Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/380

WASHINGTON. On the heights north of Georgetown and near the line of Massachusetts Avenue is an extended group of white marble buildings where the work of the Naval Observatory is carried on. Still to the north and east is the site selected for the buildings that are being erected for the use of the Bureau of Standards. To the east is the United States Soldiers' Home in a beautiful park of 502 acres. On the opposite side of the Potomac, on the Virginia shore, is (q.v.), with a famous national cemetery. Adjoining these ample grounds is the reservation of Fort Myer, a cavalry post of the United States Army. Overlooking the city from the north side of the Anacostia are the towers of the Government Hospital for the Insane. On the point of land separating the Anacostia and the Potomac rivers are the Washington Barracks, now an artillery post and designated as the site of the War College. Near the old Navy Yard are the barracks of the Marine Guard, where is also the home of the famous Marine Band. . With the exception of the Mall, the plan of the city made no provision for extensive park space. There are, however, many open places scattered throughout the city, some of which are of sufficient size to warrant their being placed in the category of small parks. Their combined area is 617 acres. While this system of little parks is to remain a feature of the urban plan as applied to the territory beyond the original city limits, yet large areas have been and are to be reserved. The latest addition is Potomac Park, a domain of 739 acres, which has been reclaimed from the Potomac River. It is practically a continuation of the Mall and will afford water drives and other attractive features. The ponds used by the Fish Commission border this new reserve, and the water attractions are increased by a large tidal reservoir basin connected with the main channel of the Potomac. Another fine public reservation is the stretch of territory comprising the Zoölogical and Rock Creek parks, and containing 1775 acres. The land lies on either side of Rock Creek from Connecticut Avenue north to the District bounds, and is broken and picturesque. When the reclamation of the Anacostia Flats is completed another large addition will be made to the park area.

The statues throughout the city are numerous and, on the whole, meritorious. Many are effigies in bronze of distinguished soldiers and sailors. The latest addition is the statue of Rochambeau in Lafayette Park, which flanks the one erected on the east side of the same park in memory of Lafayette and his compatriots in the Revolutionary War. Abraham Lincoln is commemorated by a bronze group erected in Lincoln Park by the colored people. There are also memorials to those who have won distinction along paths other than military, as, for example, statues of Joseph Henry, Daniel Webster, Benjamin Franklin, Sanuiel D. Gross, Martin Luther, Samuel Hahnemann, John Marshall, and James A. Garfield.

. The public school system has the patronage of all classes of the community, and a smaller percentage of children attend private institutions than in the average city. The system includes all the approved modern features, from the technical

high school to kindergarten, night schools, and vacation schools. In 1902 there were 48,432 pupils enrolled, and the number of teachers was 1323. The school buildings numbered 124. The higher educational institutions are the (q.v.), the (q.v.), (q.v.), (q.v.), the (q.v.), and the Columbian Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. Law, medical, and dental schools are maintained in connection with the Columbian, Georgetown, National, and Howard universities. There are also a law school under the auspices of the Catholic University, and the Washington College of Law, primarily for women. In addition to the National College of Pharmacy, there is a pharmaceutical school in connection with Howard University. There is also a college of veterinary surgery. The American University, established by the Methodists, has extensive grounds near the city and one building has been erected, but the university has not yet been opened. Near the Catholic University are several affiliated colleges established by various orders for the education of their members. These include Saint Thomas College (Congregation of Saint Paul), the Marist Coliege, Holy Cross College, College of the Holy Land (Franciscans), Saint Austin's College (Society of Saint Sulpice), Trinity College for girls, and colleges conducted by the Dominicans and the Paulists. Housed in a splendid building on Seventeenth Street are the treasures of the Corcoran Gallery of Arts. An art school carried on in connection with the gallery has large classes in attendance.

. Washington contains a greater number of collections of books than any other city of its size in the world. There are no less than thirty-four libraries owned by the Government, besides the Public Library and those in educational institutions and in private hands. The aggregate number of books and pamphlets in these libraries is estimated to be more than 2,000,000. The Library of Congress, with 1,100,000 books and pamphlets, is one of the great general collections of the world. The various scientific bureaus of the Government have valuable special collections. Among these may be mentioned the great medical library of the Surgeon-General's Office, and the collections belonging to the Geological Survey, the Patent Office, the Smithsonian Institution, the Agricultural Department, the Bureau of Labor, the Weather Bureau, the Bureau of Education, the Naval Observatory, and the War, State, and Navy Departments. The Public Library is a free circulating library. It occupies a spacious marble structure on Mount Vernon Square, given by Andrew Carnegie. The library is controlled by a board of trustees, appointed by the District Commissioners. The Bar Association has a valuable library in the Court House, and there are also collections of books in the various educational institutions.

. The city is well supplied with hospitals, some of the leading ones being: Garfield, Providence, Freedmen's, Homœopathic, Emergency, Columbia Hospital for Women, Government Hospital for the Insane, Children's Hospital, and Columbian University Hospital. There are many dispensaries, asylums, homes, reformation and relief societies. Social