NEEQOFIMPROVEMENTj
Anacostia Flats Subject of Report
to Association.
VARIOUS EFFORTS REVIEWED
Memorials tj Csngress Urging Appro
pnations for the Work.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION
Recommendations and Estimates if
the Cost?Ownership of the Lands
in Question.
The conunUt^r on Anacostie flats of the
Anacostia Citizens' Association, consisting
of Kugene K. Thompson, chairman; H. A.
Pyles. A. Guile. J. W. Tolson, H. M. JohnBon,
George C. Ilavenner and George O.
Walson. at a meeting of the association
last evening. submitted a carefully prepared
report on the necessity for the improvement
of the Anacostla river, as follows:
"The nec.'ssitv for the improvement of
the Ana'-ostla river has been so fully recognized
by Congress, in several acts and
resolutions calling for surveys, or making
appropriations fur temporary relief to navigation,
that it hardly calls fur arguments
to eniphasiz the importance of tills work,
but were a committee appointee! to consider
and report t'pon tl.e most vital improvement
in the District of Columbia we
have no liisi'an y in saying that It
woul 1 reeimaiend immediate rc.'lamation
and improvement of the Anacostia
Hats.
"Your committee lias carefully considered
the various efforts that have been made
looking to the reclamation and improvement
of the Anacostia flats and we are of
the ojilnlon that the time has come when a
demand st.ould be m^de of Congress, as
well as the honorable board of Commissioners
o? the I'istrlct of Columbia, for a
sufficient appropriation to Immediately begin
this im[H>rtant work.
Memorials to Congress.
"From time to time memorials to Congress
have been made, urging upon them
the necessity . f appropriations for this
work vet lin to this time the < (Torts that
have been j t?: forth have resulted in but
two .steps?Hi st. a partial survey of the
Auari'sti i river. anil, second, an opinion as
to the tit!?* of iands both over and under
the water In the river. These two steps
were, however, very necessary to take and
they will serve as a foundation for further
work. The survey to which we refer is i
that made by ],ieut Col. Charles J Allen,
Corps of Kng neers. I'. S A., and is printed c
in House of Representatives document No. t
VM. Fifty-ninth Congress, first session, s
which for reference should be taken together
with the recommendations of Lieut, f
Col. Allen, as made to the Secretary of t
War. under date of December 1. 1S*.IS, and a
which were transmitted to Congress and v
printed in House of Representatives docu- a
ment No. ST. F-fty-fifth Congress, third r
session. The opinion is that of the Attor- j
ney General, under date of September 6. |
ltMKV and Is also printed in House of Repre- j
sentatives docueient No. 1!?4, Fifty-ninth
congress, nrst session, ana irom it we
would quote as follows:
" "The title of the United States to the
premises under consideration Is derived
from the same source and is of the same
nature as its title to what is known as the
Potomac flats, which has been judicially
established. It rests upon the cession
made by the act of the state of Maryland
of December '.St. 1THS, entitled "An act to
cedt- to Congress a district ten miles
square in this state," which was accepted
by the act of Congress, approved July 16,
lT!*i. and the act of March 3. 1701, amendatory
thereof and was subsequently ratified
by an act of the state of Maryland. '
passed December I'.', 17W1. By this legisla- '
l.uii iuc i iiiu u unaiiic inv t*iru
with the title to the shores and beds of
the navigable waters within the limits ot
the territory so ceded, embracing the Kastern
branch, or Anacostia river, as it was ]
then navigable, as well as the Potomac |
river. Trhlch title was held by the United
States (as It i :"viously was by the state)'
in trust for public purposes.
" 'The lands included within the Anacostia
flats, as shown by the said survey (re- (
ferring to the survey above mentioned),
appear to be either submerged or subject '
to tidal overflow by the waters of the
f.aMt-rn nrancn ana are a pari or me Deu
of the latter The accompanying papers
furnish no information as to the existence
of any private claims affecting these lan<ls
i t i t I 4*1...-. ri *v. ikft.1 ir?
i rin > i(i i.i' 1'iira, ^ IA ., urnv' 'uvu ??*
the samt- document). It is probable, however,
that claims to riparian rights and
wharflng privileges do exist on the part of
owners of property fronting on the Eastern
branch: and the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company, whose tracks cross
the flats in ouestion. mav have claims in I
connection with its right of way upon the
sam*1. Subject to the existence anil valid- i
Ity of such claim* if any. I think that i
the ownership of all the land embraced
within what is known as the Anacostla
flats, as indicated by the aforesaid sur- i
vey. is vested in the United States for pub- !
lie purposes.* i
Recommendation for Appropriation.
