Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1890, Page 9

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THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON a D. C., SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1890-SIXTEEN PAGES THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY. The New Marble Buildings toShelter Astronomers and Telescopes. Description of the Structures Now Going Up on the Site Purchased Near George- town—Making Provision for a Cen- tury’s Growth—The Wid Observatory. —_— The traveler along High street in Georgetown looking northward may, at this time of the year, when the trees are bare and the outlook is un- impeded. obtain a glance here and there as he passes of a white spot amid the brownish green of the limbs and trunks of the surrounding oaks. At first it is but a blur, the details being lost in the distance of about half a mile. A little closer scrutiny, however, will reveal the outlines of a beautiful white marble structure of rather small dimensions but exquisite proportions, It is unfinished and ground round about is strewn with boxes and barrels and huge blocks of white stone. This building is the center of the new naval observatory and clustered around are several other buildings, its satellites. It is here that the scientific «pirit of the great equa- torial telescope will have its home, peering out into the heavenly seas with its great, unwinking eye searching for new worlds. Just now the building is somewhat deceptive in appearance, for it still lacks the great dome that will pro- tect the precious instrument from damage by the elements. It is the dome that gives a peculiar character to the field of view around an observato culiar, plethoric, scientitic completeness that is totally jacking when the buildings consist merely of straight lines and angles. THE NEW BUILDINGS, The new observatory buildings are progress- ing as rapidly as work done uuder contract for the government usually does. For several ears the public round about Washington has Beara and read a great deul about the new naval observatory and has seen on the maps of the city an irregular tract of land marked out just above Georgetown, nearly adjacent to the Tenleytown road, designated as the site for the new observatory. As an additional mark of identification it may be said that this site lies directly on the line of the proposed exten- sion of Massachusetts avenue—and thereby bangs a tule! THE MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE EXTENSION. There has been a struggle going on between the projectors of the extension scheme and the Officers of the observatory ever since the former began to exist as such. and it has not been settled. Had the avenue been run as it was first planned, before it was diverged at Rock creek, it would have just grazed the ob- servatory grounds at the extreme southern joint, aml this would have been quite satis- tory to the astronomers, but when :t was de- cided to bend the avenue it was found that the road would come so close to the instruments, in passing through the grounds, that serious damage might result to their usefulness. The desideratum in locating delicate astronomical instruments is to remove them as far as possi- ble from all rumblings or jarrings of the earth from any cause. and the close proximity of a frequented road is aconstant menace. Various plans have been offered by the observatory people, as well as the projectors of the exten- wion, such as detours and further deflections, but nothing detiaite has been agreed upon be- Yond the stipulation that the road shall not Pass within the limits of a circle drawn with a radius of 1,000 feet, with the great equatorial Duilding as a center. THE siTr. The site chosen for the observatory is a uliarly happy one, high and commanding, with a total absence of those annoying sur- toundings of city life that go far to driving the scientist distracted. A narrow, poplar shaded lane leads up and down hill from the Tenley- town road into the grounds, both the up and the down bemg very steep. When the brow of the hill on which the buildings are clustered are reached by means of the winding roads, a fine panorama bursts into view. Away off, over the tops of the magnificent oaks, appears the city in sections, marked by the tall, white peaks of the monument and the Capitol—be- Yond the mass of buildings glistens the river, and still beyond everything melts into a haze. ‘This property was formerly known as the Bar- ber estate, 72 acres inextent. The project for & new observatory has been agitated for a couple of decades, but no active steps were taken until Admiral Rodgers, then superin- tendent of the observatory, secured an appro- Priation, about twelve years ago. for the pur- chase of a site. After considerable searching. experimenting and measuring it was found that there was no more desirable spot in the imme- diate vicinity of the city than this and so it was bought. The price paid was very small and the owner regretted the sale within ten days. ‘THE APPROPRIATION. But even after securing the site noting was done for some years. Finally, two years ago, an appropriation of £490,000 was secured from Congress for the erection of suitable buildings on the Barber estate, and on the 2d of Oc- tober. 1883. a contract was entered into be- tween the government and McLaughlin & Co. 'y to erect nine buildings for a consid- 8.911. This sur was to be paid qual installments as the work ments have already been time stipulation in the contract was eighteen months, bnt on account of some unavoidable delays, for which the gov- ernment was responsible, the time was extended six months, so that the contractors’ limit will not expire until October 2, 15W, But the buildings will not be ready then—by at least six months longer. THE NINE BUILDINGS, The nine buildings mentioned are as follows: Main building, 3073; feet long; great equatorial building, clock house, two transit circle houses; two observer's buildings, one frame vertical building and a boiler house. The ac- companying plat shows the distribution and Felative locations of these buildings. As will be seen by a glance at the cut the strictly astronomical buildings. the observatory Proper are arranged in the form of across on the western edge of the small plateau that crowns the site. THE GREAT EQUATORIAL HOUSE. The great equatorial house occupies the most prominent place, almost on the brow of the hill, affording ping view of the hori- zon in all directions. Itis pure in its archi- tecture and presents a beautiful picture. The dome wili have « radius of 223 feet, and will be placed im position as soon as the walls are Feady. The architect. Mr. Richard M. Hunt of New York city. has produced several beautiful de- Signs