The Columbian fountain., 1846-05-02
IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS
Concluded

Concluded
With regard to weights, the committee
found that in many articles, groceries espe-
cially, the effect of the dust was to add We
ry materially to their weight.
(Here one of the members rose and asked
the chairman of the committee whether he
designed to cast reflection upon an homo.
rable body of men, by insinuating that the
grocers purposely exposed their goods so
as to catch the dust, and thus unfairly in
crease the weight. The chairman of the
committee promptly disclaimed any such in
tention yet such warmth of feeling sud
denly arose as was very near causing con-
siderable alteration. But after some vio-
lent gestures had been made by one, and a
great many faces by the other, the matter
was at last amicably settled.J
Reports were also presented from the
committees on the Judiciary, on Foreign
Relations, on Internal Improvements, and
on Finance, all of which were highly i'm
portant, but which, fear, would be exclu-
ded from your columns on account Of their
length.
After the reports had all been read, and
some minor points disposed OF, the main
question of the meeting came up for consi-
deration; viz: 6 How is the evil to be re-
medied }" There was now before the meet
ing such body Of information, as would
enable them to act understandingly upon the
subject.
The chairman stated that as it had been
requested at the previous meeting that each
member should come prepared to propose
some feasible plan, he hoped there would
be no difficulty in coming to unanimous
agreement.
The first member who arose stated that,
as he had been great sufferer, he had CIV
en- to the subject very serious deliberation,
and it was perfectly clear to his mind that
SO long as there was dust upon the Avenue,
it would blow into the stores and ruin goods.
g For SIR" exclaimed he, g as well might
we attempt to gather its particles one by
one, and lay each in its place again, after
they have been scattered by the winds, as
to remedy the evil while the dust is there"
He argued, very logically, that the dust
musteither be removed by carrying it away,
or destroyed by keeping it wet. The lat
ter mode he preferred, and, from all the
inquiries he had made, he thought that the
best mode of effecling it would be by en-
ploying Mr.. Espy to open the clouds twice
every day and let fall shower upon the
whole length of the Avenue.
A gentleman proposed to amend this by
adding "except when it rains"
Another one thought that by far the bet
ter plan would be to carry the dust off eve
ry day "for," said he, "this would be
striking at the root of the evil.
Another thought that the Avenue itself
was nuisance. He was man of taste,
and maintained that the whole space, mile
long and nearly two hundred feet wide, now
covered with stone and gravel and dust,
and thus entirely destroyed for any useful
purpose, should be handsomely sodded, en-
closed by neat iron railing, and planted on
either side with beds Of flowers and rows of
trees. He described the effect such an ar
rangement would have-upon the beauty,
health. and moral condition of the city.
e Where YOU now behold" he remarked,
g but dreary waste, visions OF exquisite
beauty would then captivate your senses.
Instead of pestilential dust, every breeze
would wait to your mansions the most de-
Iiohtful odors Here grove Of the tree of
Heaven, and there bed Of gorgeous pop
MES would load the air with their rich per-
fume The ladies, now afraid to venture
out until the wind has lulled or the sun
has set, would no longer be restricted to
the walls of their dwelling, but, in the de-
ligbtful shade, would walk forth at all hours
&c Tho day. imnroyino their health and their