Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/567

 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 445

cousisted of a Mayor, and Boards of Aldermeu and Common Council, similar to those in other cities. A territorial form of government was established in the District on June 30, 1871, with a Governor and Legislative Assembly and a Board of Public Works as its main features, and continued until June 20, 1874, when it was succeeded by a temporary board of three Commissioners appointed by the President of the United States, which was in turn supj)lauted on July 1, 1878, by the present form of local govern- ment, which is a municipal corporation having jurisdiction over the terri- tory ceded by the State of Maryland to the Congress of the United States for the permanent seat of the Government of the United States.

This government is administered by a board of three Commissioners having in general equal powers and duties. Two of these Commissioners, who must have been actual residents of the District for three years next before their appointment, and have during that period claimed residence nowhere else, are appointed from civil life by the President of the United States, and confirmed by the Senate of the United States, for a term of three years each, and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The other Commissioner is detailed from time to time by the President of the United States from the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, and shall not be required to perform any other duty. This Commissioner shall be selected from among the captains or ofiicers of higher grade having served at least fifteen years in the Corps of Engineers of the Army of the United States. Three officers of the same corps, junior to said Commissioner, maybe detailed to assist him, by the President of tlie United States, and act in his stead, m the order of seniority, during his absence. The Commissioners are in a general way vested with jurisdiction Covering all the ordinary features of municipal government. Congress has, by sundry statutes, empowered them to make and enforce reasonable and usual police regulations for the protection of lives, health, quiet, &c., of all jtcisons, and the protection of all property within the District, and other regulation of a municipal nature.

Secretary to the Board of Commissioner's. — William Tindall.

The area of the District of Columbia originally was about ten miles square, but by the retrocession to the State of Virginia, in the year 1846, of the portion derived from that State, was reduced to 69*245 square miles, 60 '01 of which are land.

The poijulation in 1800 numbered 14,093; in 1820, 33,039; in 1840, 43,712; in 1860, 75,080; in 1880, 177,624; in 1900, 278,718; in 1910, 331,069; in 1912, 350,843, of whom 96,612 were of the negro race or of negro descent, generically denominated 'colored.'

A portion of the District of Columbia embracing 6,654 acres is known as theCity of Washington. But that name is, and has been sinse June 30, 1871, a geographical distinction only, as the territory it includes is not a munici- pality separate from the rest of the District, but is subject to the same government in every respect.

The most numerous religious bodies are : Pioman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Protestant Episcopal, and Presbyterian.

The public schools of the District in September, 1912, had 1,180 white teachers and 39,118 white pupils, and 557 negro teachers and 18,663 negro pupils. There were 7 public high schools with 287 teachers and 6,598 pupils; and 32 private schools with 2,000 pupils. For the instruction of teachers there were 2 public normal schools with 33 teachers and 331 pupils.

Superior education is given in Georgetown College, an institution under the management of the Jesuit Order, founded in 1795 ; it has 158 professors and 1,375 pupils : the George AVashington Univeirsity, non-sectarian,