in these buildings, each of which is of white marble. THE MAIN BUILDING. The main building is rather jong, but will undoubtedly be extremely attractive. At present it has risen but a short distance above the foundations. The library room, the ronnd- ing end on the east, wili probably be one of the ost complete book roums in the count Architect Hant hus long made a study of libra- ries snd their construction. and he regards this plan asthe outcome of the very best ideas in this line. It will have ample shelf room for all the now on hand or that may be received for a hundred years to come. In tact this is the main idea around which the entire plan was made, that the buildings that are now being erected should accommodate the observatory for a century without alteration. The library will have two tiers of shelving and will be lighted entirely from above, 4 row of large —— giazed im soft tints furnishing a heip- uilding. however, is the small dome that crowns the westernend. Here will be mounted the small equatorial telescope. This will be reached by | means of an elevator. the tower for which is shown in the cut. Next to the telescope tower. at the extreme western end, is a ytructure for a transit circle instrument. The main building will also contain an im- proved clock room for the testing of chrouom- | eters. In this room the time pieces are kept for six months or a year and run under differ- ent temperatures and atmospheric conditions, It is « difficult thing to obtain these conditions, and considerable effort aud expense will be spent in order to reach the most satisfactory results in this room. THE CLOCK HOUSE. The small building in the center of the cross is called the clock house, where the standard chronometer that furnishes the time regulation | | service will be kept. By an ingenious system | of mirrors, indicated by the parallel dotted lines in the plat. it will be possible to see the face of this clock or its reflection in any build- ing of the set. On either hand the ends of the arms of the cross are formed by the two transit circle houses. The small buildings between these houses and the clock house are of wood, being simply for the convenience of the observers on the two transit instruments, THE TRANSIT HOUSES. The transit houses are to be of iron, to a cer- tain extent, in order to reproduce as far as | possible all the outside atmospheric conditions | inside of the house. If this end is not attained there is danger that the dread shimmer of the | air that makes stars dance all over the field of | the telescope m_y obstruct the observer. ‘This shimmer arises from the difference of temper- atures of two adjacent bodies of air and is an | almost constant hindrance to the astronomer. Oftentimes, on nights when the stars look lar:zest and brightest to the naked eye, the as- tronomer finds the atmosphere to be so un- steady us to render any observations impos- sible and he shuts up his dome and retires. t Leet | in diameter. chrouometers, sextants and theodolites belong- ing tothe navy, placing them in a building opposite the residence of Attorney General Wirt. He soou added a transit instrument which cost forty guineas. He was succeeded | in the charge of the depot by Lieut. (afterward Rear Admiral) Wilkes. LIEUT. WILKES’ OBSERVATORY. Lieut. Wilkes removed the office from the West End to Capitol Hill, 1,000 feet from the Capitol building. where, at his own expense, he erected an obeervatory 16 feet square and mounted one of the 5-foot transits, the property of the coast surve. Until 1555 nothing was doue beyond the determination of tine that year an exploring expedition v forth from the bureau on general as: ical work under Lieut. Wilkes. During his absence Lieut. Hitchcock had charge of the bureau, assisted by Lieut. Gillis, who was practically the father of the real observatory. While tne expedition was gone he mae a series of valuable observations at the burcan, cover- ing a period of nearly three At his earn- est solicitation the navy commissioners asked for an appropriation jor a permanent estab- lishment in December, 1541. A PERMANENT FSTABLISHMENT. A bill passed Congress at the last hour of the | session of 1841-42 authorizing the Secretary o} the Navy (Upshur) to contract for the building of asuitable house for a depot of charts and instruments of the navy, not to exceed ¥ in cost, of which $10,000 was appropriat the year, the building to be located ot appropriated public land in the Distric Iumbia which the President mi, deem suit able. ‘This was the birth of the observatory after years of effort. | The Sceretary’ of the N; directed | Lieut. Gilliss to visit the northern cities for the purpose of obtaining infurmation cou: & plan, and G, F, de la Roche was a architect. It is interesting to note th Q. Adams (afterward President), while of the House of Representatives, ¢ Ned on President Van Buren in 1835 and talked ob- servatory to him, to divert a part of the Smiths establishment of an observatory. Mr. Adams’ plan then was | wn fund for the ERECTING THE BUILDING. On the 23d of November, 1843, Lieut. Gillis reported to the Navy department the adoption ofa plan for an observatory, also the progress of the erection of the building in accordance with it upon “reservation 4, lying on the north bank of the Potomac, in the southwestern part of the city, the north front being 810, the east 1,103 and ‘the west 620 feet in length.” The central building was 59 feet 8 inches square on } the outside, being two stories and. a bi vent high, surmounted by a revolvin; 3 feet ‘The equipment for an observ: | before the scient: THE MAIN BUILDID THE PRIME VERTICAL. HOUSE. The square building at the head of the eroas is to contain the prime vertical instrument, the line of observation of which is to the cast and west. while that of a transit instrument is to the north and sonth. The homestead of the Barber estate, the large building shown in the cut by light lines, is still standing, being the property of and oc- cupied by the contractor. according to the terms of the contract. It will be removed, however. as goon as the work is near comple- tion. There is plenty of room for future ex tensions, but itis not thought that it will be necessary to enlarge the scientilic equipment for % great many years to come. But it is the present inteution of the observatory officials to endeavor to obtain an appropriation for a set of quarters for the astrouomers and others connected with the scientitic work at the insti- tution. TO ERECT QUARTERS. Ina few days an estimate of 2125,000 will be submitted to Congress for the first lotof these buildings. The isolated ‘ocation of the new observatory will in time make these buildings absolutely necessary, for it will be a great hard- ship to compel the