The national Republican., 1867-11-08
THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF
WASHINGTON.

The rapid growth Of this city in wealth and
influence Is beginning to attract tho attention
ofthe people in all portions Of the United States
and We are glad to SEQ that there is an incrsas.
ing desire and purpose on the part Of the people
everywhere to make this, the nations capital, q
city that shall DO, in oil respects, what the oapi.
tai Of great and free nation ought to be. With
out consuming timo in discussing the condition
ofthings as they once existed here, or in casting
reflections upon the neglect and want of en-
terprisc that may have prevailed in this com.
munity, we propose to speak Of tho present and
to indicate what our future promises If we will
seize our opportunities and make tho most Of
them
Previous to tho war Washington had popula.
tion Of about $4,000. To-day Its population is
not less than l25, 900 souls. The number Of
buildings erected here during this present sea.
son will not fall short Of 1000, and yet there i,
demand for all and more there is no diminu.
tion in the scale of rents Rents here may bs
regarded as exorbitantly high, and comfortable
dwellings are hard to obtain at any price There
is, wears rejoced to observe, spirit fentsrprise
among our people which is highly oommcndable.
This energy and enterprise cannot fail 10 receive
its duercward. An entcrprising people must, and
always will, be prosperous and a successful
people.
Some persons have supposed that Washington
and Georgetown can never succeed as CONNER.
cisl or manufacturing towns. However 1t may
be in regard to commerce when compared to
other places, We know that We have not yet
Gvailed ourselves Of many advantages furnished
to our hand. We see no reason, therefore, for
eonceding to the truthfulness Of tho declaration
that Washington must always occupy a very in.
considerable position among the commercial
cities Of tho country. Let our people avail
themselves Of the privileges, and when these are
exhausted we may yield the palm to those best
entitled to wear it.
1t is true the laws Of Congress do not permit
this city to be port Of entry; but there is much
local business that can be carried on 10 the
coastwise and river trade, DismissiDg consider
ations of this nature, and leaving the future to
develop results in respect 10 commerce, we may
confidently affirm that in the neighborhood Of
Georgetown there are facilities for manuiao
turing second to none in the country. And
this unapPEoPriatcd power may, and doubtless
will be, at no distant day, brought into requisi.
tiop.
Let US look now for a moment TO the adyan
tsges which this city can and does furnish I,
students and literary men. There is no reasoI
why this city should not be made the home G
learning, the seat Of science and Of literature
the place whsro cultured men and ripe scholar
shall congregate and live. We will now call at
tention to what wo already have There ar,
three colleges in this District, viz: Tho COlum
bian, the Georgetown, and the FrSedmens Uni
versity and all these, we believe, are in higl
state Of prosperity We have one law sehoo
and two medica! colleges, and several privat,
seminaries of learning, The law school is, W
think, in Gourishing condition, and has q yer
able corps Of professors and lecturers Their
are probably no medical colleges in tho countr,
where students of medicine and surgery are 9
thoroughly furnished with opportunities an
means of instruction us here. Our Congre,
sonal library at the Capitol Is one Of the large,
and best in the country, and this Is open to al
who desire to consult its many useful and rar
books. Then we have the Smithsonian Institute
open also to him who socks knowledge and /
willing to learn. We have also the Botani
garden with its variety of plants. flowers, an
shrubs, etc.i also, the Patent 0fi,e, with all 1t
useful and curious models Of innumsrable il
vontion, Everywhere there is instruction ic
the student, and so abundant are the means
learning, that we may say emphaticAlIy, that
who runs may read. This is the Washington
to-day, in some Of its aspects. 1t Is for US I
say what its future shall be.