Chapter IV

A. Description of the Island.— B. Population at Different Periods.— C. Streets and Avenues.— D. Architecture of Manhattan— E. Business in New York— F. Churches of New York— G. Parks and Squares.— H. How New York is Supplied with Water.— I. The Schools and Colleges of New York.— J. Public Security— K. New York All the Year Round— L. The Libraries, Monuments and Markets of New York— M. The Cemeteries of New York.

He is henceforth to appoint the Board of Education, the Inspectors, and all the Trustees in the several wards, completely absolving the people from all responsibility in directing and regulating a matter, more than any other, connected with the happiness and success of their children.

There are now ninety school-buildings owned by the city, besides numerous hired ones, which cover more than twenty acres of ground, and the floors above the basements of the same, about seventy acres additional. The old buildings were plain as will be seen by the accompanying cut, but many of those recently erected cover several lots of ground, are lofty and elegant structures, with several fire-proof stairways, and all necessary apartments for the complete accommodation of two thousand scholars. The second cut represents the new building in West Eighteenth street, and contrasts favorably with the one erected in 1809.

There are now besides the thirty-six corporate schools of the several benevolent societies, and which are partly under the control of the Board of Education, sixty-three Grammar schools, which are divided into forty-six departments for male scholars, forty-four for female, and six for colored students. There are fifty-six Primary departments, fifteen evening schools for males, eleven for females, and three for colored children. There are two Normal Schools, and one High School. The Board of Education employs over twenty-four hundred teachers, over two thousand of whom are females. The number of scholars on register during 1869 was 237,325, with an average attendance of about 103,000. The annual expense of the public schools amounts to about $3,000,000. The Board of Education appoints its President and Clerk, also the City Superintendent, and his assistants. The Superintendent grants two grades of certificates, to persons of suitable age, who have completed the course of study, after which they may be appointed to teach. The books and other requisites are purchased by the board in large quantities, stored at a central depot, and distributed to the several schools when needed.

In 1866, the Free Academy was, by Act of Legislature, erected into the College of the City of New York, and became a separate corporation, the members of the board of Education being ex officio members of its board of trustees. Advanced students from the public schools are admitted with free scholarship, and the trustees are authorized to draw on the Board of Supervisors, who shall raise by general taxation a sum not exceeding $125,000 per annum, to defray the expenditures of the institution. Besides these general provisions for the benefit of advanced students, there are several Academies and Colleges belonging to the Roman Catholics, taught by Jesuits, and various orders of Brothers and Sisters. Columbia College, the oldest in the State, is situated on Fourth avenue and Fiftieth street. It has departments for law and mining, and a separate college for Physicians and Surgeons. It is under the control of the Protestant Episcopal church, and has a property of several millions: The New York University, a large four-story Gothic structure of free-stone, at Washington square, was founded in 1831, has the several departments, and has graduated many students. There are two extensive theological seminaries in the city,

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