Vour committee recommends that Congress
be asked, both through t>he board of
commissioners and directly, to make a sufflclt
nt :inr>roi?ri:it ion to c:irrv out T.leiit
Cel. Allen's recommendations, in which it
is recommended that the channel be dredged
to the depth of feet at low tide, with a
width of 4?J0 feet to the Anacostia bridge
and a depth of ltt feet with a width of 300 to j
UOO feet to the Penning bridge, the deposit- ]
lng of the dredg> d material on Uhe tints and :
transporting material to raise the same to a !
height of 14 feet above low tide, including i
the erection of a sea-wall at an estimated
cost of $7,o?hmhVand this estimate, al- i
though made In W.?s. appears about correct
as of this date, but it is based on large and
continuous appropriations.
"On February Congress adopted a
joint resolution asking the board of Commissioners
to Mibmit to them a report upon
tlie improvement of t^ie flats, with recommendations
and estimates of the cost, and
to this resolution the board of Commission- j
ers replied asking for an appropriation of !
$ltM?oo to employ counsel to investigite afid
determine as far as possible as to tlie own- '
ership of the land and riparian rights along
th? Anacostia river before any attempt was
made to improve tie flats. Your committee
believes that as the Attorney General
has ri'l.tifl'i il .11. > -m as !o flu* no.'nop?3hln
of 11: lands i?i question .in appropriation
should he ask* 1 of the coming Congress
to begin this important work and th it out ,
of the first appropriation the sum of
or so much tinreof as may be necess.iry. I
shall he available f??i the employment of
special counsel to arry out the suggestions
of t! 1? hoard of Commissioners. provided |
such course he absolutely n?ii >siry. As it ,
will take a considerable time to improve |
the flats, why cannot we have t ie benefit j
of this time, and the titles, if they must he ,
examined, looked into while the work is go- J
ing on and thus save several years, and j
mum v. Kiii > ^ ir the la mis belt ng to the ,
Vnitc 1 States tiny oucht to be "llled, and ;
If they don't )<?*long to the I'nited States |
tli* \ arc a public nuisance and the I'nited j
Stat? -j should till them and charge the pro- j
port innate costs to the abutting: property j
owners.
Necessity for Starting Work.
"No >n? .in doubt the necessity for Immediately
starting this important work
from a commercial as well as a sanitary
demand. The trade and commerce of the
District of Columbia are growing, and
our wharting facilities are inadequate and
tax* d beyond their capacity. This improvement
will provide valuable and abundant
wharfage for years to come, anil the revenue
derived th? t\-from will undoubtedly be
a very rAounerntive income on the investment.
tn%iy nothing of approximately
14.(DO acres, or over <iO.<li)l>.iKK> square feet
of land, that wonltl he acquired in the reclamation
of the flats. If the lands were
sold at to cents a foof. which is an exlow
valuation, the return to the
Untied States at least pay for the
MAP SHOWIJ
ost of the improvement and we would
hen have eliminated the malignant inlanitary
conditions.
"The most imperative demand for the im>rovement
of these flats is based upor
heir insanitary effect on the entire city,
md particularly on persons living and
vorKing in meir immeuiaie vicirmy, anu
is to these insanitary conditions there is
10 question. Quoting from the 1897 re>ort
of tha surgeon general of the navy,
n speaking of tiny conditio!* of the Wash
ngton navy yard, he says:
" 'It is undoubtedly true that the healtl:
>f the yard cannot be secured unless th<
^nacostia flats be reclaimed. At St. Eliza
>etli Hospital, just opposite the navy yard
:he morbidity from malaria has very large
ty increased in the iast few years.'
