficiaries to protect their own lives and
10 render similar service to others
Superintendent of Charities,
S.j, ,Je
nual report Of the superintendent of char
lties. Since making their last annual re-
port the incumbency of the office has been
changed by the deceass on the 18th dav of
May of Col. John Tracy, and the appojnt
ment of Mr.. Herbert w. Lewis Col. Tracy
was well fitted for the work by his general
accomplishments and his large previous
experience in charitable and reformator,,
matters and was a capable organizer ami
administrator.
District Civil Service.
ut should be the aim and desire of those
charged with the control of the affairs Of
the District of Columbia to conduct its
business for the best interests of the Unit
ed States and of the taxpayers. Looking
TO that end, all employees of the District
government should be selected and retain
ca WHOLLY upon basis of merit and effi-
cheney. Partisan control of the affairs of
President of the United States since the
establis hment of the present form of gov
eminent in 1878 by the appointment upon
the board of District Commissioners of q
parties.
With all of the departments of the gen.
eral government under the protection of
the civil service law, ever! change in the
administration of the general government
brings to the officials in charge of the Dis
trict government demands for appoint
ments impossible of recognition, but which
are dangerous to the interests of the Dis
trict, and which seriously interrupt and
sometimes practically prevent the conduct
of its rapidly increasing business interests.
The Commissioners strongly recommend
That the District government be included
within the protection of the civil service
law.
The Public Schools.
The total number of pupils enrolled dur
ing the past fiscal year was 1885, of whom
27,197 were white and 1898 colored. Our
people nave just pride in the high stand
ara of efficiency which has been maintain
ed in every department of their system of
public instruction.
THE special feature which has received
their communication has been that of man
ual training. For more than a decade
hand work has been one of the Coordinate
activities of the public schools of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. Hand and eye have
been trained in the processes by which
knowledge is Secured and applied, whereby
all the children OF The public schools get
manua! training II their daily work The
efec. OF this IS seen II the Uppsr grades
where children receive technical tra.nlng
In cutting and ht:iDg, cooking and me-
chanical work in the shops. Thus has
generation OF trained children grown up
The conditions now demand for the appro-
PIRATE continuance of this work manual
"a o.
dreds of boys and girls in the community
who have had the necessary preliminary
training which fits them to learn the high
er applications of handcraft, that to them
Will be valuable from the educational point
Of view, and that will especially fit them
for life work. This kind Of training is de-
manded for our advancing civilization and
the Commissioners believe that the public
schools should give 1t. The school trus-
tees have estimated for such schools The
Commissioners believe these estimates
should be granted.
Street Cleaning.
"a fve-year contract for sprinkling,
sweeping and cleaning Of the streets and
avenues OF the District expired on the 3Oth
day of June, 1897. Under that contract all
cleaning Of improved streets and avenues
was done by machinery, except Pennsyl-
vania avenue and some intersecting streets.
which were cleaned by hand. A new con-
tract for term of two years was entered
into, beginning July 1, 1897, under which a
large portion of the principal business
streets and some Of the residential streets
are cleaned by hand.
1.-The results of this hand-cleaning system
have been SO satisfactory and have been SO
highly commended by the citizens of the
District that the Commissioners are con-
WINGED that as funds may be made available
therefor the entire area Of the improved
streets and avenues should be cleaned with.
out the use Of the street-sweeping ma
chimes.
1.-THE hand system does better work. keeps
the public areas more clean and presentahae
during the hours Of daylight, causes less
annoyance from dust and gives employment
to many more Of our worthy laborers than
the other system.
Under the existing contract the price
per 1000 square yards cleaned by machine
Is 2Dx cents: by hard. 30 cents. It was
limited to a term Of two years for the rea-.
son that the Commissioners believed that It
might be advisable at an early date to