REPORT OF DR. M.
BATES STEPHENS.
State Siiperltitefidetit of Education
to the State Board of Education.
August 27, 1913.
We are facing the beginning of a
new school year. Whatever our
achievements or mistakes have been
in the past, we need to realize there is
very much constructive work along
school lines which the State Board of
Education can at least suggest, and
possibly, through the co-operation of
the county school authorities, accom
plish.
We should begin the year with a
definite plan of administration, with
well defined ideas of what we should
do and then work systematically to at
tain such ends. With the permission
of the members of the Board, I offer
the following suggestions as a basis
for discussion, and out of such dis
cussion I feel sure there will come a
crystallized judgement which will be
more valuable than any individual
opinion. It may be that some of these
recommendations have been made be
fore, but I feel safe in saying that
they have not been reduced to educa
tional pratice.
First, the real status of each
county’s school system is not known
to this body. Aside from statistics
compiled in our annual report, we
have no means of determining the ef
ficiency of schools in any particular
county and such statistics, valuable
as they are for instituting several
comparisons, will not furnish a safe
standard for measuring actual school
room results. In view of this lack of
definite information, I suggest that
this Board make an educational sur
vey of at least two counties each year,
such survey to require from 10 to 20
days during which all types of school
shall be visited and closely examined.
For such an examination there should
be three persons—one to be appointed
by the United States Commission of
Education to represent his depart
ment, one by the State Board of Edu
cation to represent the State Depart
ment of Education, and the third to be
named by the County- School Board,
and a resident of the county to re
present the County School Board.
The State Board of Education should
select the county to be surveyed and
after a conference with the United
States Commission of Education the
line of investigation should be de
termined.
Second, an awakening on the public
school question is an urgent need. If
people were as indifferent to their
other business interests which are less
important and sacred than the educa
tion of their children, it would be re
garded as little less than criminal.
They are indifferent for the reason
they have not been caused to feel or
realize such sacredness. They are
not agreeable to many of our.
_4gv*sKfucational ’ practice's because they
are not informed as to their real merit.
We must inaugurate some plan which
will scat.... broadcast this knowledge.
If under the direction of this Board
one meeting can be held in each
county for instruction, entertainment
and .organization, it may result in
many smaller unit meetings out of
which will grow healthy school pa
trons or civic leagues whose object will
be to bring the home and school into
closer and more sympathetic rela
tions.
Third, since 1910 the high schools of
the State have increased in number,
also in efficiency. It is possible for
adequate and effective supervision of
these schools to be given by the State
Superintendent and his assistant.
In behalf of other schools no State
supervison is provided or required.
The rural school is not developing as
it should and this condition is in part
chargeable to an absence of State co
operation along the line of supervision.
It would be a long step toward plac
ing the rural schools on a higher
plane of usefulness if this Board can
use its influence in having provided a
rural school supervisor for the State.
Fourth, the following school legisla
tion is needed, viz.:
(a) A State-wide mandatory school
attendance law;
(b) A minimum school term of
seven months for the colored schools;
(c) Appropriations made for ap
proved high schools and normal
schools, and also for retired teachers
should be paid out of the general treas
ure and should not be charged to the
sixteen cents public school tax. The
growing demand on the elementary
schools makes it necessary to have at
least sixteen cents of the State tax;
(d) The appropriations made for
the three State Normal Schools is in
adequate and should be increased.
The Maryland State Normal School
will likely move into its now home in
about a year, and the approaching
Legislature should provide for the ad
ditional cost of maintenance. The
expenses of maintaining the Frost
burg Normal and the Normal and In
dustrial School are larger than the an
nual appropriations;
(e) The institute law should be so
modified that it will be legal for a
county school board to provide tuition
for a percentage of teachers to attend
a summer school in lieu of holding an
institute;
(f) The position of assistant teach
er should be mahe more secure;
(g) In the absence of a State archi
tect, plans for public school buildings
should be approved by the State
Board of Education;
(h) Until the State provides ad
equately for the training of teachers
so that the number of Normal grad
uates will equal the annual loss to the
profession, each county with an ap
proved first group high school should
have the authority to provide a teach
ers’ training course under regulations
to be prescribed by this Board.