ustrouomers to travel such great distances to reach their instruments. When these structures are added to those al- ready in process of erection the new naval ob- servatory will deserve rank as one of the best scientific plants in the world, The Observatory and Its History. The present observatory is the outgrowth of an idea that had its germination half a century ago. But history takes the searcher back still another half century when the mere site upon which the old observatory is now located—that commanding position on the banks of the Po- tory then on hand embraced an achromatic refractor, one meridian transit, a prime vertical transit, amural circle, one comet searcher, sev- ral magnetic and meteorological instruments, and a small library, beside some other ins nts nut yet paid for, including a portable 42-inch transit instrument and « 30-inch transit circle. It was not until the close of Septem- ber, 1844, that Lieut, Gillis reported to secretary of the Navy that the building ly for occupancy, and on the Ist of October Lieut, M. F. Maury, then superintendent of the depot of charts. was ordered to take charge of the new depot and observatory. Among the naval officers ordered to the institution were the present Admirals Worden, Porter and Almy, also Profs. Coffin and Hubbard, A BIG UNDERTAKING. A great deal was expected of the new insti- tution and Hon. Geo. Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy, soon ordered Lieut. Maury to pro- ceed with an extensive astronomical work, which was really aothing less than assigning color. position and magnitude to every star in the heavens which could be seen with the instru- ments, a work that, with the then equipment, would have required a century to complete. Much of Lieut. Muury’s time and attention was given to valuable hydrographic work, which he reduced to a wonderful system. From the data which he obtained, through innumerable sources, of the direction and force of winds and currents in all parts of the navigable globe he published his abstract log, the value of which in those days of sailing vessels was incalculable. LIEUT. MAURY SUCCEEDED BY CAPT. GILLIS, ‘The war put a stop to all this, for upon the announcement of hostilities in April, 1961. Lieut. Maury suddenly left the observatory aud the city to join the confederate forces, leaving a life position for a career of subsequent mis- EQUATORIAL BUILDING. tomac—is considered. In fact it ia essentially historie ground. The earliest trace of its story is found in the records of the march of Gen. Braddock against Fort Duquesne in co- jonial times, which show that his troop en- camped on this hill. Afterward Washington. according to his letters, landed here from Alexandria to join Braddock at Frederick, On the carly plans for the city, before it was named * Washington.” the present observatory grounds are plainly marked out and the northern and central parts are covered by the lines of a pro- posed fort and barracks, designed by G Washington, Gen. Washington in 1797 and 1 wrote letters to the owners of the property in- forming them that the United States wanted the land. The United States got it, the price paid being 66% anacre. It was Washington's desire to establish on this site a national nniversity, an dafter he had gone from these regions Presi- dent Adams renewed his recommendations. CAMP HILL, Previous to this time the spot had been known as Peter's hill, and in 1813and 1814 part of the American army encamped on it and it became ‘Camp hill.” It was from this camp that a brigade of militia eallied forth to Bla- densburg to defend the city against the British under Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn, August 23, 1814. In 1851 this site was suggested as being an advantageous one for the location of a water supply reservoir. Later measure- ments showed the base of the observatory bu:lding was found to be on @ level with the Moor of the Congressional library, being the second highest eminence within the city limits. ESTABLISHING THE MERIDIAN, Steps for the establishment of a first or standard meridian for the United States were taken in March, 1810, by the introduction of a memorial into the House of Representatives by Mr. Pitkin of Connecticut for Mr. Wm. Lai bert, a Virginia astronomer. No actual authority for this purpose was granted until March, 1821, eleven years later, when Mr. Lam- bert was-appointed by the President “to make astronomical observations by lunar oceulta- tions of fixed stars or any approved method adapted to ascertain the longitude of the Capi- tol from Greenwich.” He submitted his report | to Cougress, through Presinent Monroe, Janu- ary 8, 1522, in which he gave the results of his observations thus: Longitude of the Capitol west from Greenwich 76° 55’ 30.54’; of Capitol west from Parts 79° 15’ 41.69’; of President’ house west from Greenwich 76- 57’ 5.33. He accompanied these results with strong recom- mendations in favor of a national observatory. In bis aunual m e, in December, 1825, President Adams w the establishment of a national university with AN OBSERVATORY ATTACHED. | Several bills were introduced in Con- gress at various sessions for several years, but without results, In another way, however, the same end was attained. Through the influence of Lieut. (afterward Rear Ad- miral) L. M. Goldsboro @ bureau was es- tabiuabed in this city in for the care of the ts, charts, &c., of the navy. He had, from his superi: ‘col- such as unde: lect fortune. Then, in the same month, the real founder of the observatory suc superintendency, Capt. J. M. erin the strictest sense. years, but in this period he succeeded inj giving the observatory a policy and direction that has colored iis subsequent career. It was in August, 1862, that the obervatory was placed under the bureau of navigatigg. Navy department, where it remained untii only a few months ago, being then trans- rred to the bureau of equipment and reeruit- ing. A new transit éirele was added to the equipment in 1 The ambitions aims und lans of Capt. Gilliss were suddenly cut short y his death, which occursed in February, 1865. Rear Admiral I, Davis succeeded to the euperintendency. ing until May, 1567, when Rear Admiral B, F. Sands was designated as superintendent. THE GREAT TELESCOPE, It was in 1568 that steps were first taken for the purchase of the great equatorial telescope, which for many yeurs held rank as th refractor in the world, but the approp $50,000 for this purpose was not secure 1S7L. 4, 26 inches in diameter, is now among the largest in the world, being si passed in this country only by that kt the Lick observatory, Cal., which is 36 inches in dian: ter. In 1869a new transit circle room was added to the observatory under the direction of Prof. Harkness, assisted by Prof. J. R. East- man and Assistant Observers Edgar Frisby and Ormond Stone. TRANSMITTING TIME SIGNALS. In this year also arrangements were made with the Western Union telegraph company looking to the simultaneous transmission of time signals at noon each day all over the coun- try from the observatory in order to establish aregulating timeservice. Several eclipse expe- ditions were sent out from the observatory at about this period, including those to observe the eclipses of the sun of August, 1869, and December, 1870, and in December. 