Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-01

depot where 1t now stands, on street
between 9th and 18th streets, instead of on
Maryland avenue south of the mall, as
recommended by the chief of engineers,
and because of the public land to be given
the company for its purposes. When the
bills reached the Senate from the House
a motion for the appointment of conferees
to take them up gave way to motion TO
refer them to the District committee for
report. When this report is made the bills
will go to conference, and while there will
be some discussion in adjusting the differ
ences between the Senate and House there
is little doubt that both bills will become
laws at an early day.
The Potomac River.
Work on the Improvement of the Potomac
river continued during the past year and
fair progress was made under the project
for the deepening and widening of the chan
nels and the reclamation of the so-called
Potomac flats" Dredging operations were
delayed by accidents to the plant The for
mer contractor defaulted in his work and
new contract was entered into. The old
fats are now known as Potomac Park, ana
tentative arrangements have been made for
its improvement on comprehensive scale
The shoal places in the channel of the low
er Potomac are being dredged in most
manner. with view to OPEN
ing the river to navigation by the largest
vessels as far as this city. Good progress
is reported in this work. The repairs to the
pier of the Aqueduct bridge.
which have occupied so many years, are
now practically complete and the structure
is again safe and sound.
The Public Parks.
The work on the public parks and reser-
vations during the year was principally
confined to their care and preservation.
Many improvements were made, however,
and twenty-one of the unimproved reserva-
tons, containing in all SO acres, We're
brought to their first stage of improvement.
One Of them was prepared as a playground
for children. Bride paths for equestrians
only have been constructed In the Presf-
dents Park and in the monument grounds
and are we'll patronized. The statues OF
Webster. Hahnemann and Pike were I'M
yelled with appropriate public ceremonies
and pedestals were completed for equestri-
an statues of Gen. Sherman and Gen. Lo-
gan.
Acting. on authority from Congress, Mr..
Samuel Parsons, an eminent landscape art
list of New York, recently prepared and sub
mitted to that body a comprehensive plan
for the treatment and development of the
park system of the District, involving the
connection Of the mall with the Rock Creek
Park by way Of 26th street. Probably the
most important feature of this plan is the
inclusion in the mall of all the land to the
north and south lying between Pennsylvania
and Maryland avenues from the Capitol to
tIle monument grounds on a line with 10Th
street. The Parsons plan, which was heart
lily Endorsed by Secretary Root, General
Wilson and Colonel Bingham. also contem-
plated the entire removal Of the railroad
station and tracks from the mall and the
of new station near the in
tersection of Maryland avenue and 7th and
9th streets. The matter is now pending in
Congress.
The Public Schools.
The last year of the nineteenth century
was marked by radical and important
change in the system Of administration of
the public schools of Washington. This
was the result Of an investigation made
last spring by the Senate committee on the
District of Columbia, of persistent COM
plants against the system Of education pre-
vailing at that time. The committee found
and its report resulted in the enactment of
legislation for a reorganization of the
school system. board of education of
seven members was created in place of
the former larger board Of trustees, and a
with two assistant superin-
tendents were provided for to have charge
OF the entire system, in place of the pre-
vious method of having separate super
intendentS for the white and colored
schools In this way the colored schools
were wiped out as an independent organi-
cation, and We're merged into the general
school system of the District. The change
was L1due Oh the ISL OIL July last, DeIOre the
beginning of the present school term. The
new board Of education is composed Of
Messrs. c. ]. Bell, George H. Harries,
Richard K1ngsman, ]. Holdsworth Gordon
and James F: Bundy, Mrs. J. R; Francis
and Mrs. H. L. West. The board devoted
much time and labor to the important
duties devolved upon it, and as a result
the schools are now operating on an i'm
proved and more practical basis The
board made several important changes in
the higher offices Of the schools. Mr.. A.
7. Stuart, for many years supervising prin-
cIpal of one Of the eastern divisions, was
made superintendent in place Of Mr.. Powell.
Mrs Ida G. Myers, principal of the Nor
ma School, was made assistant superin-
tendent for the white schools, and Mr. W.
s. Montgomery, for many years identified
with the colored schools. was made as
sstant superintendent for the colored
schools. Following a conservative policy,
the board made only a few other changes
in personnel. and most Of these were pro-
motions. After a thorough consideration
Of the subject, the curriculum was changed
SO as to make it conform to the practical
ideas of the day in the matter Of more
instruction in essential studies.
This was mainly indicated in a reduction
of the hours Of home study required OF the
pupils and in the elimination of much of
the so-called mature studies.
During the past year the public school
sy stem has expanded in a normal ratio to
the increase of population, and also In
consequence of the development of i'm
proved methods Of rapid transit from
suburban villages. In all, nearly
40 113 persons were given instruction IN
the schools, at either day or night sessions,
and the pressure for admission Demon
strates the necessity for additional school
A feature of the year
was the successful operation Of the kim
dergarten system Of instruction and the
ina uguration of steps for its extension.
Important improvements were made In
the sanitary condition Of the school houses,
and other steps were taken to protect the
health of the pupils. The Commissioners
of the District, the board of trade and the
Business Mems Association have arranged
to cooperate with the school authorities
for the betterment Of the public schools
To that end they are striving to secure
liberal appropriations from Congress for
additional school houses and Fairgrounds
and for the employment of reputable ply
sicians to guard the health and general
welfare of the children.
District National Guard.
The troops Of the District Of Columbia
National Guard made commendable pro-
gress during the year 1900, as was attested
by the excellent appearance of the brigade
on the occasion Of the centennial celebra-
ton parade, the 10Th of December. An en-
campment was held near Gaithersburg, Nd,
during July and the outing proved per-
haps the most successful in the history of
the organization.
At the conclusion of the encampment