GIANT SKYSCRAPER IN CINCINNATI IS THE TALLEST
OFFICE BUILDING WEST OF METROPOLIS OF NEW YORK
New Building Erected on Site of the So-Called Brighton Hill Mou&d,
Supposed to Have Been the Work of Mound Builders of Early
Centuries—The Union Central Life Insurance Company’s Building is
535 Feet in Height, Located in the Center of the New Cincinnati
Industrial District—Rivals European Cathedrals as a Work of Art
and Engineering.
Cincinnati, Ohio, (Special).—The
site of the city of Cincinnati was orig
inally covered with an extensive sys
tem of circumvallations and mounds.
Almost the entire- area now occupied
by the city was utilized by the mysteri
ous builders, in the construction of em
bankments and tumuli, built upon the
most accurate geometrical principles,
and evincing keen military foresight.
Nearly every one of the leading
classes of mound builders was repre
sented. The chief work was probably
a sacred enclosure, known originally
as the Brighton Hill Mound, upon
which has now been erected the mag
nificent new building of the Union
Central Life Insurance Co., which bps
become the center of the new Cincin
nati about which one now hears so
much.
Cincinnati, the city which for many
years has proudly claimed the title of
the “Queen City of the West,” is now
celebrating the completion of this new
building, rising 535 feet from the base
ment to the top of the lantern, or 495
feet above the sidewalk of the street
upon which it fronts. It is the mos’
conspicuous landmark for miles
around and is the first object seen by
the travel°r entering the city.
-''From whatever direction he comes he
sees this white pajace towering hun
dreds of feet above the other surround
ing buildings, like an everlasting monu
ment to the progressiveness of a great
city. It is 34 stories in height, or, in
cluding four stories below the side
walk, 38 stories in all. To give an
idea of the immensity of this building,
compare with it other skyscrapers
which are considered the largest in
the world:
L. C. Smith Bldg., Seattle. .465 feet high
The Union Central Bldg.,
Cincinnati 495 feet high
Bankers' Trust Bldg.,
New York 54.0 feet high
Singer Bldg., New York 612 feet high
Metropolitan Tower,
New York 700 feet high
Woolworth Bldg., New York 750 feet high
As a work of art the Union Central
Building rivals the European cathe
drals. Its beauty of line and symmetry
of proportions combine with its bril
liant coloring to produce a building
which is a pleas' 4 to .the, eye and
one wife - (.Versa, admira
tion and approval.' Credit for this is
due to the President of the Company,
Jesse R. Clark, and to the Asso
ciated Architects, Mr. Cass Gilbert, oi
New York and Messrs. Garber and
Woodward, of Cincinnati.
This building is a fitting successor
to the other famous buildings which
formerly occupied the same site,
namely, the old postoffice of Corinthian
architecture and the old Chamber of
-Commerce Building in the Romanesque
style. The Union Central Building is
a reproduction of the Italian Renais
sance and yet it is well adapted to the
needs of a modern office building.
The exterior of the building, up to
the top of the fourth story, is of white
Vermont marble with heavy rustica
tions. Above this, the surface is of
terracotta, the basic color being a dull
cream, varying in tone.
Above the columns in the tower be
gins the sloping roof covered with
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BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF CINCINNATI FROM THE OHIO RIVER WITH THE TOWER OF THE NEW SKY
SCRAPER IN THE DISTANCE.
°ECIAL FEATURE NEWS ARTICLE—UNION CENTRAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
With such a law a time limit should
be fixed, after which it will be illegal
for a person to enter upon the duties
of teaching without training for the
work.
Fifth, I recommend that an inspec
tion be made of the following schools,
which desire to be placed on the list
of second group high schools, viz.:
Aberdeen, Girdletree, Queen Anne
and Upper Marlboro.
Sixth, That this Board request the
Executive Committee of the Mary
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UNION CENTRAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SKYSCRAPER, THE
TALLEST OFFICE BUILDING WEST OF NEW YORK CITY.
panels of goid, which shine gloriously
in the sun and can be seen for miles. I
The golden panels mark an entirely
new use of terracotta. It is a well
known fact that in a certain slant-light
gold loses its luster. In',the Union
Central Building this difficulty is over
come by an undulating surface; the
face of every gold terracotta tile is
irregular, so that some part of it, no
matter from what direction the light
comes, will always shine brilliantly.
