Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-27
Discussion by North Capitol and Eek
ington Association.
SUGGESTED COURSE OF INSTRUCTION
Report Of Committee on B. and O.
Railway Bill.
THE OPENING OF A STREET

Inc >Oitll tdpllOl anu Ton SlCl-
zens' Association met last evening, and con-
sidered the public school and the Balti-
more and Ohio viaduct questions Mr. Ir-
win B. Linton, the president called the
meeting to order, Mr.. A. o. Tingley being
the secretary.
The association instructed its committee
streets and sidewalks to request the
marshal to take necessary steps for OPEN
ing lexington place at once, that action
having been authorized by Congress, and
to endeavor to secure an appropriation of
$1,000, which is the estimated amount for
improving that thoroughfare.
Mr.. w. S. Chase, chairman of the COM
mittee vaduct, made a partial report.
He said changes In the Baltimore and Ohio
railway bill had been recommended by
the railway committee of the board of
trade and also by his committee, in SUBJ
stance as follows:
1.-THE bill should provide that the main
lines Of the railroad connecting the new
terminals and terminal tracks with the
present lines of railroad of it's Washing
ton and Metropolitan branches should con-
tinue northerly across Florida avenue at
a point east of Brentwood road. thence at
a sufficient distance from the easterly line
of Brentwood road to permit the free and
unobstructed use of the road for the pub
lie. by the most practicable route, cross
ing over New York avenue by means of
two-span plate girder bridge, or by mason
ry arches, to a point at the intersection of
9th and S streets northeast; thence by d.
verging lines, one line by the most practf-
cable route in a general northeasterly d.
rection to connect with the present tracks
of the Washington branch at or near Win
throp Heights station, and the other line
in general northerly direction by the
most practicable route to connect with the
present tracks of the Metropolitan branch
I0QianaDOliS street shown
said plan.
Provision for Yards and Shops.
provision should be made for the To-
eating, constructing, maintaining and oper-
ating at or near the connection of the
Washington branch and the branch track
or hereinafter provided for of yards,
roundhouses, shops, etc, the branch track
or to commence at a point the W2sh-
inSton branch at or near 18th street be-
tween T and L streets northeast; thence
in a general northwesterly direction to a
point on the Metropolitan branch at or near
10th and w streets northeast.
The railroad company should dedicate
to the government its present right Of way
for the Metropolitan branch proposed 20 be
abandoned from indianapolis street to NJ
street and all property owned or occupied
by the railroad company lying west of the
proposed Metropolitan branch right Of way
between Indianapolis and NJ streets shall
also be abandoned for railway purposes,
and, in addition, shall also dedicate to the
government its present right of way, etc.
Of its Washington branch, to be aban-
doned.'
Mr.. A. r. Server said that the plan out
lined by Mr.. Chase he had lately discovered
was almost identical with plan approved
by Maj. Powell when Engineer Commits
sioner of the District.
Mr.. VIM. G. Henderson read q letter from
Col. Truesdell, president of the Washington
Traction and Electric Company, giving no.
ftnsA of nl, &c ,l,,1a
Capitol street branch of the City and Sub
urban Railway Company SO that the cars
shall run to 18th and G streets without
change. intimating that it was the inten-
ton of the company to run these cars to
18th and B streets via 9th street and Louis
lana avenue. The association ADOPTED a
resolution thanking Col. Truesdell for mis-
action and expressing the hope that the
cars may continue to run to 18th and Il
streets, as is now done.
The school Question.
Mr.. A. r. Server, chairman of the COM
mittee on schools and school houses, made
a report in part as follows:
your committee on schools and school
houses has the honor to report that Feb
ruary % a very satisfactory hearing was
had with the House subcommittee on APP
preparations in regard to the request for
an appropriation for a twelve-room school
building in the vicinity of North Capitol
and s and streets. The delegation pres
ent were satisfied that the request as esti-
mated for by the Commissioners will be
reported favoraby by the committee which
undoubtedly will mean the granting of the
appropriation of $4,000 for this purpose.
The committee desires to call the atten-
ton of the association to the fact that
since its last meeting, under a resolution
of the Senate, special committee has
been appointed to investigate the present
public school course in the District of Co.
lLmbia.
THE grade school, the high school and
the normal school are all embraced in the
public school system of the District of Co.
lumbia. Your committee, however has felt
that its efforts Should be practically con-
fined to the consideration of the instruc-
ton received in the grade schools, as it is
found that nine out of every ten Of the
scholars who receive instruction in these
choolS never reach the high schools. Hence,
whatever benefit and assistance they are to
have from education in making their way
in life and earning their own support must
come from the grade schools. 1t is there
fore especially important to urge the con-
t1nuance of as much of the present system
Of instruction as tends in that direction,
and to demand that the course be strength
tned wherever 1t is possible, in order that
the boys and girls who go out from the
grade schools at the ages of twelve to fif-
teen may be as we'll equipped as possible
to prove themselves of value in whatever
WaSe-earning occupations they may engage,
as such a large percentage Of them must
dt dpOul lIlt5t ages DeCOUC DreaQ-W1QnerS
for themselves and those dependent upon
them.
Expresses Regrets.
"This committee regrets disposition
which has been evidenced in certain quar-
ters to shift the question from the system
Of instruction, under discussion, to the
question of responsibility for this system.
Your committee cannot see any advantage
to be gained in the discussion of personali-
ties, therefore 1t is urged that the atten-
tion of all should be given to the question
Of how to make our system of instruction
more valuable and beneficial. The commit
tee feels that at present the chief weak
ness in our grade schools is a lack of sys-
tematic and thorough drill in the most i'm
portEEe and essential branches of instruc-
ton. The public interest demands that
careful and thorough drill should be insist
ed upon in spelling. reading, arithmetic.
penmanship and language, or. grammar,
which are simply synonymous terms.
meaning the intelligent use of good Eng
lish. Your committee believes that In
addition to the oral work, so much of which
Is now done in our schools the scholars
should be supplied with books containing
the approved Information. and that they
should be required to carefully study these
books, in order that the information may be
drilled into the mind and thus permanently