Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07

an average 1.3 per cent of their to-
tai maintenance expenditures to the
support Of their public libraries: vet
Washlngton's Public Library expendi-
lures We're IN that year but 0.S per cent
OF OF the ne. total maintenance expenditures
OF th1s municipality, or about two
thirds the average of American cities.
Inc comparative figures furnished by
the library trustees show clearly that
pubic library maintenance in Wash
other municipal libraries of its class;
that 1t Is too small in the aggregate
to accomplish the public library work
needed for this city: that it is too small
in its percentage of the total municipal
expenditures applied to local library
purposes.
Ihe Commissioners reaffirm their be-
ilef that our local Public Library is
eHctently and economically admins
tered. and that it has a record of serv-
zee that In justice entities it to con-
siderable enlargement of its resources
ana to a radical readjustment in the
scale or payment of its staff. In the
race OF the showing of the work it has
done and of its pressing needs it is a
matter of sincere regret that the neces-
stiles of the financial situation prevent
the Commissioners from urging this
year additional library appropriations,
as proposed by the library trustees.
Fairgrounds.
The idea Of a system of recreation
properly planned and supervised ia
new. Washington Is one of the pioneer
cities to realize that our boys and girls
are soon to become leaders. and that
to have them become efficient a. suc,,
they should have the best possible en-
vironment- At the present time m
argument is needed as to the desirabil-
ity or properly supervised recreation
or an educational type.
me oeglnning OF government provid-
ca ana supervised recreation was nee
essarily small. Lack of precedent Iac,xi
OF properly trained leaders and lacl, of
DEFINITE plans for the future devoIon-
mene OF a permanent system neces-
s sai meant small appropriations. and
SniaA appropriations meant planning
on small scale. The result was that
small salaries were provided. The hest
workers were underpaid, and in manv
cases left. causing lack Of unity in the
the teachers must be trained into To-
service ana that SO fast as they were
trained they were in most cases offer
ed better opportunities.
AGAIN the department owns onIv
small proportion of the land used for
playground purposes. and were If not
LOT the cooperation of the federal and
District departments very little co,,iJ
De accomplished of a permanent nature
As maeters stand very little winter
conditions, which are met as fully as
the means available permit, NotwithS
standing these drawbacks remarkahIa
progress has been made during the 10 at
IVY Years Whicn has convinced the
public and officials of the value Of ths
work. VI LIE
The progress Of the last two wears
mas been most pronounced along the
following lines: Tic
The establishment of cordial relations
with the public schools and the federal
park system. making it possible to or
ganize the public schools base hal,
teams into division leagues containing
over 1000 members; the organization
OF the public schools athletics into
eight divisions corresponding with our
playground divisions. providing an on
portunity for competitive games and
athletic events in each division for over
l,50O boys; the provision of facilities
TOT tennis tournaments for the high
schools; the provision Of grounds for
foot ball practice for our high schools
and assistance in caring for the reg
ular foot ball grounds; the provision
for soccer ball league and for indoor
athletics along the same lines as those
provided for outdoor athletics; the pro-
vision Of tennis courts, base ball, SOC
Ger ball, foot ball and croquet grounds
Tor government clubs and others: the
INTRODUCTION OF industrial work on our
Fairgrounds during the whole season
co-ordinating with and supplementing
the public school work; the Offering of
opportunities for backward or .unfor-
tunate children who have fallen be-
hind in their school work during the
school year in a number of subjects:
the development of Boy Scout activi-
ties especially relating to vocational
guidance, citizenship and community
usefulness; the development of a bu-
reau Of information for parents and
others to consult with regard to chill
dren and for the assistance of business
men in securing the service of COM
petent boys and girls when not in con-
dict with school duties: the develop
ment of our teachers through a sys-
ternatic training course given by two of
our workers, resulting in more efficient
service, and the establishment of
swimming pools at Rosedale and At
Howard, respectively.
Recommendations,
That the playground department be
made a department of recreation of a
public welfare department in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
That swimming pools be established in
several sections of the city and that
more attention be paid to teaching the
boys and girls to swim.
That provision be made for indoor
snd evening work.
That the salaries Of the employees be