"In the report for the year 1899 we quote
'Attention is again called to the conditio!
of the mud flats o(T the yard, and thli
condition will remain a menace to thi
health of the yard as long as measures an
not instituted for diverting the scweragi
from the Eastern branch entirely and de
livering it into the Potomac river." Thi
reclamation of the flats and wailing in boti
sid? s o^, the channel, as has been pro
pos -d. would tend to improve matters.'
Extracts From Other Reports.
In tha report for the year 19?-0 we quote
The influence of the flats of the Anacostir
river occupies ilie most important place ir
the consideration of the health of this yard
which for some years now has been a cen
Ler of malarial infection in the naval serv
Ice and the Marine Corps. Men placed 01
duty in {his yard are afterward sent t<
other shore stations or to ships, where the:
from time to time have returns of the fe
ver resulting from infection at-this place
Undoubtedly the interests of the servici
and of the city, demand the expenditure o
money, however great It may be, neces
sary to remove such an extensive cause o
sickness and distress.'
"In the report for the year 1901 we quote
" 'The flats of the Anacostia river eon
tinue to exert a strong influence on thi
health of this yard, as during thp year liKX)
from an average complement of 2(lt> persons
there were M> admitted to the sick list witi
malarial trouble. This does not include s
reappearance of the disease, but simply rep
resents those Infected during the year. * *
This factor is, however, still sufficientl;
great to occupy the most prominent plaCi
In considering the health of the yard, am
the influence is sufficiently strong to attrac
attention to this yard as a center, of infec
tion for the naval service, as men who havi
been under Instruction here, when trans
ferred to ships and other stations, are fo
a long time liable to reappearances of tin
disease.'
"From a recent report of the board o
visitors of the Government Hospital for th<
Insane we quote: 'This board would alsi
most urgently request that the attention o
i <'hi-, i rss ue uctucu iu nit: urpiuiauic ruiiui
tlon of the Anacostia flats, from tlie junc
tion of that stream with the Potomac river
to the railroad bridge of the Pennsylvani;
Railroad Company. Bordering trie hospita
grounds on the west, they are a constan
menace to the health of the institution am
a fertile soil for the development of the spe
cific germs of malaria. These flats are per
haps a half mile in width, the water cov
ering them is very shallow, leaving then
almost exposed at low tide, and during th<
summer season they become covered with i
rank growth of weeds and water moss
which decays as autumn comes on. Th'
decomposing organic matter, the sluggis]
water and the soft mud bottom make i
combination of conditions especially favor
able to the production and dissemination o
the malarial poison, and the hospital in
mates have been In large degree sufferer
thereby. * We believe it to be withii
the power of Congress to remedy this con
dition in large part by deepening and wid
ening the channel of the Anacostia river an<
by filling up the flats well above high tide
The reclaimed land would also be of grea
value for truck gardening, and would g
far toward recompensing the governmen
for the outlay. In the interest of the healtl
of this hospital and of the entire easten
portion of the District, we hope Congres
\ an im- (it i tauru ujmu iu iiianc iiic iiiv.cs
tary appropriations to begin the improve
merit.'
Results in Benefit.
"It is worthy of note that since a portioi
of the flats bordering on the grounds of tli
Government Hospital for the Insane hav
been partly filled already the physieiai
in charge of this hospital has made men
tion of the fact that these conditions hav
been largely benefited and that malaria i
his institution lias been on the decrease. AV
could occupy considerable space by quotin
from annual reports of recent date of th
surgeon general of ttie navy and all inst
tutions bordering on the Anacostia rivei
but we are desirous of showing that thes
conditions have prevailed for years and w
should not tolerate further delay. ?
"The records of the board of educatio
will .show that the attendance records fo
the scholars residing in the eastern sectio
of the District of Columbia will buar wit
ness to the fact that from ~r> to ,N0 per cea
of the absences on account of sickness ar
due to malarial causes, and no doubt thes
same conditions will prevail in the south
wi stern and northwestern sections cf th
District of Columbia.
