Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-30

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, have
retarded the progress Of the city In the vicinity
Of the Capitol and north TO the city boundary.
But for this North Capitol street and the streets
adjoining would now present beautiful pros
pect from the Capitol, and be built mp with
handsome residences. As il is there rs no part
OF car city that presents q more forbidding ap-
pearance, and none that is more often seen by
strangers visiting the metropolis, who wonder
Why this portion remains desert place. 1t is
really . disgrace, and il becomes the city au- :
thorities to exert themselves TO have remedy
applied. If proper efforts were made the rail.
road obstructions could be removed, and an
appropriation secured from Congress to grade
and gravel North Capitol street, from the Cap.
itol to the boundary Of the city.
THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
The difficulty of access from the Capitol tc
the Government Printing Office, especially ia
winter, when all the travel between the two
places il necessarily through New Jersey ave.
nue. and II street will be a sufficient plea to
cause favorable action by Congress in this
matter. As understand it, the wide streets
leading directly from the Capitol East Capitol
and South Capitol streets, are under the juris.
dicton Of the United States, and are TO be
graded by the Government. Appropriations
have already been made by Congress for grading
East Capitol street. and surely il is quite as
necessary 10 have North Capitol street opened
fOrtrave. at this time as that running east from
the Capitol. Indeed, there are many consid.
eTations in favor of the former that do not ext
in regard TO the latter.
MAJOR A. q. RICHARDS.
III may not be improper now for me 10 refer
to recent events that have transpired In this
city.
While ~e may congratulate ourselves that
by prompt and honest course we have been
enabled TO MAINTAIN the rights fairly accorded
TO US by the people in the late election, it is
only due to an upright and cons scientlous pub
lie officer mean Major A. g. Richards, the
able superintendent OF police,) TO say that but
for his prompitude and foresight a final set
tlement might have been delayed, or only at :
tanned through scenes of violence and hlnod
shed.
REFORMS CONTEMPLATED.
Ii is my earnest desire TO begin, # not to com =
plete, during my administration OF this muni-
clpality, such reforms and improvements as
will make the city of Washington what the
capital of the United States should be. Proba-
bly, no city government in the nation has ever
been longer or more persistently misruled than
this; and none certainly has been made the
object Of such generosity on the part Of tie
peoples representatives. Instead Of being an
example and model of honesty in its off,
cials, rRor in the collection and integrity i'm
the disbursement Of its revenues, il has
rather been warning to others In the loose
ness, the favoritism and the utter eckless ness
that have pervaded most Of It's departments.
OF course II cannot be expected that a new adj :
minlstration can cure evils that have become
almost chronic within short period Of time,
especially obstructed as have been, and those
who Cooperate with me, by n bitter and nm :
ceasing opposition. But entering upon NV
duties with sincere desire TO remote the gen .
erdl welfare ana 10 preserve tne public Dpaee.
am not without hope that even those who
have allowed themselves to be mIsled by preiu .
dice or party will finally see that it is their
true interest 10 sustain the new adm inistration
in all the efforts il is resolved To make for "a.
general improvement and progress of the city
The moment Congress is convinced thar We
mean TO fulfil our pledges-that we mean TO
pay our deots and to conduct our affnrs fru-
gally and carefully-we shall almost nr autici.
pated in our enterprises, and will rarely sk i'm
vain from the representatives of the people.
PROSPECTS OF WASHINGTON
There is no reason why Washington should
not become a great man ufae turing and com
mercial city, nor why more great railroads con-
Meeting II North and South should not be pro.
Jeeted and completed. Our advantages of
climate. position, neighborhood of the ocean,
and profusion Of water power, have been so
often commented upon a. 10 render any lengthy
reference to them unnecessary; but / may be
overthrow ofthe rebellion new attractions are
offered to emigration by the necessity and
advantages ofsettling aud cult vating the vast
6odies OF land IN and near the District Of Co.
lumbla. Emigration met AT New York nv
agents from the West, who do their utmost To
set forth the superior claims of the great
domain owned by the companies they repre-
SEM, has been steadily diverted from the Soutb. =.
but now that slavery has been DESTROYED. for :
eigrers seeking homes for themselves IN this
County will naturally turn to the sections
nearest the market, and can be readily induced
10 come here and make their homes in the vi .
ciurty OF the capital of the nation. The same
sagacity and perseverance which have done so
much TO people our new States and Territories
II applied 10 the adjacent rich lands in Vir.
ginia and Maryland, would not only give MS a
thriving population but would add materiallv "
TO the strength and perpetuity Of the Govern.
ment itself.
How TO RETAIN THE CAPITAL.
i know that speak not only for the people
who hon ored me with their suffrages at the lat
election, but for very many who voted against
me, when i say that there is an earnest nav
an intense desire on their part to do every
thing to maiptain the seat of government, In
this ten miles square. Not only personal i'm :
tfrest, but the highest public considerations
should make us act together i'm all matters re-
lating to the solid prosperity Of Washington
city. However partizans may rail at their sue.
cessful rivals, and deny that their efforts are
being used to the damage of this beautiful city,
and however the movements in Congress NAV
De raduced and misunderstood, no reasonable
man can doubt that a long continuance IN such
violent scenes as have recently disgraced this
metropolis will ultimately, and probably too
soon, result in q concerted effort for the re-
moval of the capital. Let it be our duty. nv
good order, by integrity in our government,
by the cultivation of the arts Of peace and Kind
feeling among ourselves, and above all by ex :
hibitng a con slant and grateful attachment TO
our common country, to disarm all such ef-
forts, so that our frmest and fastest friends
Will be found in those guardians who have.
under the Constitution of the United States
exclusive jurisdiction over the District of Go.
lumbia. ). j. BowsN Mavor
June 30, 1865.