1874, the observatory contributed some valuable work on the transit of Venus. The report of the commissions which observed this event and the transit of 1352 are still being formulated by Prof. Harkuess, who is at present attached to the observatory for this purpose. THE SATELLITES OF Mans, The naval observatory can claim the honor of being the scene of the most important astro- nomical discovery of the present century, the finding of the satellites of Mars by “Prot Asaph Hall on the morning of August 12, 1875- Admiral Sands was succeeded as superintend. ent by Admiral Davis for his second term. At his death Admiral John Rogers succeeded, May 1, 1877. Then came Rear Admirals 8. ©. Rowan, R. F. Shufeldt, 8. R. Franklin, Commo- dore Geo. Belknap, Commander Alien D. Brown (ad interim) and then Capt. R. L. Phy:hian, who, appointed in November, 1886, is still holding the office, and to whose constant endeavors is aue, toa large degree, the mag- niticent quality of the observatory’s new home. THE OBSERVATORY STAFF. The present force at the observatory is as follows: Lieut. Walton Goodrich and Ensign F. W. Kellogg, in charge of the division of instra- ments; Lient. Hiero Taylor and Ensign Thos, Snowden, in charge of the time service and chronometers; Lieut. B, W. Hodges, in charge of the east transit circle, furnishing corrections to the clocks; Prof. Asaph Hail, in charge of the great equatorial, assisted by Ensign Henry S$. Chase; Prof. John R. Eastman, in charge of the west transit circle instrument. assisted by Asustant Astronomers A. Skinner and Asap! Hull, jr.: Prof. Edgar Frisby. in charge of the small equatorial, the ins on the roof of free for use on Tuesday and Thursday nights; t Astronomer H. M. Paul, temporaci clasusfy the e of the an- public Prof. Hall. ld place and one at the two skilled laborers ‘and five 5. J. Drown is now on tem- © Washington observatory, at three watchmen at the new grouuds, ‘y dnty att Madison, Wis. THE WORK DONE. The work of the observatory consists of as- tronomical observations tending to the ad- vancement of science, the working out of by other branches of the nishing of an accurate time regulation to rd clocks in various parts of the country, are and testng of naval chronometers minor, kindred daties. The policy tution, the program of work, 18 de- termined by a board consisting of the superin- ndent and the j observers, who en- avor to keep in the track of modern research, sometimes being m the lead, some- times prod corroborative | rewults, Some exe uable ——astronom- qeai data hoy en lately spread + world throagh the pub- al, ‘This work is now four ind in its issue. It was hoped he observatory would be enabled to take part in the grand uiternational scheme of pho- tographing the heavens, but an appropriation for the proper instruments could not be ob- tained in time. ‘The largest work now in view is the co-operative observation of the position of ali stars in the fieid of view included in the zouv allotted to tue observatory. It is an in- ternational project. nearly every observatory in the worid participating. An appropriation of $10,000 has been made tor the purchase of a six-inch meridian cirele, which will be rendy in time for the ‘The old obser of the + s, When they are will probabiy remain in the possession of the government and will be used as the repository Lor extra in- struments, both naval and as: mical. This isftor the present only, its future disposition being a matter of dout +3 — Heroes. The following poem will be read with inter- est. It dovs not appear in any of Mr. Brown- ing’s published works, bat it is to be tound in # collection of ‘Balliol Songs” privately printed some two or three years ago, Mr. Browning, though not in the strict sense an Oxtord man, was honorary fellow of Balliol college, and this poci of his stands first in the little collection of college songs. Thronging thro they, the taces Faint revealed yet sure divined, the famous “What,” they smile, “our names, our deeds so ases 1 his tablet where Life's glory lies the cloud rifts, whose are 4 clang God's ‘Come?’ and each di to forward face, not sneaks to lag behind! “How of th I Led, fleld’s fortune? That concerned our r! iruck ourstroke, nor cared fur doings eft and righ Each as on his sole head, failer or succeeder, Lay the blame or lit the praise; no care for cowards: light.” Lrift broalens, spanning earth a Wide our world displays its worth, man’s strife and strife s success; All the good and veauty, wonder crowning won- r, "heart and soul applaud perfection, nothing less, —Man ter — oo —____ SUICIDE TO ORDER. Terrible Use to Which Hypnotism is Being Put. + From the Pall Mall Badget, Science not only accounts for a great deal, but has a great deal to account for, The other day M. Chareot publicly hypnotized a gen- darme and then told him to assassinate Mr. Grevy, whom he would find in the corner of the garden, The poor constable went out and stabbed a tree with a paper knife and came buck trembling and confessed the mar- der, Such feats have been done in Leeds as wellasin Paris, and we know what is the power of the magnetizer, It has hitherto been one of the fairy tales of science, but now it is said to have added a new and terrible chapter tothe records ot crime, One waits for proof, but accusation is definite enough. One mulefactor, a French hbertine actually in the hands of the police, is suid to have se- lected his victims, choosing those of an emo- tional temperament, and then to have mag- netized them and ordered them to commit suicide One poor girl did do so. Law and science are equally interested in the result of au vestigation Which, it is said, will very shortly be held. If the tacts are proved the tion will arise whet! the offense ac- yamouuts to what the law recognizes as If not we certaimly ought to have a new law, and we shall probabiy have anew word, “To suicide @ person” seems a contra- diction in terms, From the London Kialto. Here is a {story of a sotto voce communica- tion that must have greatly troubled its recipi- ent. It seems that a famous impersonator of Lady Mucheth wes starring in America when it was still customary for the local managers to provide the supporting company, The star had been