"There are many who have condemns
these filthy disease-breeding flats. In th
summer they are covered with a dens
growth of eel grass and wild rice, which i
J 1 :"
m
\
MG NEW DIVISIONS
I disseminated over the flats at high tide,
and as the tide falls it is halted by the
new sewer built on the flats and extending
from the south side of the channel to the
i shore, and remains lodged in the acquatlc
grasses, where it ferments in the intense
I heat of the summer and autumn, and the
[ | results are the dissemination of malarial
i poison and the atmosphere of which is a
stench in the nostrils of our citizens.
"Recommendations as to these flats have
been made by the honorable board of Commissioners,
the Medical Association of the
, District of Columbia, the surgeon general
; of the navy, the physicians in charge of
1 the Government Hospital for the Insane,
the United States Jail, District workhouse,
1 Washington Hospital, the Board of Trade,
the Business Men's Association and the
l
e
L'
What Tfi
America
The Presi
Princeton,
a -? < *
ing colleg*
- inquiry. ]
authoritati
magazine 1
its readers
e
e '
J Complete list of
f Harvard ?
* Yale . . .
f Princeton .
Chicago
i City of "Ne
| Northwests
1 Stanford .
Washinertoi
i University
I Nebraska .
i Th
I By
n I ** 'You*ll pardon me? Miss L<
{ essentially suited to the life oi
j j to one of hu clerks in thi
o J
t T litis- ftia T
tl || JUUWA. OllU UiAV X
! By Charles E. 1
f A story concerning how a:
. horse beat another equally f:
n formation that will interest
the layman.
n Shorty and tl
e By Sewell 1
n Shorty has a chance to buy ;
e for five dollars. The seller, i
K gives the Professor an uneas
c country place.
ir,
; Next Si
The
L ?
3
1
FOR WHITE SCHOOl
various citizens' associations, but the results
cannot be seen.
Views of the Late Dr. Godding.
"Tour committee cannot close this report
without quoting from the annual report of
1(?M> of the late Dr. Godding, physician In
charge of the Government Hospital for the
Insane, who labored long and zealously for
what we are now trying to accomplish, in
which he speaks of the number of veterans
of the civil war who take refuge in
the National Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers, and of whom a considerable per
cent reach their final camping ground at
the Government Hospital for the Insane:
4It ia tn thle Rtparlv Inr-rPflao nf tho
I
ind of Man SI
n College I
idents nf Hai^vz
Chicago and o
2S answer this
Never has it r<
ve an answer b<
ias nppn aMp tn
a collection of
tive or so concl
Colleges andltheir Presii
" Dr. Charles
. . Dr. Arthur T.
. . Dr. Woodrow
..... Dr. Harry Pra
w York . . Dr. John H. F
:rn . . . . Dr. A. W. Ha
. . . . Dr. David Stai
1 . . . . . Dr. W. S. Ch
of Virginia . Dr. Edwin A.
Dr. E. Benjam
e Road to Glc
Charles Belmont D
jrelle, " Urey went on; '"but it teems to
f an actress, and not to your present work.'
a way. What followed is not likely to
lace Track The Vision
"revathan By H. A
ad why one great Imagine this grea
imous runner. In- seeing frogs, snake
both turfmen and his dining table ! 1
resulted.
ie Stray The Lonelu
rord By Pre:
u . * < i 4 4 mm m< < ? * ?
i ~ gasoune duddic i nis lonely lsiana t
i - kid " of twelve, inhabitants is kno\
y time of it at his school boy as none
Crusoe's Island."
Exclusive Publication in
mday's Mag
,.gTfc .
-S, IN EFFECT AF
numbers of men in aflyanced life, eouplei
with the Insalubrity of t}ie adjoining flat
of the Eastern branch of the Polomac, tha
the higher figures of mortality are mainl;
Hiia Th^rt* has h?p#*n a nritahlft abSf?nC
of any further work on these bottoms dur
lng the past year, and one might therefor
hope for some subsidence in the growth o
ague germs. But the mischief was don
by the previous abortive interference wit
nature in throwing up those mud bars
which do not fill the flats, but stop th
currents: bars that with the ebb of eae'
tide rise out of the stagnant pools, gree
with a slimy growth and reeking with ma
laria, creating a land of noisome odors
out of which come emanations fit only fo
the valley of the shadow of death. Th
???1^?
