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in city and country by graduates shows the practical aims which are cherished by the school and the success in carrying them out.

The correspondence work of this school is growing in importance and numbers. The work of the school is being strengthened and widened from year to year.

The roll of students for the year was as follows:

Seniors_____

Middlers

Juniors___.

Special students.

Unclassified______

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Evening institute:

Fourth year..

Third year
Second year.

First year--

Correspondence students matriculated as university students_

Total.

Correspondence students not matriculated as university students____.

8

6

11

21

46

14

110

61

Of these, 6 received degrees, 7 received diplomas, and 7 received testimonials. Twenty were graduated from the school in medicine, 24 in dentistry, and 13 in pharmacy; and in the school of law 21 students received degrees, while 30 received degrees from the college of arts and sciences. Forty-two received degrees and diplomas in the teachers' college.

The president of the institution, in commenting upon the needs thereof, states that:

It is scarcely possible to overestimate the worth of the work Howard University is doing for the population of the whole country, white and black. As the higher education produces its proper effects upon the colored race the welfare of both races is affected for the better. It is for the advantage of both races that our lawyers, doctors, dentists, druggists, ministers, teachers, and business men should go out with high training. The numbers under our care promise to grow larger and larger.

In order to handle this great student body successfully, we need, first of all and at once, an adequate auditorium. In any general exercise we can seat only a small part of the whole number. We need a hall of music for our growing conservatory, which is in cramped quarters; a suitable indoor gymnasium; and an administration building for our present ill-arranged business offices. We need larger laboratories and added equipment in various departments. We need two or three professorships in order to bring our work up to the scope of the best college standards. The need of these things is pressing upon us acutely. We need relief in some way before long.

We try to train our students not only in classroom work, but in patriotism and morals. Civic duties are emphasized by many lectures. A spirit of service is cultivated. We commend this university as one of the great, wholesome, and beneficial institutions of the country.

Appropriations.-Although the institution was established in 1867, no appropriation was made by Congress for its support until March 3, 1879, when $10,000 was appropriated " for maintenance." From that date up to March 4, 1915, the date of the approval of the last sundry civil act, Congress has appropriated for the university a total of $1,781,340.

Property. The treasurer of the institution in a report dated October 1, 1915, says the total value of all property belonging to the university at the close of the fiscal year, June 30, 1915, was $1,716,518.74, of which $409,383.13 represents endowments, unproductive land fund, cash in bank, etc. The remainder of the property belonging to the university, valued at $1,307,135.61, consists of the following: Land, $615,691.50; buildings, $551,923.91; and equipment, $139,520.20.

This large property has been accumulated mainly from donations and the sale and the increase in value of about 120 acres of land originally purchased and subdivided by the university. The annual congressional appropriations have been mainly for the payment of salaries, the purchase of supplies, care of grounds, and other current expenses. Two buildings and a portion of the equipment thereof have also been provided from Government appropriations.

On January 6, 1911, the president of Howard University advised the department that the board of trustees of the institution had adopted the following resolution:

It is the sense of the board of trustees of Howard University that the act of Congress dated March 2, 1867, be amended by the addition thereto of the following sections:

XI. In the event that any of the buildings erected for the university by moneys appropriated by Congress shall cease to be used for the purposes of education as provided in the first section of the said act of Congress, the title to the said buildings and the land on which they stand shall vest in the United States in fee simple.

XII. Hereafter the United States shall be represented on the board of trustees of Howard University by at least five judicial or executive officers who shall have been nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate of the United States for such offices.

The Government, however, up to this time has had no representation on the board of trustees of the university, and has no title to the buildings erected or improvements made to buildings from congressional appropriations. In the annual reports for the last four preceding years the Secretary of the Interior in discussing this subject has said:

Considering the magnitude of the appropriations made by Congress for the maintenance, improvement, etc., of the university and the statement of the president thereof, it is manifest that the Government should have greater supervision over the institution, and it is therefore recommended that the act of incorporation of March 2, 1867, be so amended as to give the Government

a proper representation on the board of trustees, that appropriations made by Congress shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, and that the institution be required to protect the United States against possible transfer or loss of the lands upon which buildings have heretofore or may hereafter be erected from funds provided by the Government.

COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF.

The number of deaf pupils and students remaining in the instution on July 1, 1914, was 110; admitted during the year, 41; total, 151; admitted for the school year 1915-16, 37. From July 1, 1914, to July 1, 1915, there were under instruction 85 males and 66 females; a total of 151; of whom 108 have been in the collegiate department, representing 34 States, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Wales; and 43 in the primary department. Of these 35 were admitted as beneficiaries of the District of Columbia. During the fiscal year 32 were discharged from the institution by graduation and otherwise.

One case of typhoid fever and two cases of diphtheria were successfully treated; the general health of students and pupils, however, was good. A dental room was conducted during the year.

The course of instruction was not changed, except for the extension of work in business methods. Regular instruction in agriculture began last year and has been continued with success.

The total receipts for the year, including $1,130.84, cash on hand July 1, 1914, were $119,655.63; the total expenses were $118,810.56; leaving a cash balance on hand June 30, 1915, of $845.07.