Terra cotta is absolutely fireprooi
and is permanently durable. With the
exception of hard burnt brick, terra
cotta is less affected by fire than any
other material. Another property of
glazed terracotta is that the hard
surface is impervious. All that a
glazed terracotta surface needs to re- ,
move any accumulation of soot or dirt
land State Teachers’ Association to
make provision on its next program
for such a lecture and demonstration
work as may be provided by the Moral
Education Board through its re
• presentative, Mr. Fairchild.
I submit for consideration a list of
high schools for your approval.
While these schools, at least some of
them, are not all we could wish, I feel
they are making substantial progress
and are worthy of the recognition
which the State gives.
is a simple application of soap and
'Water.
The framework of the building corn
sists of structural steel columns,
girders and beams. Special precau<
tions were taken to make it stable,
and the steel was designed to resist
the strongest wind pressure. The
foundations consist of a steel grillage
and cantilevers, thoroughly imbedded
in concrete, and resting upon a stratum
of hard compact gravel. Thorough
test was made c f the soil to insure a
stable foundation.
The building contains twelve elec
trie traction elevators which travel 600
feet a minute, and are in batteries ol
six, facing each other, a very con
venient arrangement. {They contain
every modern, automatic safety device
and each elector is connected by tele-
3 CITY COUNCIL MEETS.
1 —:
j What Was Done at the Last Meet
ing of That Body.
The regular monthly session of the
Frostburg City Council was held on
f Monday evening, the Istinst. Mayor
Johnson and all member of the Coun
f cil were present, except August Ar
-1 nold.
Bailiff James H. Grose reported
fines collected to the amount of $96.00.
1 Most of the fines were for cases of
“drunk and disorderly,”
phone with the engine room and with
the elevator starter.
One of the most interesting points in
connection with the building is the
fireproofing precautions. Not only is
the frame of the building steel and the
exterior surface stone and terracotta,
but the floors are cement, all the doors
are metal, the window casings and
frames metal, the trim metal—in fact
there is no exposed wood in the
building. The doors are of hollow
steel, beautifully finished in exact imi
tation of mahogany, in a wear-resist
ing enamel that is baked on at a high
temperature. The windows are copper
covered, over a wood core, the latest
type of fireproof construction. The
trim, that is the base rail, chair and
picture moldings, is of hollow steel and
it is interesting to note that more than
eighteen miles of this material have
been used in the building.
Additional precautions against fire
have been taken, notwithstanding the
fact that the building is built of fire
proof materials. There are two stair
ways from the roof to the street level,
entirely separated . om the corridors
and offices, in different sections of the
building, accessible to all, self-con
tained In smoke-proof and fireprool
walls with metal doors.
The elevator shafts are self con
tained, in fireproof partitions, with
wire glass doors. All of the windows
of the building which are closely ex
posed toward adjoining buildings art
filled with wire glass which is fire
proof.
The Union Central Building is not
only fireproof in construction, but in
the company’s offices it is equipped
throughout with steel cabinets, filing
cases and document files, which pre
eludes the danger of interior fire. In
this respect it is one of the most
modernly equipped insurance offica
buildings in the United States. The
sub-basement is furnished with over
1.5,000 steel document files, for the safe
storage of the valuable insurance
records.
Approaching the main entrance,
which is on a level with Fourth street,
we pass through the bronze doors and
enter the main corridor. This spaci
ous hall traverses the entire length oi
the building. On entering this magnifi
cent .corridor, one is enchanted with
the grandeur of the decorated golden
ceiling, hand-carved imported Spanish
marble columns and wainscoting, and
the bronze frames and doors of th 9
elevators. Just beyond the elevator
is the stairway which leads to the
Chamber of Commerce. This stairway
is hand-carved imported Spanish mar
ble, highly decorated, and is conceded
to be the finest stairway in America.
