Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
A REMARK ABLE TOWN
WARRENToN rs BUILT ON A GOV
ERNMENT RESERVATION.
Proposition to Build Schools Has
Raised the Question Of
Jurisdiction.

A most peculiarsstate of affairs exists in
the town of Warrenton, Fla. That town is
located on the naval reservation at Pensa-
cola, just outside the portion inclosed for
naval purposes.
Before the civil war, when the operations
at the Pensacola navy yard were much
more active then now, many of the work.
men were allowed to erect homes upon the
reservation, because there were no resi-
dences in the vicinity and the city of Pen
sacola was a considerable distance away.
This privilege was then restricted to en-
ployes Of the government. Workmen desir-
ing to build entered into an agreement to
observe certain building conditions, one of
which was the removal of the houses upon
the demand of the government. No charge
was made for the use of the lands or for
any other purpose. For many years the
amount of work done by the Pensa cola
navy yard has been trifiing, but workmen
were allowed to remain and their descend
ants and relatives have been accorded the
same privilege until community of nearly
1.3O0 inhabitants has grown up. They
were allowed to establish stores, churches
and schools and all the necessary features
Of a town of its size gradually grew up.
The commandment of the navy yard exercises
supervision over the community making
such police rules Is he deems requisite. The
sanitary conditions are important, and be-
cause of the contiguity of the navy yard
the Navy Department expends funds every
year to keep the drainage in repair, and as
a police measure has extended it's electric
light system into the town.
Question of Jurisdiction.
question of jurisdiction over the town
has arisen in connection with bill recently
introduced in the Senate, authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to establish and
maintain two public schools for children
under seventeen years of age at Warren
ton. Rear Admiral Endicott, chief of the
bureau of yards and docks, to whom the
bill was referred. made report to the
Secretary of the Navy embodying the facts
already stated. CONNIE nting on the bill he
said
The population Of Warrenton bears no
municipal existence, pays no taxes and be-
ing resident upon the government reserva-
ton does not exercise the franchise. 1t is
not subject to the local laws, the state hav-
ing no jurisdiction except the right of serv
ing civil processes. There is therefore, no
school system established under the laws
of the state of Florida, and the instruction
the children receive is in private schools.
The children between the ages of six and
sixteen number 326, of whom 100 are white
and 16G are colored; of these 2}4 are attend
ing school, 100 being white and 1O4 colored ;
that is 81 per cent of the whites from six to
sixteen years are now in school, and CO per
cent VI the DidChS, the average ATTENDANCE
of both white and colored being II per cent
OF the 313 males, white and colored over
sixteen years Of age. $50, or 425 per cent
are employed in the navy yard
The Matter of Schools.
There are seven schools in the village
four for white and three for colored chill
dren. OF the white children eighty -four are
taught in schools under the Sisters of
Mercy, twenty-seven in the school main
tanned in the Odd Fellows Hall and six
teen in two schools in the homes of the
teachers. OF the colored children twenty
six are in the school OF the Sisters of Mercy,
forty in the school building built by sub
scription and thirty eight in the school
maintained by and belonging to the Colored
Burial Association.
The cost of tuition is from 80 cents to
50 per month.
There appears to he a desire upon the
part Of the parents to give their children an
education, but ii does not appear to the
bureau to be a case in which the general
government is called upon to assume the
cost of education.
'SAould the government take in hand the
education of the children the amounts car
ried by the bill woulU be the proper sums
to provide