Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-17
SEVENTH Ward Rcpubliean..

(south q stree) last evening, aud notwitastand.
ing he inciemeney of the weather there " r..
fIom hfty To seventy n w persons presenk The
meeting was called to order by Mr. K. A. B1s-
well, President, and ia IN" absence OF ;hs Sec
RETRY, Dr. William BOYD vas elected Sscre-
The Char stated lat the resolution of M.
Watson IN reference 10 supporting NO person
for offic- not IN favor of improving the canal
for purposes of navigation, having been rec On .
sidered, II was before the house for discus
sion.
Mr.. Bambsrger moved that 1t be laid Upon
Mr.. Watson wished the subject debated.
though be wes not particularly DESTROYS that
til e resolution be adopted.
The vote was taken ON laying the resolu ton
on tn table, and It was lost, there being but a
few votes In the affirmative.
Mr.. Bamorrger asked what could be accom- :
plished by the adoption OF the resolution.
Dr. Boyd said that it was right TO discuss the
subject, not IN reference exclusively to candi-
dates for office, but in reference TO giving WORK
DE was In favor OF improving the canal by
Win tss ana deepening Il, and to connect II
branch 10 the Chesapeake Bay it would be-
come great public convenience and source of
pront. especially when we have but one raul.
road to depend on, and that charging the hi Oh
est rates OF freight. He here read paper as to
ne amount which would be saved on the dit.
ferrnt kinds of produce and necsssariss OF life,
fOetIng up, including the amount which would
br saved on coal, S3,0j0,O0O. He conteuded that
Il the PROJECT was cirried out coal could be had
here at from IS to $3.50 per ton. He WAS glad
that the Republicans had met on this subject
the approval of the community, including
some OF their political opponents
MIR. Bamberger SAID he could u )t see how, il
the canal was deepened, the price Of hour
would be lessensd half, and the price of
coal come down brlow the cost at the mines.
Mr.. Watson said that the arching oi the
canal would cost S2,OtO,0J0, and was virtually
Impracticable. He read q statement signed by
NJ ssrs. Smith, Willet, Redgrave, Gray and
Noyes, Mclean, Magruder, Draper Il o.,
Gait, Ward. Brown, McCielland, Mohun q
Son, Ellis & Bro, FGgitt and NARROW. that
they are of the opinion if the canal was thor
oDghly cleaned, il will not only meet a great
sanitary want, but il will he made to pay
$500 rent instead of 5000 as at present
They say II will pay S50,tOO In rents, which
will be IL per cent on S5OO.uO0. and the cleaning
of the canal will cost out S2It,OOO at farthest,
tue estimates being but SlOO,UOO. As Republi
cans they had the right to ask the improve
ment OF the canal, and had asked 1t, but only
one oil their representatives had met the ques-
ton sQuarely.
Mr.. Collins. colored, said that the club seemed
determiI ed TO make canal platform, and
under the resolution If JEFF. Davis advocated
cleaning the canal, the members would have TO
support HIM. He did not want any such plat
form, aud he would not vote for man on the
solitary issue Of the canal. He had voted for
the present representatives and had con f1dencs
In them. He acknowledged that the improve
ment would be great one, but they should act
carefully and not put their heads further under
the block.
heN. W. y. walker (cOiOre01 SAID ne could
not see how they would support JEFF Davis or
any other rebel. He wanted something done
Tor the woTk gmen: and their representatives,
in W hom he had lost all conf1d ence, had done
nothing for hem, but he hoped they would do
better next year. He was opposed to SOUP
houses, and did not want TO See the people 60
ing up with their tin buckets for little meat
and water called soup. He wanted work pro-
vided for the men, and was willing, If the res
olution was too broad, that il should h..
dropped. He could not see the great things
the Mayor had done for the colored people.
