Evening star., 1903-12-18
Not Due to Inaction

Inc present condition of affairs Is not due
10 any want of interest or attention on the
part or the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia. who have for several wears
recommended that steps be taken to secure
the enlargement of the present quarters. or
the erection of a modern building. We no.
tice that the Commissioners have requested
the appropriation of $3SO 600. for the mr.
chase of additional ground for building.
we nope TINS VIII be sufficient for the pur-
pose. and feel that. while the material needs
are OF utmost cOnSidera ton, we must also
remember that this is in reality an import
ant government building; as such it de-
serves olgniiied and imposing surroundings,
Whie Its architecture should be monumental
and impressive. We therefore beg to urge
that these matters be given due considers :
ton and that. as a first move an ample site
be chosen. and as a second. great care be
exercised in the selection of the architec-
tural design.
Your committee is aware that the de-
mands upon the revenues of the District are
extraordinary. owing to the peculiar char
acter of the city of Washington the capitaI
of the republic. Yet we feel that there
should be located here an armory for the
accommodation of our District Militia not
inferior to those erected throughout the
Union. Many states have provided magnifi-
cent buildings for their militia and have
inspired in their young men desire to be
connected with an organization that could
be duartered in such fine edihces. Public
safety would be advanced by the erection of
such structure.
A proper armory, well suited to the wants
of our military organization, could be so
constructed as to be available for great
public gatherings, such as the ceremonies
attending the inauguration of the President
of the United States. or the encampments
of the Grand Army of the Republic for
which great numbers of people assemble
Indeed, it would seem eminently proper
that that this building should be provided
and paid for by the general government
We call this matter to the attention of the
Board of Trade, so that 1T may not be lost
sight of among the many present needs
which are just now demanding much at
tention.
Your committee is of the opinion that
very marked improvement may be made in
the erection and repair of school buildings
When the District appropriation bill be-
comes a law, Slgned by the President the
amount that can be expended for repairs
and construction Is known to a certainty
1t is suggested that the Commissioners be
requested to take prompt action I'm such
cases. so that wherever possible the repairs
may be made before the opening of the
schools. and not be postponed by any un-
necessary delays. 1t has frequently oc-
CURED that repairs have not been COM
menced until the time for opening the
schools, and great Inconvenience has been
caused in many cases. where 1t might have
been averted by prompt action.
Number of Schools.
There are at present or will be about the
first of the year. about 14O school buildings
in the District ready for occupancy These
buildings have cost about 5000, 600, and
were erected at a cost per cubic foot vary
ing from 5.8 to 13.5 cents. The buildings
are known. outside OF a few large high
schools. as the eight-room and four-room
type-tlat is, eight and four class rooms
with play rooms. toilet rooms. etc. There
are probably 200 school rooms In the Dis
trict. with capacity for $1,000 children, or
nearly one-fifth the population. The build
ings are, generally speaking. 50 feet square
and two stories and basement or 45 feet
high. They are arranged after a plan
which has been improved upon by the in
arector of buildings through the practical
suggestions of the school superintendents
and principals. A comparison with school
building plans of other cities win show
most convenient, healthful and economical
arrangement In favor of our plans In
1897 the Commissioners arranged to have
plans made by the architects of the city
instead of the inspector Of buildings, In
order to obtain the advantages of varied
individuality. new ideas and Improvement
In design. For several years marked de-