Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-02
PROGRESS OF WASHINGTON. Sc.

PROGRESS OF WASHINGTON, SC.
Under this head the indefatigable Mercury, Of the
Baltimore Sun dashes off the present Of Washington and
predicts its future AS to the STEW years. hence when
to look for pure water from the great
may be remarked that the dophoba in the late House
Of Representatives has put back year atsast in the
prospect Of fruitou
Gan hours ride on any fine morning Is sufficient to
impress the mind of any beholder with clear and
poitan City Within the past few years its population
has more than doubled, and is daily increasing Washing
ton Is the seat of the General Government That it will
remain is the conviction of every mind If
there shadow of shade of doubt on this point it
would gradually and forever disappear before the annual
attestaons Of every Executive and Of the Peoples Re-
presentatives from every State Ia its favor.
Those impershabe memorials of American architec-
tural skill and durability the Capitol Extension, WASH
ington National Monument the west wing Of the Patent
Office, the Insane Asylum, the Soldiers Home-a in ra-
pid and beautiful progress-f the mind with most gra-
yag epSiSns @ ls TSs q our Navy Yard
re, anlcne frigats starting whsir aqua
will in few years pour forth aslnssnt srean Of
pues and refreshing water Through Tery avsEue ssd
every street These increase the al portant epta OF
labor, with consequent addition 70 its value AT this
moment the number OF employed on Government
buildings alone may be set down at fifteen hundred.
{" So much for the present This Interesting subject
expands it is viewed prospcctvey. The time is nj
hand and plans already drawn for extension Of the
General Post Oce the Treasury Department build
they completed another addition will have be made
to the Patent Office, and Jail Indispensable Pass
ing as the sprituasts would say to the second sphere
notice the improvements the Smithsonian Institute the
extension and identifying of the Congressional Gene
terry that splendid repository Of the departed at Oak
Hill,' with the renowned sGlenwood, on Washington
| Heights.
ALREADY the foundation is laid for the great Metro
politan Methodist Episcopal Church. besides commo-
dous and beautiful chapel Capitol Hill Sites have
been selected for spacious and splendid Catholic Ca
and Aculr and M
edfce contemplated for the Old School Presbyterian de-
nomination will surpass any other Of that denomination in
the United States These must all bring here addi
onal thousands of mechanics and all qualified Nearly
al-of these will be accompanied by their families; for
every worthy mechanic has home and loves domestic
joys, where virtue intelligence, and peace shed their
blessings daily upon him.
This increased citizenship Of Washington will contri
butte to the general prosperity The wages paid to these
worthy workmen vii; be dispensed again to farmers
dry goods men, shoemakers alors bakers grocery mer
chants to say nothing Of the annual consumption Of fuel
"At the Washington National Monument the workmen
commenced another round to-day rearing the memorial
1872 feet from the ground An appeal about being made
to all the approaching Agricultural Fairs for aid"
This reminds of the laying the Of the
CIrr HALL, hyour ago. The Mayor Of the city.
SAMUEL N SMALLwooD, Esq) in his address to the ci
Gems OF Washington few days before in reference to tho
ceremonies Of laying the Of the City Hail.
said I:
It is to be the seat Of legislation and of the admais
traton of justice for this metropolis when it shall have
destined ppulousness and is therefore to be
erected on scale worthy of the for which it Is in
tended 1t also to be constructed with view to du-
raby which will extend beyond the age Of any Of the
living. ! therefore invite you to witness
ceremony in its occurrence that 1t viii be
in history and witha so interesting a who take
interest n the Welfare Of the city founded BY the de-
Sssxils L lIz ~ u ssss G q g, ~. "a A.au..
1810) the procession Of masons and Others was large
and the concourse Of persons the ground very
great The Orator Of the day JoHs Law, Esq said tat
be remembered
The surprise he felt when he understood that the
woods and FIELDS around him dgnied with the mama
of Cry and this very spot surrounded with
numerous buildings he used to walk n solitude school
The area of Washington then twenty five years preyious
scarcely contained five hundred inhabitants Of the
houses cabins erected for the temporary
commodaton of aborers The largest part Of the beau
ul avenue which connects the principal public edi6cea
together impossible wilderness; and the streets
were no. distinguished BY visible lines How great
Of 900 souls The assessed value of real property in
dependent Of the public lots exceeds six millions Of dol
lars The Judgment Of every traveller who has visited
the capitals Of the Old World has admired the wisdom Of
! the selection
Describing the beauty of the landscape the fine river
the salubrty of the climate the circle of elevated hills
around and the advantages Of the local situa
/ ton, he said
The conviction cannot be resisted that Nature had
destined that large and promising town should rise
within this District, if it had not been selected for
the jurisdiction Of the National Government"
Of the future prosperity of this metropolis
able doubt can no longer be entertained. Itis
now and will daily become desirable residence for
those who retire their fortunes and enjoy the plea
Of society which not surpassed in elegance
taste by any city on the continent"
The writer of these remembers well that in 1914
when Congress in session in the old Post Office build
ing, there but dwelling north of the spot where
the present splendid edifce stands Look what grand
panorama is now presented
Whether the prediction of the Editors in 1920 the
ultimate appearance of the CrY HALL is be realized
time only can tell. They then said:
This building which will be- it is said Of equal mag
nitude with the Capitol, and in its design not unworthy
to stand in view Of it, we hope will become the favorte
of the people for whose use it is intended. part OF
plan only is proposed to be executed at present. but
We trust our city authorities will not stop when that is
done but 60 without delay to the completion OF the
work. We wish to live to see it finished"
For many years the progress Of the building was very
slow and must say pressntsd unsighty appear
ance by in accordance with the glowing pic
lures we have just cited But Congress in 1923 gave
$4,000 prepare part of the City Hall for the Of
the Circuit Court in 1924 l1i6 for fitting up the same
for the Court and in 1s49 $780, be applied by the
Corporation to finishing the exterior Of the building
This gave it air of neaness very pleasant to the eye
but it Is yet far short of the original conception We
ticipae at distant day handsome appropriation to