MIR. Joseph Williams secuted the idea that IL
the resolution was adopted they would
have TO support rebels for they would first
make sure that party was Republican be-
fore questioning him in reference TO the canal
IL was true that some of their representatives
had not done vi hat was expected OF them and
De had heard that but one could ever represent
them again; the work was needed for these
people and they should have Ii. Congress had
passed bill approprIating S3O,C0J to support
the poor, and their opponents charge that the
necessity is occasioned by the large number of
persons brought here as one Of the results of
the war, but they have been here long enough
TO be citizens. He was sorry TO say that when
tney proposed to save these people from the
soup houses IL struCk terror to the hearts of
some Rspu blicans. As to arching the canal and
making the Seventh Ward the garden spot of
Washington. he could not see how 1t could be
done when the mall interviewed. The Seventh
Ward had but little funds because OF the mar
row minded policy of the former adninistra.
ton, lots being assessed at 10 cents per foot
, u
20 cents. and yet the Seventh Ward have TO
open streets for travel from other parts of the
city 10 the river front. TaIs was the States
rights policy which Is being urged in Congress
against the charter {: -aa::,roads across the
States OF the Union. He would smash up the
system OF ward fCnds, and have one general
fund, 30 that when streets are to be opened in
The Seventh Ward the nabObs Of the Fourth
Ward would have 10 pay their share.
Mr. George q. johnson believed the object of
me resolution was to foist certain parties
the people, and II was all bosh TO talk about
shoyelIng the canal out TO shovel il in again,
and the taxpayers would Lot stand any such
nonsense. If they had such desire to a,d the
colored people they had better 60 TO Congress
and a an appropriation for them
Mr.. Watson denied that lie had any idea of
folsting himself or any one else on the people
Mr.. Boswell Mr.. Williams in the CHAIR SAID
That the resolution, in his opinion, was offered
In coed faith, but If it was passed IL would
nave bad results and would BE- misconstrued
As for improving the canal for navigation, it
was impossible, unless pivot bridges are yro-
vided. and they will cost a million He had
the welfare OF the party at heart, and believed
that the resolution would give dissatisfaction
10 the people. They had better leave out all
side issues and strike for the nobler principles
OF the Republican party. 1t was on account OF
side issues that Democratic governors had been
elected, and such result may take place here.
DE did not believe that they could carry out the
uay system on the canal, and did not believe
that they should question a mans Republican
ism because he could not favor days work
As 10 James Greek, NO one doubted the pro-
priety of opening il II the canal Is cleaned
out and LETT open, mud machines would reap
the benefit by keeping IL clean, but If it Is made
sewer men will have 10 60 in il and clean it.
He was opposed TO rebels. and did not want
them In the Repu bli can party; the Aliens and
the Claytons could come in and adv ocate what
measures they pleased, but never would he
welcome TO the party those who held tue knife
TO their neighbor's Threats, upholdIng the doc.
frine OF ssassinatIon. When Allen was al a
previous meeting he could not help thin king as
TO where he would have been IL Seymour had
been elected.
Rev. J. w. Gran urged that the work should
be done.
Mr.. NJ. f. Scott offered as a substitute a res.
olutoh setting forth that over sec, 600 of the ap.
preparation made two years since for the i'm.
provement of the canal remains unex nded,
and requesting the Mayor TO Immediately put
three hundred men to work on that portion of
the canal on Maryland and virgiuia avenues:
the mud excavated TO be wheeled directly from
me bed OF me canal into the low grounds ad-
jaceIt on either bank
Mr.. Watson accepted il a. a substitute for his
resolution.
DIR. Boyd was In favor Of the original reso.
luton, and he believed the open canal far
preferable TO the closed canal. A large f1rcp
OF workmen could be pr al work between ID
street and Virginia avenI now, and It should
be done.
Fielder Carroll said that he was in favor of
the resolution, for the only men in want of
work would then GET II; those able TO do Win.
out work always being employed on drv land.
n NJ mot IN. Rtyfo "a A.