Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-20

SUPPORT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND TIE CoNsTI
TUITION OF TIE UNTrxD STATES, AND THE UHIol
or THE STATES THKKHUSDER."
rg'.-,. ..r ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
IMPROVEMENTS IN wAsHINGTON-
HIGEELY INTERESTING RECORD.
On our FIRST page will be found partial re
port OF The buildings recently erected and nov
In course Of construction In the city OF wash
ington. II win be seen that our reporters hay,
made but slight returns from many portions Of
the city, including Capitol Hill and the vast
section beyond, reaching TO the Navy Yard,
and on the Island. But, notwithstanding
these omissions, the record is truly startling.
We will not reiterate 1t, but ask our readers to
examine the report and then consider a few
faets In connection with II.
LIST. All the buildings recently erected and
now being erected, as reported, are occupied
or engaged BY persons who will use them as
dwellings or for business purposes.
I'd. The demand for dwelling houses and
stores Is not SbSted by this supply, but Is great.
er than erer. Senators and Representatives and
those iu attendance upon. Congress and the
Courts are obliged to take shelter in Hotels
and Boarding Houses and then obtain compar-
atively scanty quarters at enormous prices,
because of the scarcity of houses in the city.
Employees of the Government, In nearly all
the Departments, for the same reason, and
because of the enormously extravagant prices
of living at hotels and boarding houses are
Obliged TO go TO Baltimore to obtain seyerally
their supper, lodging and breakfast, and they
represent the experiment TO be economical.
Sd. The Improvements reported upon our
first page are the fruits OF private enterprise In
the midst OF gigantic rebellion.
9Th. The same enormous demand for build
ings, the same enterprise in the construction
Of new edidces, and yet the same failure to
supply the demand, exists in Georgetown aud
Alexandria.
9Th. This demand is healthy one. 1t springs
from the requirements Of the times, and 1t not
only deyelopes new resources OF the people but
II exhibits in a strong light their unfaltering
coahdsnee in the Government.
9th. Notwithstanding the construction of so
many new buildings, the demand for houses
and stores is so much greater than the supply,
that rents have increased enormously.
Now, we propose 10 refer briefly to a few
affairs.
OF course the Inauguration of the rebellion
suddenly changed the whole character of the
Federal Metropolis. The old stage coaches
and canal boats went South with JEFF. Davis,
and the steamboats, and railroads of the great
North came In with Mr.. Lincoln. All tho old
vacant buildings In the city were soon occupied,
and buildings have been constantly going up
ever since the 4th OF March, 1861. Broken
down country landlords of temperance hotels,
in New Hampshire, found 1t an easy matter to
yentilate their conscience, and make a fortune
here by selling bad rum to poor soldiers, and
cheap fare to guests, who paid for the best, but
couldn't help themselves. AyaricIous and
unprincipled landlords let their dwellings for
gambling saloons and brothelS, which monop-
olized large numbers Of houses that were de-
sirable for the honest loyaliSts, who poured
into the city for the purpose of engaging in
legitimate trade, or to serve the Government.
Then came the stern necessity, growing cut of
the rebellion, Of the seizure BY the Government
ofa large number ofresldencles of secessionists
and the necessary occupation Of many more,
for which the Government paid rents.
In view OF all these facts Washington is more
than full indeed we have shown that the city
is so full that many. Of Its Inhabitants have to
90 to Baltimore every night to sleep.
The question naturally arises !Why don't
enterprising capitalists erect buildings ~ We
have asked this question aud received an an.
wer, to wit;
LIST. That buildin ng material is very high and,
OWL g to the fact that we have but one railroad
track between this city and the North, and that
n large proportion Of our freightlng vessels are
employed exclusively by the Government, It is
almost impossible to get the material here.
I'd. 1t is extremely difficult to obtain theright
Kind of mechanics, especially hOusewrghts.
The answer Is sufficient. We know that these
difficulties are truly stated, and this being the
case, 1t is impossible for capitalists to meet the
demand for houses.
There Is no hope Of relief through private en-
terprse. Even If 1t were possible to procure
the transportation of building material hither,
by land or water, the difficulty of getting house
wrlghts, and bricklayers, and laborers still
oNlsts-s lhe army has not only reduced the
number OF mechanics by eullstlng them 10 itS
ranks, but during the existence of the rebeIIIon |
the Government has employed as many as IL
could obtain to labor upon the public works,
1t must be remembered, that, instead of stor-
ping work on the public buildings, the Govern
ment, not having the fear of the rebel army
before II, crowded the work, and the result is,
that the whole ofthe south wing Of the Treas
ury building has been completed and the entire
new portion fronting the west-one Of the most
magnificent structures In the world--has been
built from foundation to turret. The General
Post ONCE has been finished also the Patent
Onlcei the Water Works have been completed;
the extension of the wings of the Capitol have
been continued aud are fast approaching com
Plclion, at last, and the great Dome has risen,