Ascending this magnificent stairway,
we approach the Chamber of Com
merce and Merchants’ Exchange on
the second floor. The south end oi
this is used as an immense trading
hall extending to tl e ceiling of the
third floor. This assembly hall is 50s
100 feet, with highly decorated ceil
ing and imported Spanish marble
wainscoting. The rostrum, which is
in the western side of the hall, is alsc
highly decorated Spanish marble and
a thing of beauty.
A room has been set aside for the
j Weather Bureau, in which is placed a
.iiiion for the special use of the
! Chamber of Commerce and the occu
| pants of this building. The sub-station
j is an innovation and is equipped with
the latest and most up-to-date instru
ments, giving momentary reports oi
the weather from the roof of the build
ing to the Chamber floor.
On the third floor will be a balcony
from which visitors may view the
Chamber while in session. The re
mainder of the space on the second
and third floors is used for Produce
Exchange, directors’ rooms, library,
offices and committee rooms.
The executive staff of the UnioD
Central Life Insurance Company, with
the clerical forces of the various de
partments occupy the eleventh to eigh
teenth floors, inclusive, as well as use
the safety vaults in the sub-basement.
The President’s offices, Board of Di
rectors’ and Executive Committee
rooms are upon the fifteenth floor. In
connection with the Medical Depart
ment of the company is an emergency
hospital for the comfort and conveni
ence of all the tenants of the building.
The building is equipped with a re
rigerating plant for the cooling of
water for drinking purposes, with ice
water distributed through sanitary
drinking fountains to different floors
from the basement to the twenty-ninth
floor. The plumbing is somewhat
unique, as the water Is delivered into
:anks in the basement and pumped to
■\ large distributing tank on the top
floor, near the tower.
The building is equipped with an
elaborate vacuum cleaning system and
a ventilating system which furnishes
pure and tempered air to the Chamber
of Commerce rooms, boiler and engine
looms, sub-basement, vaults, etc.
here are 12,000 electric lights in the
building. In’ the sub-basement there
ae four 250-horse-power tube boilers,
two 500-horse-power compound en
gines, one 260-horse-power engine, two
300 and one 150 k. w. generators.
This comprises the power plant of this
immense building.
In the construction of the building,
over 8,614 tons of structural iron were
used. The building has 227,976 square
feet of rental space, and there are ex
actly 5,175,000 cubic feet within the
building. All of the constructing work
was done by union men.
The Union Central Life Insurance
Company, the owner of the building,
was established in Cincinnati forty-six
years ago.
New Light on a Terpslchorean Event.
“What,” asked the casual student
of the higher literature, “did the poet
refer to when he wrote: “On with the
dance-; let joy be unrefined?” "Oh, I
don’t know,” replied the lowbrow, “un
less he was describing one of those
turkey trot affairs.”
Water Supt. Alfred Jeffries report
ed an expenditure of $401.31 for labor,
supplies, etc., and also reported 665,
808 gallons of water in the city res
ervoir.
This is only about half the usual
storage, and about 24 hours later a
fall of 91,000 gallons was reported.
This would indicate that the dry
weather is beginning to tell on the
water supply, and waste of water
Bhould therefore be avoided as much
as possible in all homes and places of
business.
Western Maryland College i
Westminster, Md.
REV. T. H. LEWIS, D. D., 11. D., PRESIDENT
I FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS \
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unexcelled, 1000 feet above the sea, in the highlands |
of Maryland. Pure air, pure water, charming:
scenery. Only an hour’s run from Baltimore.:
EQUIPMENTcompIete. Twenty-acre Campus; Modern Buildings; I
Comfortable Living Accommodations; Laboratories; \
Library; Gymnasium; Power and Heating Plant.:
CURRICULUM up-to-date. Classical, Scientific, Historical, and j
„ ~ _. , Pedagogical Courses, leading to A. B. Degree. \
Send for Catalogue - r b 5
and. Rook of views Music, Elocution and Oratory. Strong Faculty. :
"‘“"Tiinrr
\I. 1L Iv TANK'S
The Frostburg Installment House
You can buy here as cheap on time
as'you can for cash at other stores.
A DISCOUNT GIVEN FOR CASH.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
MEN’S, LADIES’ AND CHILDREN’S
GLOTIIHSTG
AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS.
XI Broadway.