At the close of the year the following degrees were conferred: One master of arts, 1 bachelor of pedagogy, 5 bachelors of arts, 2 bachelors of science, 1 bachelor of letters, and 3 normal certificates.

The department has no supervision over the expenditures of the appropriation made by Congress or general supervision over the administration of the affairs of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf. The only duty devolving upon the Secretary of the Interior in relation to this institution at this time is the reception of the annual report thereof and the admission of indigent deaf-mutes of the several States and Territories to that institution for instruction in the collegiate branch thereof. Legislation should be enacted by Congress placing the control and maintenance of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf under the president and board of directors thereof, and requiring them to report directly to Congress as to the administration of the institution.

MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.

Section 2 of the act of Congress approved May 29, 1858 (11 Stat., 294), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to place for instruction in an institution for the blind, in the State of Maryland or some

other State, the indigent blind children of teachable age who are children of persons actually engaged in the military and naval services of the United States. No permits for this class of beneficiaries were issued during the past year.

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL BUILDING AND GROUNDS.

The Superintendent of the United States Capitol Building and Grounds, in his annual report of the operations of his office, states under the head of general repairs that a new ventilating fan has been installed over the ceiling of the Supreme Court Chamber, that the central building has been whitewashed, and as a result of successful experiments in the lighting of the west main entrance of the Capitol by the installation of incandescent lamps in place of arc lamps it has been determined to carry this improved method of lighting to other portions of the terrace, north and south. Preliminary work has been started toward the reconstruction of the steps leading to the central section of the Capitol, new steps of granite having been determined upon to replace the old steps. In the resurfacing of the terraces of the Capitol the aim has been not only to provide a new surface, but to make this surface waterproof. To accomplish this the exterior surface has been removed; expansion joints formed and treated with a waterproofing compound adaptable to changes in temperature, the structural surface covered with sheets of cotton saturated with the waterproofing compound, all joints welded by ironing into a continuous sheet upon which has been laid the wearing surface of concrete provided with expansion joints at proper intervals, and around the edges these joints being filled with the compound referred to. Six thousand three hundred and thirty-two square yards of resurfacing have been completed. In the Senate wing of the Capitol new electric-light fixtures have been installed in the Senate lobby, Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, marble room, reception room, and old post-office room, and the chandelier in the President's room has been remodeled and refinished, while a thorough cleaning and painting has been given the Senate Chamber and entrances, corridors, press gallery, restaurant, stairways, skylight room in crypt, toilets, and rooms of Committee on Rules, and those occupied by the Capitol police. All elevators have been repaired, new cables installed as needed, and by the introduction of equalizers a saving has been made in the number of feet of cable to be replaced. In the House wing of the Capitol electric-light fixtures have been installed in the Speaker's room and in that of the majority leader. The following rooms have been cleaned and painted: House Chamber, cloakrooms, Speaker's rooms, main entrances, Committee

on Appropriations, Clerk's office and rooms, restaurant, library station, skylights, and toilets. A new toilet and lavatory has been installed in the southeast corner of Statuary Hall, and in the heating and ventilating department the hot-water boilers have been equipped with new pipes, new Anderson traps fitted to the steam coils, new valves installed, and valves and other fittings repaired as needed. The elevators have been carefully inspected, and the old cables have been replaced by new as required.

Senate Office Building.-Extensive repairs have been made to the copper roofing to remedy the defects caused by storms. The post office of the Senate has been permanently transferred from the Capitol to this building and the office fixtures have been furnished in steel. The hot-water pipes have been covered throughout the entire heating system with a suitable covering, new awnings and shades of the best material have been installed, and general repairs attended to.

House Office Building.—In addition to the general maintenance, the stone coping has been gone over and thoroughly pointed up, the roof inspected and repaired, and preparations for the overhauling and painting of the rooms are being made. The approaches to this building at the corner of First and B Streets have been reset and are again in the course of repair.

Engine house and Senate and House stables.-In the Senate stable and engine house a new heating plant has been installed of sufficient capacity to heat all the buildings. New down spouts and guttering for the stable building and carriage shed have been installed, new floors laid, and minor repairs attended to.

Capitol power plant.-Conditions at the Capitol power plant have been marked by the high grade of service rendered and the absence of interruptions from breakdowns.

Botanic Gardens.-In addition to the customary repairs and necessary remodeling, there have been distributed to different sections of the country over 300,000 plants, trees, and shrubs, 29 new varieties of orchids have been added to the collection, and 8 bay trees have been purchased for the adornment of one of the walks.

Courthouse, District of Columbia.-Painting at the courthouse during the past year has been extensive, the suites of five justices, the offices of the marshal, register of wills, basement corridors, and over 40 other rooms in the building have been given attention.

Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-in Asylum.-In October, 1914, the structural walls of this hospital, destined to be one of the finest maternity hospitals of the present time, were completed. Installation of the woodwork was completed in June, and the painting of the interior is now progressing rapidly. In the selection of the equipment the advice of experts in the various lines of equip

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