lould the
5roduce ?
ard, Yale,
.4 4 4
tner leadpertinent
eceived so
ifore. No
present to
views so
usive.
dents represented
I. Eliot
Hadley
"Wilson
tt Judson
inley f
irris
r Jordan
aplin
Alderman
in Andrews 3
I
' I
avis *- !
me that your temperament is 1
1" The junior partner spoke R
be forgotten by the reader.
s of Swedenborg '
Lddington Bruce
t scientist and philosopher
s and creeping things round j
fet he did, and mighty things ,
tr*"- N
->3 V X XAWW9 Ull JUCU IU
Qtice Bradbury ' +
vith its few score of isolated
vn to every English-speaking
otEer indeed than " Robinson
sT'
azine of
?tar.
^ 1
\
TER J UNE 30. :
i river and harbor bill of the last session of
s Congress carries $100,000 for the lmprovet
ment of the Potomac river. It is perhaps
,, too much to hope that any portion of this
will be diverted to the Eastern branch for
the hpaling of Anacostia and St. Ellzae
beth. for the benefit of dwellers in South
, Washington and vicinity. In any event the
deferred completion of the work undertaken
on those flats by the United States
, government means increased sickness and
' death in the early autumn among those
Jj who have a home here; a home not of their
own seeking, nor are they held for crime,
ilke those whom this same miasma overtakes
at the I'nited States jail, on the oppo'
site shore, but men who fought for their
country, mis?ing a grave on the battleeld
only to find It here. The true soldier pa
tiently endures, yet who could blame him if,
breaking his silence, he should exclaim,
"How long, O I-ord, how long?" '
"This quotation, in which the doctor
speaks of the mud bars, will compare very
favorably with the conditions that exist
todaj' on account of the new sewer which
is uuiii on me nais ana wmcn r.as aooiished
the only outflow that existed for the
carrying off of part of the filth and sewerage."
ON COMMON GROUND.
Anglo-American Accord on Some
Questions to Be Discussed.
LONDON, June 12.?Great Britain continues
reticent m respect to the instructions
given to the British delegates to The Hague
peace conference, the efforts of members of
I parliament to draw out Foreign Secretary
Grey having failed in every instance. The
liberal government, since coming Into office,
has maintained a policy of silence on all big
j questions, this being necessary on account
I of the wide differences of ortinion amnnc
the rank and file, particularly on such subjects
as discussing the question of the limitation
of armaments, the inviolability of
private property at sea, contrabrand of
war, etc. It is understood, however, that
as a result of the negotiations Ambassador ,
Whitelaw Reid and Joseph H. Choate have
been carrying on the United States anil
Great Britain have agreed to act in accord
on certain questions to be brought up.
Utilities Bill Law SuitP
NEW YORK, June 13.?The statement
was made yesterday by one of the members
of the rapid transit commission that the
advisability of testing the constitutionality
of the public utilities bill was being considered.
If the legality of the bill is attacked
a taxpayers' suit will be brought
and the contention will be made that as
the new commission is to be appointed by
the governor and not by the elected head
of the city government, the local taxpay
ci 3| rtiiustr niune> can ue speiiL lor new
subways by the commission, have no direct
representation on the board, and the act is
therefore illegal. If it is decided to fight
the bill the suit will be begun when the
new commission applies to the sinking fund
commission for an appropriation, and an
injunction will be asked for to restrain the
sinking fund commission from authorizing
the board to rent offices at the expense of
the city.
Corey Not for Bethlehem.
NEW VOiy?>, June 13.?Charles M.
Schwab was positive in his denials yesterday
of the story that William Ellis Cor?y,
alter resigning the presidency of the United
States Steel Corporation, would join the
tiesmenem steel corporation, 01 which Mr.
Schwab is the head. "There is no one in
tiie steel business," said Mr. Schwab, "for
whose ability I have ffiore respect or for
\*honi I have more regard personally. Mr.
Cprey "and I have been lifelong friends. I
never left a position which was not filled
after me by Mr. Corey. Whenever 1 had
to look around for a successor I always
chose Mr. Corey, and he followed me right
along up to the presidency. I would consider
it a great advantage to have the
benefit of his talents in the affairs of the
Bethlehem Steel Company, but such an idea
as bringing him into the company lias never
entered my head. The idea is impossible."
