Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-17
PLANTING NEGLECT
AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SCORED IN REPORT
Municipal Architect Urges
Better Care for Grass and
Other Material.
TWO SCHOOLS ARE CITED
FOR UPKEEP EXCELLENCE
Decided Improvement Within Few
Years Is Forecast by
City Official.

Unsatisfactory maintenance OF new
planting at many of the public schoo
grounds is made the subject OF adverse
criticism by A. H. Harris, municipal
architect, in his annual report for the
fiscal year filed today with the District
Commissioners.
While the report refers optimiStically
to the expected results from the ex.
penditure of 100000 for improvement
of school grounds, 1t warns that mucf
of the good work already accomplished
will be obliterated unless more careful
attention is paid to maintenance.
During the fiscal year ending June
80, Harris stressed that the Office of the
municipal architect entered into con.
tracts amounting to $2,785, 82232.
Good Examples Cited.
With respect to the condition OF
school grounds. the report cites as q
notable example of the right kind OF
care that should be given, the colored
Garnet-Patterson Junior High School
It also specifically mentions Eastern
High School as a good example OF
school grounds and planting.
while it is too early to see very SUBJ
stantial results from the planted ma
terial, which has been installed under
the 100000 appropriated for the i'm
provement Of school grounds" the re-
port states, II feel sure that in a few
years when this material has filled out
and the grass properly rooted a very
decided improvement will be manifest
in the general appearance of the
grounds surrounding our school build
ingS.
ut Is essential, however, that careful
attention be paid to the maintenance
~ 4kA MI f11a lie SV1
order that the work done may not be
obliterated. Unsatisfactory maintenance
work at many of the schools should be
corrected by constant and adequate
care.
Janitors Commended.
"a notable exception Is the Garnet
Patterson Junior High School, where
the planting was completed late in the
Fall OF 1928. The lawns and plants
around this school are in excellent con-
dition and have received a great deal
of care and attention. The grass Is
the finest of any school in the City of
Washington and the janitorial force of
this school deserves commentator for
the manner in which they have cared
for the grounds around this building.
Eastern High School, completed the
latter part of 1922. Is a good example
of the value Of good planting and care
full attention. The lawns and gardens
are always in fine condition and are
credit to the principal and to the
janitorial force
1T is the hope Of this Office that
the result of the improvement of the
grounds around school buildings will
make for better looking school grounds
and approaches"
Schools Improved.
Under this Sl00, 900 appropriation, i'm
provements were made at the following
school grounds:
Addison, Armstrong, Bancroft, Bar
nard, New Bell, Brightwood, Brookland,
Brown, Bruce, Buchanan, Burroughs,
Central, H. D. Cooke, Dennison, Eastern,
Emery, Gage, Gales, Garnet Patterson,
Gordon, Hayes, Health, Jackson, Janney,
Keene, Langdon, Mcfarland, Military
Road, Miner Normal, Morgan, Oyster
Peabody, Petworth, Grant Road port
able, portable located at Tenth and
Franklin streets northeast, portable
located at Twentieth and Rosedale
streets northeast, Broad Branch Road
portable, located at Thirty-third and
Northampton streets northwest;
Randall, Reservoir, Slater, Smothers,
Stanton, Stuart, Syphax, Truesdall,
Washington, Webster, Western, Wheat
ley, Whittier and Woodbridge.
A total amount of 500 ,939.43 was ex-
pended at these schools.