Evening star., 1934-09-16
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Erection of the structure known
for a long time as the State, War and
nr,. Navy Building was un-
oulIo1ng der way SO years ago.
progress In The Star Of Septen-
Der 16, 1884, is the fol-
lowing description Of the progress Of
the work:
"Col. T. L. Casey, superintendent Of
the construction of the State, War and
Navy Department Building, in his re-
port to the Secretary of War Of the
operations during the year ended June
| 80, 1884. states that they embraced the
completion of the approaches Of the
north wing and also clearing of the site,
principal excavation and commence
ment of foundations for the west and
center wings and the collection Of
building materials and machinery for
these wings. The expectations that
the approaches to the north wing
would be completed during the Fall Of
1883 were not fulfilled and the freez-
ing weather of the Winter found the
work still incomplete. On the gath of
| March work on the approaches was
resumed. The main entrance plat
form, with its stone balustrade and
steps TO street sidewalk, was completed
and turned over to the use of the War
Department May II. The last Of the
granite was set on June 8 and the ap-
proaches were entirely finished on
June 18. The completion of the ap-
proaches finished the construction Of
the north wing, leaving only the west
and center wings, with the corre-
spending small extent Of approaches
on Seventeenth street, yet to be built.
The cost of the north wing was
81, 1,e12, ,o94 92."
4
Half a century ago, as for many
years after, all text books used in the
District public
New Text Books schools were
in the Schools. bought BY the the
pupils. Much complaint was made
from time to time against the fire.
quent change of books with conse-
quent burden upon the parents. The
Star of September IT, 1884, says:
"As usual at the opening Of the
school year parents of pupils are
loudly complaining of changes Of text
books, which seem TO them to be made
for no other purpose than to put
money in the pockets of some one at
the expense of said parents. That
new text books are necessary some
times no one doubts, but some changes
are made which would seem to indi-
cate. upon the part of those making
them, sublime confidence in either
the ignorance or the good nature Of
those who have to foot the bills. Many
Of those aggrieved write letters to the
newspapers. Others, who do not, arc
not blind and Indifferent to the mat
ter. This year new Franklin Fifth
Reader has to be purchased by pupils
who, some of them, bought Franklin
Fifth Readers only year or less ago
and which have been but little used.
These new readers are put down on
the lists at IS cents each: exchange,
As cents. In some cases the book
sellers refuse to exchange the almost
new books of the supplanted edition
and charge 30 cents for the new. Even
this could be endured II there was
any necessity shown for the change
Of this reader. 1t Is question Of good
selected matter for the pupils to read
and that the revised Franklin Is an
Improvement In this respect is o de-
batable point. A few extracts from
passable modern novels Is hardly
worth the cost of the change. Com
plant Is also made Of the change Of
the music reader this year, many Of
the pupils for whom new books are
TO be purchased not having opened the
old ones half dozen times the past
school year." II