uccidcntally detained on her journey toaremote theater. She arrived in ‘time to her dress only the scene. The erformers W 3 toher. At the conclusion of her first soiloquy a me: ger should enter to announce the coming ot A-ng Duncan, Bat what was her amazement to hear, in answer to her demand, “What is your ti not the usual reply, “Lhe king com omght,” but the whisper spoken from be- hind a Scotch bounct upheld to prevent the words reaching the ear of the audience, “Hush, Dia Macieth, We've cut the messenger out—go on, ple as fair as any dream, showy satin drest; All pe she ‘The thousand amps upon her beauty gleam Andon the fragrant lilies at her b east, My lilies! -tuat f brought he rsago And be for my sake, And ail ny veing burned with joyous glow ‘Vo see Ler tauy hands my blussoms tke, ‘The throng of swains a’ Jectly crowd around And sue for her regard with eages ; And yet not one of them, J trow, ‘The blesseu prize for Which he fondly prays, ‘On speeds the dance; an. I—1 stand apert And watch my quecu whose love my rivals crave; And, as | feel 'tis L wno have her heart, I g.oat upon the lides that I gave. ancers pause; I start, in mad surprise, A Mush illu Ler rounded cheek and throat— She's pinning there, before my very eyes, One of my lilies in her, parther’s coat! A.carse upon the maid Who thus can strike ‘This biow in wis, my bh ‘st of hours, And curse the day 1 squandered, gilly-like, ‘Ten dollars on that Wretched Dunch of flow'rs} —Chwayo soe Railroad Accidents and Human Life. From the New York Herald. During the year 1889 accidents on railroads involving human life were: Passengers killed. 815 Passengers injured 2.133 Employes killed “2,070 Employes injured, Other persous kille -2,997 Other persons injured £3,602 Total persons killed 25,282 ‘Total persons injured. 5,888 But the reports do not cover the total mile- age of the country; only 99,792 per cent of it. it the accident rate was the same on the roads not reporting the total number killed was 5,693 and the total injured 27,888, These are the returns made by the railroad companies themselves and they cannot well be suspected of exaggeration, Neither is there, on the other hand, any reason to suppose that they are not, in most cases, complete and prepared with per- fect good faith. An idea of how great the risk is to railroad employes is shown by the records of the Brotherhood of men. One in 83 of the 10,052 members is killed yearly and vne in 60 injured. A brakeman has only one rots in 4.7 of being allowed to die a natural Sidney Dillon, hew of Hi Dil- jon of New York, accidentally shot and uunself while out hunting on his farm 10 miles northwest of Omaha, ‘there are | ; the coast survey, the fur- | WASHINGTOW’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS. | Superintendent Powell Makes a Number of Recommendations. BIS PLAN FOR RELIEVING THE PRESSURE ON THE HIGH SCHOOL—THE FIRST YEAR'S WORK TO BE DONE RLSEWHERE—THE NEED OF ADDITIONAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS—MANUAL TRAINING AND HEALTH EXERCISES. Mr. Wm. B. Powell, superintendent of the white schools of the District, has prepared his annual report, which is now in the hands of the District Commissioners, “Congress,” he says. “has provided liberally for the erection, extension and improvement of school buildings during the last three years. Most of our schools are taught on full time. Very few schools above the second grade have been restricted to half-day time. This has been gratifying. A marked improvement in the character of the schools has been the result, If this liberality is continued for one or two years more our accommodations will be adequate, allthat can be desired, after which we shall need to provide only for the annual increase or growth, It should be remembered, however, that in making our present estimate we must consider he wants of 39.000 children, We ought also © consider especially the probable growth of ome portions of the city or District not now Provided with schoois, _ The following schools will be needed by the time they can be appropriated for and built (if the city continues to grow) to prevent the extension of half-day schools into the third and fourth grades: An eight-room building in each of the first, second, third and fourth divisions; asixor eight-room house at Eckington or Brooks; an exght-room room building at Ana- costia, which could be erected on the lot now owned by the District, THE HIGH SCHOOL PROBLEM. Provision must be made for the accommo- dation of children attending the high school. ‘The annex, now building, will no more than meet the present demands, After the addition 1s completed and the then new high school occupied onr accommodations for high school pups wil! be exhausted, LTrespecttully suggest that the present high school is large enough, if. indeed, it is not already too large. i Itis not practicable, per- haps, to_ establish other co-ordinate Ff h sctiools, I do not believe it desirable. The plant for such a school is expensive. It is always expensive to manage such a plant, as only experts can manage it profitably, ‘The limi ations in salaries insisted upon byCon- gress make it imporsible for us to employ the number of experts required tor more than one high school, I believe, however, that the so- Intion of this question is easy and practicable. ‘The first year's work of the present high school might be done advantageously, perhaps more ips tably than it is now done, in the respective ocalities where these children live. Pients for these auxiliary high schools, or local high schools, or division high schools, would not be expens' This first year’s work is: Academic—English, history, algebra, Latin, ical geography lish, history, algebra, T lectures on physiology and physical geog- man. raphy Business—English, history, algebra, book- keeping and business arithmetic, lectures on physiology and physical geography. The work of this © can be done without much xpparams, “Ihe science work is that which natare affords and is studied better in the field or fresh fromthe ficld than in any other place or under any other conditions, The work 1m mathematics requires no apparatus, The work in English, which should be em- phasized and extended, requires only such libraries as we are now trying to furnish for our eighth-grade schools, ‘I'wo or three such schools might be opened another year in build- ings now owned. ‘The advantages and disad- vantages of this scheme I will not here discuss, I present the question as one that demands so- tution for the immediate future and refer you with gratification to remarks on the game sub- ject by Supervising Principals Stuart and Januey, a part of this report, ATTENDANCE, The attendance upon the schools during the year was good. The increased attendance in the first six divisions was peculiar in that it was confined almost wholly to the upper grades, the increases or decreases being as follows: Whole enrollment, Grades. sy a 3 ¢ e(elie|¢ a |? 