Evening star., 1898-12-05
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

progress.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
| The schools of the city continue to sus-
| tain their high reputation for excellence of
| work performed and discipline maintained
| among the scholars.
| During the year new eight-room school
| buildings were erected on Marshall street
| between 9Th street and sherman avenue
| at the corner of oath and f streets north
| west, upon 9th street between b and G
| streets northeast and in lexington. 4
school building was also erected on Connec-
| ucut avenue extended near the District
| line, and the large building for the West
ern High School was completed.
| The Commissioners are of the opinion that
! larger tracts of ground should be secured
| in the future than have been in the past
| for school sites, so as TO provide sufficient
| Fairgrounds for the pupils, and thus ;lvold
| the congregating Of children in the strears
| to the annoyance of the public and danger
| of accident to themselves. At present many
| of the school buildings have no more ground
around them than that occupied by their
| entrances This condition of affairs 1t is
| believed, could be greatly improved greatly
| to the advantage of the general public and
decidedly to the advantage of the scholars.
| The buildings should also be made ,ireDroof
| and supplied with the latest and most i'm
proved methods of heating and ventilation
| conditions which it has been impossible 10
| meet with lnS aDprODrlatlO0S herpIDfDre
| made. A slight increase in the appropiia-
| tions would accomplish these desirable le-
| suits.
The plumbing in many of the schools was
| found to be very defective, and in some
cases unsanitary. The work of installing
| modern fixtures in the buildings. of the
most approved types, under the approDIia-
| ton for that purpose recently made ty
| Congress is progressing satisfactorily, and
a great Improvement is apparent in those
| buildings where the work has been COM
| pleted. Owing to the late date at which
| the appropriation was made, and the fact
| that it will expire at the end Of the fsc Al
| year, il has been necessary to do this work
| in many cases while the schools we're IN
| session. If the appropriation could have
| been made Immediately available 50 that
| contracts could have been promptly entered
| into, or if it had been made continuous 50
! as to be available beyond the close OF the
| fiscal year. it would have been possible to
| do the work during vacation months wnen
| the buildings are unOccupied-an advantage
| upon which it is needless to enlarge.
Public Vehicles.
| The Pennsylvania Railroad Company has
| inaugurated a local cab system in connec-
| ton with its passenger service, greatly to
| the benefit of the travelling public. The
| vehicles used are of the latest and most
approved type, provided with rubber tires.
| and in every way a credit TO the company.
| 1t is hoped that similar innovation will be
|
| the movement Will result in the general
| Improvement of the cab and hack service of
| the city, At present many public vehicles
are in such dilapidated condition as to
| provoke deserved criticism
| Excise Board.
During the year the excise board has pur-
sued the policy of reducing as far as pos
sible the number of bar room licenses and
preventing the establishment of too many
bar rooms in any one locality The total
| number of bar room licenses is now 532 and
| the number of wholesale licenses 134. EX-
| isting Legislation regarding the sale Of
j liquor is enforced, but new laws very
| much needed, especially one which will
| prohibit the sale of beer on Sundays by the
! breweries. A bill is pending, which, if en-
! acted into law, would remedy this difficulty.
| as well as others in this connection, and it
| is hoped that its passage may be secured.
| Harbor Master.
| The work of the harbor master with the
patrol boat, has progressed satisfactorily,
excellent results having been accomplished.
| He has labcred under the difficulty of hav-
| ing old and entirely inadequate machinery
| in new boat, whose average speed is but
| six or seven miles hour under the most
| favorable conditions. The Commissioners
| earnestly recommend favorable action on
| the estimate for new machinery and the
| complete equipment of this busy little craft.
| in order that the many duties devolving
| upon it may be properly performed. In
| this connection large amount of wharf
| property demands protection, the Wash
| ington and Georgetown channels must be
| po,iced, dead bodies dragged for, the fish
| and game laws enforced and security af-
| forded the numerous shipping interests
| along the entire river front
HEALTH DEPARTMENT..
The work of this department has pro-
gressed satisfactorily, and through the
prompt action and efficiency of the health
| officer the city has been saved epidemics of
smallpox and other contagious diseases. A
| case of yellow fever recently made its ap-
| pearance here, but was so promptly dealt
with that infection was prevented. AL
though the case was fully reported through
the press, nothing whatever being with
| held, the public did not appear In the least
| alarmed, which is the highest testimonial
| that can be. paid to the efficiency of the
health Office.
There occurred during the year 54I5
deaths, being 322 less than were registered
| in 1S96-91. OF the decedents, 2,973 were
white and 2 ,442 oolored The death rates
| were therefore as follows: For the whites,
| 15.43 per thousand inhabitants; for the coll
| ored, 27.5l' for the total population, 1852
As is the case in most variations in NOR
| taiity. it is improbable that this improve
ment has been due entirely to any single
cause; statement that is borne out by the
| fact that diminishing death rate seems to
| be the rule at present in most of our
cities, while the sanitary improvements
which are going on In each are as varied as
are their needs. But, IL We may judge
from the experience of other places, the
most potent factors in the present instance
are the abolition of a large number of box
privies, the closing of numerous shallow
wells. an improved milk supply and an inn