beginning the 2d of January, and closing the last of March; the third beginning the first of April, and closing the Wednesday before the last Wednesday in June. II. The vacations are from the 24th of December to the 2d of January, and from the Wednesday before the last Wednesday in June to the Thursday before the last Thursday in September. III. There are holidays at Thanksgiving and Easter. IV. The pupils may visit their homes during the regular vacations and at the abovenamed holidays, but at no other time, unless for some special, urgent reason, and then only by permission of the president. V. The bills for the maintenance and tuition of pupils supported by their friends must be paid semi-annually in advance. VI. The charge for pay-pupils is $150 each per annum. This sum covers all expenses in the primary department except clothing, and all in the college except clothing and books. VII. The Government of the United States defrays the expenses of those who reside in the District of Columbia, or whose parents are in the Army or Navy, provided they are unable to pay for their education. To students from the States and Territories who have not the means of defraying all the expenses of the college course, the board of directors renders such assistance as circumstances seem to require, as far as the means at its disposal for this object will allow. VIII. It is expected that the friends of the pupils will provide them with clothing, and it is important that upon entering or returning to the institution they should be supplied with a sufficient amount for an entire year. All clothing should be plainly marked with the owner's name. IX. All letters concerning pupils or applications for admission should be addressed to the president. X. The institution is open to visitors during term time on Thursdays only, between the hours of 10 a. m. and 3 p. m. Visitors are admitted to chapel services on Sunday afternoons, at a quarter past three o'clock. XI. Congress has made provision for the education, at public expense, of the indigent blind and the indigent feeble-minded of teachable age belonging to the District of Columbia. Persons desiring to avail themselves of these provisions are required by law to make application to the president of this institution. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES INSPECTOR OF GAS AND METERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1881. OFFICE U. S. INSPECTOR OF GAS AND METERS, Washington, D. C., September 1, 1881. SIR: I have the honor herewith to submit the annual report of this office, showing its operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881. At its commencement will be found condensed tables giving the illuminating power and purity of the gas furnished by the gas companies during the year. Full monthly statements will be found in Tables A and B. In the remaining tables, lettered C, D, E, F, and G, the monthly inspection of meters, complaint meters, the pressure of the gas, and the receipts and expenditures are fully stated. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. S. J. KIRKWOOD, S. CALVERT FORD, Inspector of Gas and Meters. Secretary of the Interior. ILLUMINATING POWER AND PURITY. The illuminating power and purity of the gas supplied by the Washington Gas Light Company from July 1, 1880, to June 30, 1881, are as follows: Average illuminating power during the year Average quantity of ammonia in 100 cubic feet during the year .candles.. 16.72 ..do.... 19. 20 ..do.... 14. 80 ..grain.. .97 ..grains.. 3. 52 .grain...08 .grains.. 9.73 ..do.... 26. 03 ..do.... 3.42 The quality of the gas supplied by the Washington Gas Light Company during the past year, has been uniformly good, and in accordance with the requirements of the act of Congress regulating gas works in this District. Complaints have fallen off considerably regarding poor light, and stoppages produced mainly from the presence of naphthaline in the service pipes, have become much less frequent. The gas contained but a small quantity of sulphur (an impurity which no method yet devised in a commercial way, has enabled engineers to free gas from entirely). The quantity of ammonia present was slight, and on two occasions the gas was absolutely free from it. This impurity is now utilized, forming the base of ammonia sulphate, a salt which is extensively employed in alum making, and is the starting point of the preparation of chloride of ammonium, carbonate of ammonia, liquid ammonia, and other similar products. On eleven occasions during the past year the gas supplied by the Washington Gas Light Company was of less illuminating power than sixteen candles, as follows: On three occasions the gas of this company contained a slight excess of sulphur, over the 20 grains allowed in each 100 cubic feet: March 2, 20.89 grains; April 5, 20.20 grains, April 22, 26.03 grains. The illuminating power and purity of the gas supplied by the Georgetown Gas Light Company from July 1, 1880, to June 30, 1881, are as follows: Average illuminating power during the year Average quantity of ammonia in 100 cubic feet during the year. candles.. 17.06 ..do.... 20.81 ...do.... 10.55 -grains.. 2.45 .do... 9.09 grain.. .46 -grains.. 13.27 ..do.... 34. 11 .do.... 6.23 The quality of the gas supplied by the Georgetown Gas Light Company during the first half of the fiscal year, with a few exceptions, was very high and quite free from impurities. On several occasions during the months of January and February the illuminating power of the gas was very poor, and the sulphur was in excess of the quantity allowed. According to letters received from the company these violations were owing to derangements in the manufacturing department, and they further state that the defaults could not have been prevented with ordinary care and prudence, but was occasioned by some unavoidable cause. During the months of March, April, and May, this company were required to make considerable alterations in their machinery, for conducting waste products from the works, and in accomplishing this object, the scrubbers were frequently thrown out of action, which was the cause of the gas containing in quite a number of instances an excess of ammonia, and on a few occasions an excess of sulphur, with some depression, in the illuminating power. The depressions in the power of the gas, last mentioned, were mostly due to defective retorts. These works are now in fair condition, and it is not likely that violations will be as frequent during the present year. On twenty-nine occasions during the year the gas supplied by this company was of less illuminating power than sixteen candles, as follows: On twenty-seven occasions the gas supplied by this company contained an excess of ammonia over the 5 grains allowed in each 100 cubic |