1/8/58] 8 “ ba Ss a SOS ees Se Normal school. | 40 High school . 997 Total.. Grammar schools: Eighth grade . beventh grade Sixth grade... Fitth grade. . Total........ Primary schools: Fourth gra ‘Third grade Second grade First grade. Total.......... Grand total. . Tam unable to account for the fact that the increased attendance was almost wholly in the upper grades of the schools—that is, in the frammar grades andthe high school. It could not have been because of the crowded condition of schools of lower grade compared with that of upper grades, nor could it have been due to inconvenience of location of the lower-grade schools. Nor was it because the lower-grade schools received less care and attention on the part of the supervising corps than those of the upper grades, for the facts were quite the con- trary, Perhaps it was a mere accident of con- ditions which may be reversed auother year. { think, however, that the hali-day sy obtaining wholly in’ the primary schools is, in part, the reason forthe relative small enroll- ment. 1 believe more firmly year by year that we should seck strenuously to provide a school room for each school and 4 seat for each pupil presenting lumself for instruction, to the end that the daily sessions of the primary schools may be lengthened, It may not be wise—I think would not be wise—to give them full time. Our school rooms are clean, well venti- luted and healthful; our school exercises are interesting, diversified and health-giving Short sessions induce didactic teaching and “cramming;” longer time gives opportumty for correct teaching and healthful training. There are no valid arguments for half-day sehoe here are many reasons why the children should be in school longer each day. Irespecttully suggest the propriety of ex- tending the school day of the primary schools to four and a half hours, of two sessions. These schools might begin at half past 9 o'clock, tak- ing the ordinary noon recess from 12 to 1, and to close at 3, with the other grades. If it is thought unwise to extend the time of all the | sete! schools, I respectfully suggest that it be made lawful for the superintendent, with the advice of the supervising principal and the consent of the local trustee, to extend the time of any school. I make this last suggestion, because in my visits I frequently find school rooms closed, the children having been sent home after the prescribed school day, where I am confident the children would be better off to be trained more and taught more. This is especially true in some of the schools of the county, Many of the children belonging to these schools will attend school but one, two or three years at most. Some of them are more than six years of age when they enter school. It is not an uncommon to find chil- dren in the rural schools eight or ten ears old, in the first grade, mak- g their first attempt at learning to read. Sech pupils require more time and attention. It would be eminently wise, in my jus ent, to give them more time and attention in- creasing the length of the school day. I be- ieve, also, that most nts interested jbe gratified by this ruling. ss = TRUANCY, I take the liberty to renew the suggestion made last year thata truancy officer be ap- pointed, to ascertain who do not attend school and why they do not attend school, to the end that the benefits of the schools may reach all for whom they are designed, The consideration of school attendance sug- gests the question of text books for the chil- dren, According to the rules of the board the text Seer ag ore ennes io children hese perso as and that others are wholly deprived of thi privileges of school. It were foily to say that this need not be so. The condition exists; the children are not in school. They should be. Their education is demanded by the interests of the community, Again, many children are withdrawn from school before they would be if their nts were able to furnish the books req by their advancement and promotion. A large number of children, therefore, get only modicum of education. The interests of the state demand a broxder learning and a more thorongh disciplining than these children get. Again, there is much waste to the community at large in the purchase of text books by in viduals, as many of these books are used but for a short time and, being of littte or no value as library books, are destrored or thrown aside. To prevent this unnecessary outlay and, what is infinitely more important to the state. to insure a desirable minimum education of every child, I pelieve the state should furnish the text books as well as the instraction. Trespectfully recommend that the board of trustees request the honorable Commissioners to ask of Congress an appropriation for the purchase of text books to be used in our schools, Many school districts, many cities and several states of the Uuion now farnish text books for their schools, so the subject is not a new one, nishing text books to the community will be Telatively small, being less than €1 per scholar per annum after the first rear. The outlay the first year will be necessarily greater than thia, The American community is more interested today in having every child benefited by its schools than it is in having the character of its schools improved. Not how high shall we take our schoois nor how broad shall we make our courses of instruction, but how may every child be reached and be made a safer and a bet- ter member of the community, is the problem to be solved. Any movement or instrumental- ity that reaches down and uplifts will give vilue to the school system and compensauon to the tax payer. HEALTH EXERCISES, The decision of the trustees to give to the schools systetaatic training in health exercises is no doubt a wise one. course of health exercises may safely be left to grow under wise care, much investigation and something of experiment, Perhaps uo one system now known i3 either practicable in the public schools or desirable fer the Americen citizen. We train men for different purposes in life from most other nations. The man in the American community isa unit whose relations ¥o the state differ widely from the reiations of the man whose state requires of him a number of the best years of his lite in military service. Not great strength, abnormal development, but good he. ment, are desirable. Some exercises from the German system, some from the Swedish, some from the many American systems, may be united as experiment and experience may dictate, MANUAL TRAINING. The introduction of manual training bas caused some change in school