HailroadG Making' Fast Time.
PITTSBURG, June 13.?The different railroads
extending from Pittsburg to Chicago
are now entering on a speed war. which
may result in much quicker connection between
the two cities. The Vanderbilt interests.
controlling the Pittsburg and Lake
Erie railroad, announce that beginning Sunday
a .regular daily train will start fronj
Pittsburg on a schedule which is twentyfive
minutes shorter than the fastest Pennsylvania.
Baltimore and Ohio or Wabash
trains to or from these cities.
I he Luke Krie people do this without putting
on any extra speed. They simply have
cut that much time off a stop they previously
made at Cleveland, where an hour was
lo?t in making connections. The other railroads
have begun to overhaul their schedules.
and no doubt will announce a similar
cut in time, as the Lake Erie people accompanied
their cut in time with a cut in
J rates of 50 cents on the Chicago trip.
The floating population of the world Is
1,2 'O.UOO. This means the people who follow
the sea.
J
SALARY QUESTION HEARING
rEACHERS APPEAR BEFORE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
Various Suggestions Offered Relativa
to Proposed Amendments to
the School Law.
Mrs. Ellon Spencer Mmscy. chairman,
ind Messrs'. William V. Cox atul John P.
Cook, forming the special cmnmilten of
the Board of Education appointed to suggest
amendments to the school law, nave
their last hearing to teachers on the salary
jucstion yesterday afternoon at the Franklin
School. The abolition of the salary
grades and equal salaries for all teacher*
was the suggestion of \V. \V. ltlack, supervising
principal of the tenth division. )I?
held that the "present system of paying
iower salaries to teachers in the primary
grades makes the teachers regard these
frrades as merely stepping stones to something
better and results In the elimination
>f the more competent teachers from theso
eTades. Tills attitude, lie said, prevents '
teachers from doing their best work In
these grades. He Insisted that the primary
work is Just as Important as anj in the
system, and held that some \ ery competent
teachers are peculiarly Iltted for It.
Miss E. V. Brown, director of primary
Instruction, suggested that the first and
second grade schools be placed upon a
two-session basis, from l> o'clock until 12
md from 1 o'clock until 't, and that the
teachers of these grades bo placed upon
the same salary scale as the teachers of
the third and fourth grades. The school
lay is thus made one hour shorter for the
lower primary grades, she s.iid, but th?
r'xirti uemuiuis upon mese uvi"nt-i^ m ma
iray of board work and preparation of work
tor children who use no text-books (except
reading books) balances this difference in
time.
Miss Susan I?. Slpe, teacher of botany and
in charge Qf school garden work, asked that
the teachers of gardening I e given two
mnnthfl' Vir?liil?iA* in ?} ?*? \i-Inlur nf f liu
Bummer, and that ?nmc provision be made
to pay them for their services. At present,
she said, they are carried on the roll as laborers.
A minimum salary of $1,000 and a maximum
of $2,500 for high pchool teachers was 4
advocated by J. I>. Brooks, who said thin
was necessary in order to keep competent
teachers in the service.
Miss A. M. Wilson said a grave injustice
had been done the teachers of manual
training, domestic arts, drawing und musio
In the present act, and asked that they be
placed in class It, group A. on a par with
other high school teachers. Many* other
teachers of special subjects made similar
suggestions.
A greater increase of salary In the second
year for normal school teachers was advo
eated by Miss A. M. Goding, pr.ncipal of
Normal School No. 1.
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT.
Pupils of Western High School Oiva
Annual Concert.
The pupils of the Western High School
grave their annual concert last evening
In the large auditorium of the school. Tho
chorus consisted of l'J6 pupils, under the
direction of Miss A. E. Bentley, director of
music In the public schools.
