Page 658

658        REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. 
box-structure, and the laundry, which is condemned and is being replaced
as 
rapidly as the house can be constructed, the buildings are excellent 2-story
brick structures in excellent repair. The barn is ample and comfortable for
the 
present supply of live stock.; but the barn, milk house, meat house, bee
house, 
coal house, roof of the ice house, and some farm implements are much in need
of paint; but as all this has been provided for by estimate3 submitted I
doubt 
not but the remedy will be soon at hand. A new commissary, an extension of
the bee shed, and a shed for calves and farm implements are the unsatisfied
wants. 
Faring.-The adobe farm yields slowly to our most persistent efforts. I am
this year experimenting with black-eyed peas, the most nearly never failing
of 
all bean products. As forage I am trying sorghum, black Caffre corn, red
Caffte 
corn, and am successfully raising alfalfa. As pasturage I am trying, by thb
kindness of yourself and the Department of Agrictlture, Alopecurus pratensis,
Lolun perenne, Bromus inermis, and some other grasses, none of which prdmisb
well at present. 
Irrigation.-The old annoyance of lack of water for irrigation has been aggravated
by a threat of the canal company to cut off our supply entirely. This elicited
an investigation that has placed a record of the present status of the question
in this office, as well as a letter from the general manager of the company
to the 
effect that the Government is entitled to a contract granting supply because
of 
stock surrendered. As the title of the company was a subject of litigation
at 
the time the letter was written such contract could not be issued, and the
matter 
can not be taken up, in the judgment of the United States district attorney,
until after final settlement between present litigants. Immediately after
such 
settlement I shall insist upon pressing the matter vigorously till something
in 
the way of definite adjustment is obtained. 
Stock.-The stock owned by the school, and which is a source of pride, consists
of four work horses, two 2-year old colts raised on the school farm and weighing
1,108 and 1,270 pounds, respectively; also nine Holstein cows, which, besides
feeding the calves, yielded 2,463 gallons of milk and 263 pounds of butter
between 
January 12 and June 30; 57 colonies of bees will add a valuable product [or
table 
use for the coming year. All are cared for by the boys under the direction
of 
the farmer and industrial teacher, Mr. William H. Palmer, except the bees,
which are cared for by myself and two of the boys. 
A hundred hens should be added as soon as possible after making provision
for caring for them properly. 
Industrial.-Thatthe results from the farm are so unsatisfactory is more because
of the stubborn adobe soil of the farm than lack of labor or willingness
on the 
part of the farmer or the boys. We have succeeded in adding about 12 acres
to 
our hay-producing lands as the result of an earnest effort to subdue and
render 
productive 22 acres. Preliminary work is being done for seeding 57 acres
to 
oats, alfalfa, and sorghum next yedr, which will, with only such results
as were 
obtained the past year, raise us beyond the necessity of buying forage. The
ex- 
periments of this year are convincing that squashes, beets, and black-eyed
peas 
will yield a fair return when cultivated in this soil. 
As the statistical table which is attached shows the product of the shops,
in- 
cluding the buildings erected by the boys, it only remains to speak of the
char- 
acter of the work, of which too much can hardly be said in commendation.
The 
product of the harness shop which has found sale has brought forth only com-
mendation from purchasers, and the same is true of the product of the carpenter
shop. The products of the shoe shop and sewing rooms are consumed on the.
place, but are certainly not outranked by the products of other shops. There
is nothing in the school work more gratifying than the application and persist-
ency of the children apprenticed to trades. The two boys learning cooking
are 
able to do the entire work of the kitchen save alone the apportionment. 
In all the industrial work the apprentices work half a day, which I think
ac- 
counts for the close application both in the schoolroom and in the industrial
arts. 
Literary.-The advancement of the pupils in the schoolroom, notwithstanding
the vicissitudes occasioned by necessary changes, has been fully up to the
re- 
quirements of the course of study, while some of the work in drawing and
vocal 
music hasbeen most satisfactory. 
Sanitary.-Every possible precaution has been taken to avoid the results of
bad 
sanitation. Cleanlniness hben insisted upon and secured in every depart-
ment. Sewerage is impossible because of the fact that we can not drain into
the' 
river just above the city waterworks, and I have sunk three large cesspools
and. 
requiredl all waste to be deposited therein. Although the resuA -have proven.