Evening star., 1931-12-27
SCHOOL BUILDING
PUSHED IN 1881
Completion of II Structures
Brings Program Nearer
Goal of 5-Year Plan.

Optimism inspired by the most pro-
gressive building activity in its history
featured the District OF Columbia public
school systems 1881 annal.
The completion of II separate build
hg projects marked the 12-month
period just ended to bring Washing
tons public schools nearer their goal
than they have been since the FIVE
year school building act was brought
into existence. AS the year ended. only
20 portable schools were in use and
many Of these are destined to be taken
out of service before another school
year is begun.
The death of DR.. Charles Francis
Carusi, president of the Board of Edu-
cation, at the moment of his greatest
efforts on behalf of public education
here, and, only nine months later. the
death OF DR.. Henry Barrett Learned,
his successor, gave to the school sys-
tenn its only note of serious apprehen-
sion during the year.
Nlneteen-t -thirty-one was begun with
the school board, under the firm
leadership of DR.. Carusi, making the
battle of its history for generous ap-
preparations which would make possible
the construction of sorely needed
school houses. DR.. Carusi lead his as
Soclates through one of the stormiest
hearings ever held on school system
budget early in January with the result
that when the 1882 appropriation bill
was passed, it carried the largest funds
ever provided for school buildings and
grounds. Not only was the amount
large, bpt Congress. acceding to the
petition Of the District authorities for
school aid agreed to make the nom
recurring items Immediately avail
able"
Speeded Building Plan.
Grasping the opportunities thus af-
!orded them, various District agencies
including the Engineer Commissioners
once, the municipal architect and the
school administration staff, acceler-
ated the building program to such a
oegree that many schools which were
not to have become available until next
year were opened during the last 80
days Of 1881. Still other structures
are being rushed to completion now SC
that they will be occupied by classes
during the first three months of the
new year instead Of next September, as
VI t5uldlly SCneQOleQ.
The Is schools which were opened
during 1891 are the Anthony Bowen
congress Heights, Deanwood; Ben w
Murch, Whittier, and Key elementary
school additions: the additions to the
GORDON, Stuart and Powell Junior high
schools; the new Lafayette, Mann and
Noyes elementary schools, and the
new Alice Deal and Charles w. Eliot
Junior high schools.
The remaining two building projects
which became available during 1881
were the athletic fields for the Western
and the Dunbar high schools. These
fields had been sought for Is years.
The last year also witnessed the first
oehnite step toward the establishment
OF sixth white senior high school. The
new institution will be built in the Fort
Reno section of Chevy Chase Its site
was purchased during December after
a long delay and the Bureau of the
Budget has submitted an item o1
S5O,000 in the 1888 estimate for the
preparation Of plans for the building.
DR.. Carusi Overburdened.
The energy he expended, however, ir
his part of the District fight for more
schools, placed burden on DR.. Carus
which, his family and associates II
school system believe, overtaxed hi.
strength. DR.. Carusi had delayed hi
annual vacation to Florida so that h,
could remain in Washington for activ,
participation in the budget hearings
When finally he got away, he va.
CONTINUED on Ninth Page.)