The first number on the program was
Beethoven's "Larghetto," which was sung
by the mixed chorus. The girls' chorus
followed with Schumann's "OI Sunshine"
and "Moonlight." The bridal chorus from
Wagner's "Lohengrin" was the feature of
the evening's program and was sung in
creditable manner. The boys' cUorus rendered
"Courage," by Schubert, and "Tha
Turn firpnadiers." by Schumann, and thi>
mixed chorus followed with "Dedication,"
by Franz. The last number of the first
part of the program, Mendelssohn's "He's
Watching Over Israel," was carried welt
throughout, being, however, too difficult tt?
expect a finished and satlafactoiV presenta- .
tlon.
The second part of the program consisted
of baritone solos?"Israfel," by King;
"Songs of Araby," by Clay; "Night," by
Ronald, and "Gypsy John," by Clay, rendered
by Halstead P. Hoover; violin solos
?"Cavatina," by RafT; "Bolero," by Bohm,
and "Berceuse," by Godard. The violin
numbers were interpreted by Irving N. '
Boernstein in a most pleasing manner.
Miss Ada Birch obliged with tiie soprano
solos, "The Nightingale Song." by Nevin,
and "The Years at the Spring," by Beach.
The mixed chorus concluded the program
with school and class songs, which were
loudly applauded by the audience.
Miss Sallie T. Mason accompanied at the
piano throughout the program. ?
SPECIAL SERVICE.
Commemoration of First Celebration of
Holy Communion at Jamestown.
Sunday next will be observed in the
churches of the diocese of Washington in
commemoration of the first celebration of
the holy communion at Jamestown, Va.,
three hundred years ago. The bishop has
set forth a special service for the occasion
and in tihe sermons delivered by the clergy
there will be special iqentlon of the solemn
and impressive event.
THE ALABAMA SENATORSHIP.
Gov. Comer May Pass Matter Up to the
Legislature.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 18.?As the
legislature of Alabama which recessed last
Marrh will reconvene July 9, it is not ex
pected that Gov. Comer will till the vacancy
in the United States Senate caused by the
death of Senator John T. Morgan last night,
but will pass the matter up to the legislature.
Under the regulations governing the democratic
primary last year, at which two
alternating senators, former Representative
J. H. Bankhead and former Gov. Joseph F.
Johnson were nominated, the governor was
pledged to appoint Bankhead if the first
vacancy occurred at a time when it would
be necessary for him to make an appointment.
However, the legislature is not
bound to elect Bankhead, and a free-for-all
rare is nossible. but it is believed by Bank
head's friends that lie will be elected.
At the primary for alternate senator last
year Bankhead received votes and
Johnson, 36,107, entitling Bankhead to the
first vacancy by appointment and Johnson
to the second. It is said to have been due
to an oversight on the part of the state
democratic committee which framed Jast
year's primary that the democrats of?tlie
legislature were not required to pledge
themselvelr to support for election to the
senate the alternate senators nominated at *
the primary. Gov. Comer is known to be
opposed lo nannneao lor senaiur, uui n?
is bound to appoint him or kee:> hands off.
He will probably pursue the latler course.
Funeral of Melvin L. Cleveland. .
Rev. Arthur S. Johns, chaplain of the
District Na*al Reserve, officiated at the
funeral yesterday of Melvin 1. Cleveland,
who was drowned off a powd r tender of
the Oneida. The services were held at the
home of the parents of tiie deceased, -IS
Florida avenue. Gen. George li Harries,
commander of the District National Guard,
and several officers and privates were in
attendance. This morning the body was
taken to New Hrltain. Conn., being escorted
to the depot by a detachment of sailors.
Provide Open-Heartli Rails.
NEW lOKK, June ia.? ine biuwuib uemand
for cpen-hearth steel rails in place of
the Bessemer rails? that until recently were
used by the railroads of this country almost
exclusively, has led to a decision on
the part of the United States S:ee! Corporation
to provide for a large output of openhearth
rails. Stories in circulation today,
however, that the corporation --as to spend
from $">0,<*(0.000 to $100,000.1 <J0 in substituting
open-hearth for Bessemer steel furnaces
was ridiculed by a representative of
the corporation. The new plant which t4ie ?
steel corporation is building at Gary, knl?
will be equipped with open-hearth furnffes.
and it is expected that open-hearth rails
will be produced at this plant aome tiuie
next year.