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§ WATCH FOR OUR NOTICE §
8 OF THE NEW THINGS IN 8
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g In the meantime call on us for anything g
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l THE H. B. SHAFFER CO., §
§ll7-123 East Union Street. §
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[pp^' 1 - n-im tr-ini-T I -xr>i-ti
ARE YOU MISSING THE COMFORTS [
AND CONVENIENCES THAT GO
I WITH ELECTRIC LIGHT ? I
j I 'I'hLNK ofWfie” td~neaH"7n~*
;n 1 comfort on your summer porch with Flectnc
Fight. No heat —no smoke, and the light is so
easy on the eyes. No need of worrying about the
hot evenings when you can read by an Flectric Damp
with the cool breeze of an Flectric Fan to make you
comfortable. An “Flectric Summer Porch” is as
2 O
delightful as the sea shore and you can enjoy it
every day. ,
For further particulars inquire of
1 FROSTBURG ILLUMINATING & MANUFACTURING CO.
1 T-inn i mm 1 I—l1 —
Street Supervisor Owen Dando re
ported an expenditure in his depart
ment, during the preceding month, of
$650.82.
Treasurer J. W. Shea made the fol
lowing report of the corporate fund:
Receipts.
Cash on hand $ 784 50
Incenses 4 00
Sewers 140 00
Paving 38 40
Taxes 38
Taxes 1,046 82
Fines 96 00
Total $2,109 72
Expenditures,
Orders paid $4,401 34
Overdrawn 2,291 62
On account of Water fund:
Cash on hand $10,692 38
Receipts.
Water dues 382 05
Total $11,074 43
Expenditures.
Orders paid 2,859 75
Balance in hand $8,214 68
Collector Geo. Krause made the fol
lowing report concerning the Grant
street paving:
Balance due last report $3,175 57
Since collected $ 33 84
Paid by C. & W. E.
Ry. Co 1,300 00
Declared insolvent. ..1*295 63 2,629.47
Balance due $ 546 10
The State-aid road from the Jenn
ings Run Vellley into town was dis
cussed. All the physicians of the
town, excepting Dr. T. Griffith, were
present, and endorsed the proposal to
build the road over the ground near
by the Miners Hospital.
A motion instructing William Har
vey, town engineer, to make a map of
the proposed route, and providing for
a joint meeting of Council and hospit-
on the grounds, early as
practicable, was adopted.
Council adjourned near the mid- .
night hour. The session was a very
satisfactory one throughout. ;
STRANDED AT MT. SAVAGE.
W. C. Wissentaa aad Soa aad Albert
Liveagood Have Vexatious
Experieace.
The above named persons, who re
side in the Negro Mountain region
over in Somerset county, Pa., had a
vexatious experience on Wednesday
while making a trip to Cumberland,
in Mr. Wisseman’s automobile. All
went well until they reached the his
toric town of Mt Savage, where the
first steel rail in America was rolled,
and there the machine got a balky
spell and refused to run down hill.
It’s up hill that the blamed things
usually refuse to run when they get
contrary, but Wisseman’s machine,
just to be extraordinarily contrary,
and test the owner’s patience good
and hard (he"is an unusually patient
and good-natured man) refused to run
downgrade. Well, the whole party
remained at Mt. Savage all night, and
when it was found that the machine
couldn’t be induced to proceed 'ilown
grade any farther, it was turned about
and run up grade to Frostburg for re
pairs.
The Spirit didn’t learn of “Billy”
Wisseman saying any bad words over
the vexatious delay, and wouldn’t tell
on him if it had heard anything to
that effect, as he called on the editor
while here, paid a year’s subscription
in advance and remarked that lots of
subscribers can be secured in his neck
of the woods for Pete Eivengood’s
paper, no matter where published.
Then he and party resumed their
journey, and we know that they reach
ed their destination safely, for no
man ever met with an accident any
way soon after paying a subscripition
to a good newspaper, except one who
fell into a creek, and even he emerg
ed with all of his pockets full of the
choicest of fish.
Old newspapers for sale at The
Spirit office. A large roll for 5 cents.
Just the thing for cartridge paper,
pantry shelves and “wet goods” pack
ages sold to timid people. tf.