management. It is the consensus of opinion, almost unan- imous, that a decided advantage has been gained by this innovation, All concede that ho academic loss bas been sustained. The majority agree that a positive, appreciable gain has been made iu the academic studies, A few are disturbed by the interruption of time-hon- ored programs, while the majority report no inconvenience from this source and report in- creased love of school, increased interest in all studies, better appreciation of what is taught aud why it is taught, better understanding of the relation between what is taught and the affairs of life, and resulting therefrom broader and more intelligent grasp and, consequently, greater cheertulness and less disposition to consider the school as a place for tasks and the teacher as a taskmaster. When it is con=idered how small relatively is the increased expense to our schools it must be conceded that the above enumerated results amply repay the community for all expense and the school authorities for all trouble incident to the incorporation of manual training wath the school work of the child. The educative value of creation, the causinj of something to be that takes form, with relate: parts that has value, that is made for a purpose that is clearly seen, compared with the educa- tive value of lesson learning, need not be dis- cussed. Both are valuable; neither is enoug’ Exch is made more valuable by the help of other. In spite of all efforts, and they have been legion, to make schools other than places for conning lessons, such has ever been prevailing characteristic, changed not only the methods of work but also the purpose of work in most of the leading col- leges and universities of the land. ‘The intro- duction of kindergarteu with its processes has changed not only the methods, but the purpose of primary instruction. It is needless to say that the kindergarten methods and the scientific university methods are the same in principle. innovations have made such in the two extremes of our educational sys- tems comparatively little improvement has been made in the teaching of those grades of schools lying between these two extremes, It is true that, to some extent, high schools have been affected by the work done above them; intermediate schools have been affected by the work done below them, These results have been adventitious, The great mass of intermediate schools today are authoritative and didactic on the part of the teaching, un- challenged and memoriter on the part of the learning. We have found that manual training, con- nected as it is with all grades of our schools, related as it isto almost every branch of study pursued, has changed the processes of teach- ing and given the teacher a new and better purpose of instruction, has changed the process of learning and given the pupil, at everv step in his work, an intelligent and tangible purpose for such work. Thus today does the work of our schools in all grades more nearly corre- spond to that of the university or the kinder- garten, different _ in grade. Another year it will be possible to extend the sewing, the cooking and the shopwork into the suburban schools and vive to them all the ad- vantages afforded the city schools, NIGHT SCHOOLS. The night schools were better attended dur ing the past year than ever before, though the attendance fluctuates, This fluctuation impairs the value of these schools very greatly. If a wider range of subjects could be taught, thus giving a better choice of subjects, the attend- ance would be greater in these schoo! It is not clear, however, how this change could be accomplished without materially in- creasing the expense of these schools, There is, nevertheless, no doubt that some forms of manual training may be advantageously in- troduced, such, for instance, as sewing and cooking. At least, however, an experiment in this direction raight be made another year by the opening of one sewing school and one cooking school. If either or both should fail to succeed the loss would be inconsiderabie, while the experience would be satisfying, I believe aiso that an advanced grade of school should be opened for those who have at- tended so reguiarly during the past few years that they have practically completed the course thus far provided for them. I am led to this behef by cp expressions of desire of such a grade on the,part of many pupils, as also by many expressions of opinion on the part of teachers of night schools, that a higher grade of work is now desirable. “Should such a ew be opened it should Spay located and permission given to puy im all parts of the city to attend it, SUPERVISION. It is my duty to call your attention again to the fact that the supervision of the schools is inadequate. Diligent, conscientious and effi- cient as our supervisors are, than whom there are no better, 1t is impossible for therm to know as much about the schools as they should know with the great number they have to supervise, This number is inci It must follow that our supery perfect and less effective every year. ‘The rela- tive amount of supervision of the Wasi 2 schools is astonishingly small compared with the schools of other cities of like size, At deast two additional supervisors are necessary in first six divisions. The necessity is almost im- perative. It may be desirable to assign one of $ The additional expense of fur- | The arrangement of a th, elasticity, symmetrical develop- h. | cost of splendid the | language of the board, * their i The introduction of scientific studies by ecientitic processes has | at the Fit: WHAT NEW YORK Is DOING. Gothamites Talking About What They Wil Do With the Exposition. ALL EYES TURNED TOWARD DEPEW as TRE OFN- ERAL MAXAGER—BIO ENGINEFRING SCREMES— EXPENSIVE PAUPERS—THE EVAPORATION of STEWART'S MILLIONS —TNE ANOELUS GOS WEST, Correspondence of Tu Fvextxe Stan. New Yous, January 17. New York has settled back comfortably te | | the conviction that the world’s fair will be held | Within its borders and that Chauncey M. De- | Pew will be the director general, The strength of Chicago is thought to have evaporated and | our ouly rival now is supposed to be Washing- |ton. Aud if it is to come here there is really | only one New Yorker who is qualified to fill the requirenments for a general manager, to wit, the omnipresent and ever-acceptable Depew. But how can the busy president of the New York Central add another great burden to those he already carries? To which inquiry the only reply is that “Our Chauncey's” capacities for Management seem to be unlimited. As the maxim says of the «rave yard, he takes every- thing that comes along. If, indeed, he is chosen for the place and takes it he will undoubtedly make a brilliant administration. GREAT ENGINEERING PROIRCTS. Preliminary to the expected fair a number of the most important enginecring works are rapidly going forward. After a year’s inac- tion rapid transit schemes are again actively | discussed both here and at Albany. There | bas been a vicious effort made to connect Grover Cleveland's name discreditably with one of these projects. but it has not » in hurting him. I may say in passing that the ex-President may expect this style of war- fare from now on. His enenues evidently think that they find a vulnerable point in his counec- tion with large corporation mtcrests, and they will do their best to rough this line of attack. Ane gineering: scheme contempla| over the East river, with the New York terminas at the foot of Grand street. Work is rapidly pro= ressing in the North Kiver tunnel, and that undertaking will probably be finished by "92. It has also been proposed to throw a suspen- sion bridge across the North river from the Tiver front of the tair site to the high land opposite on the Jersey shore. This sounds like a wild scheme, and yet it was proposed nearly half a century ago by Peter Cooper, and careful estimates were made at that ime that demonstrated its mechanical feasibility, In fact. as one of the leading engineers of the city tells me, a suspension bridge actually did exist at this pomt for some years in the shape of a single telegraph wire which hung between two towers on either side of the stream. As my informant added, it involves merely an application of the rule of three to con- struct a similar bridge strong enough to carry any trafic, Nut the estimated cost uf such @ structure is in the neighborhood of $50,000,000, and there is no prospect of a traftic that would meet the fixed charges of such an enterprise, TRE, STATE'S HIGH-PRICED PAUPERS. In this age which—falsely, as it seemsto me— has the name of being hard-fisted and selfish one may find some interesting statistics in the annual report published yesterday of the state board of charities, The expenditures durin, the year for charitable, Correctional and reformatory work in this state amounts to =15,000,000, in round numbers. Then we must into consideration the fact that the ap- Ppraised value of the property held in the state tor these purposes is £58,000,000. A low interest on Which, considered as an mvestment, would equal an annual expense of $3,000,000, making total expense account of about 18,000,000, The number of inmates of the various institutions of the state on October 1 was 67.781, Thus each pauper or criminal costs the public, on am average, about $265 a year; not « lavish sum, ethaps, but still an amount on which many ard-working people are able to live very decently. lu some respects the outlay for the dependent and detective classes is absurdly extravagant. Thus it is seen that each insane Person costs the public 5250a year; notso much for the current expenses a8 on account of the structures, which are, in the dapted more for loca! ornament and impressiveness than for the pur- pose claimed.” We have scolded and laughed at Uncle Sam time out of mind for an Indien olicy Which costs the government more per dian than if we boarded out our aborigines th Avenue hotel, but our management of the insane appears to be quite as absurd, JOHNNY JUMPS INSIDE THE PREASTWORKS, Johnny O'Brien is like pusley—he is a nuisance and he is extremely hard to eradicate, For over a year the party managers have been trying everr means to get r: flattered themselves next lot; and lo and behold! he sprouts forth in the meadow as vigorous and prolific as ever, At a meeting of the republican organization in the eighth district the deposed leader, who so lately petritied President Harrison by tele- graphing to him that, like Warner Miller, he was now lying outside the breastworks, jumped briskly up, sprang quickly over the ramparts und distributed cards of imvitation from within signed athome. To drop these rather metaphors, O'Lrien has completely captured the local machine and is again in full aud regue jar standing in the party. WHAT REMAINS OF THE STEWART FORTUNE. One of the sensations of the week has been the news of the coliapse of a historic fortune, for to this end has the Stewart litigation come, To be xu the lawyers have left about eleven or twel ions, which might be held to con- stitute a great fortune even im these eight and nive figure times, Dut it isasad shrinkage of the original estimates. It is supposed that Judge Hilton and the herd of heirs will divide such of the spoil as the lawyers have left about equally, the share of each being in the neigh- borhvod of $6,000,000. The settlement of the case leaves the settlement of the mystery as far off as ever. Public curioxity has never been sutixticd as to the marvelous ascendancy which Judge Hilton gained over both Mr. and Mra, Stewart. ‘Lhe reasons assigned for this influ. ence cover the whole gemut from the noblest to the meanest explanation, Then, too, remains the somber mystery of Stewart's real sepulcher. But in this mutter there isa gen- eral disposition to believe that the remains now lie in peace and saiety in the tomb at the cathe- ART MONUMENTS OLD AND NEW. The doctors have been sliding up and down the obelisk and studying its cracks for some time, and the upshot of their investigations is that the recent stories of its disintegration are not well founded. At the same time the mono- lith does keep on cracking and peeling ina quiet forty-century way «nd will not be worth much @ thousand years from now unless itis put under cover. In more recent art yesterday we bade good- by for atime to the Angelus, which is now on its way to Chicago to burst —s those cultured circles of which Mr. Eugene Ficid has given the world such graphic accounts, We have also bidden a longer farewell to that splendid line of paintings which represented the Walters gallery and to the very interesting bronze groups from the Corcoran art gallery. The exhibition was a very brilliant success in am artistic sense, but it did not make much money for the Barye fund, The total receipts, it is thought, did not exceed $50,000, out of which large expenses had to be met. Presently the Angelus is to be brought back to New York and mad» the center of anew gallery which the association is to build on 42d street, Mean- while the vacated chambers are in the hands of the workmen, unto shay tellect HERESY THAT LIGHTS NO FIRES. In theology the event of the week has beer the Plymouth council, at which Dr, Lyman Abbott submutted his particular creed tom council representing the more advanced wing of the C tional church and certain friendly epirits in other denominations, The confession of faith which the doctor i Hi j He i i SF. Fri i i i i ai

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