Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-08-26

tails; magnificent in its promise, contemplate
in its fulflmcnt. Its sidewalks are as wide
a. streets in other cities its streets as broad
as avenues, and its avenues so spacious that
dozen carriages might drive abreast. The
magnitude and magni6conce of the public
buildings strike the visitor with surprise and
admiration The private buildings by which
they are surrounded excite in him feelings Of
pain disappointment and indignation. As he
eazes upon the architectural glories Of ancien
Greece and Rome, as reproduced and revealed
in the Capitol, the Patent Office and the Treas
ury, his eye takes in dilapidated brick build
ings and whitcwashed modern shantes and
the old couplet is suggested with peculiar
force
Never was IL palace made
But grew a howell in It's shade
A ride around and through the city during
the past week has revealed the fact that Wash
ington has at last awoke, and it is fast shak-
ing itself from the sloth, the filth and the in
action of former years At various points
her streets and avenues which have heretofore
been lagoons Of mud, or red Saharas of dust,
are being substantially and beautifully paved
All over the city, beautiful residences, or fine
blocks of pressed brick, are in process Of erec-
ton old buildings are being pulled down and
replaced by modern structures Many bust
ness blocks have just been completed or are
approaching completion, whose massive fronts
Of iron and glass rival the finest structures Of
the kind on Broadway; the new Masonic
Temple, the building of the Young Mems
Christian Association, the Howard University,
and dozen fine churches, all in process Of
building, would do honor to any city in the
world Washington is fast redeeming herself
from her former evil reputation, and bids fair
to soon do at least partial justice to the great
and progressive nation that she represents
Approaching the neighborhood of Sedgwick
barracks, place with which we had long been
familiar, was astonished to see that a nina
ture city had sprung up since our last visit,
as if by magic; and that hundreds of busy
hands were still plying the axe and hammer.
Immense piles oflumber, sand and lime, were
being rapidly converted into substantial build
ings for the accommodation of Col. Duponts
Battery f, 9th Artillery, and portion of
the 9th L. s. Cavalry, which are to be sta
toned here during the winter. Tasteful quar-
tiers for the officers, extensive and commodious
barracks for the men, and immense sheds and
stables for the animals, cover many acres OF
ground.
AT Lincoln Depot, in the eastern part of
the city, still more extensive line of build
ings have been erected for the accommodation
of the l2,h, Doth and 44th regiments of in
fantry which have been ordered into winter
quarters at this place These barracks con.
sist of between thirty and forty buildings
many of which are over three husdred an.
fifty feet in length. These, together with
those at Sedgwick barracks, have been erected
by Gen Asa p. Blunt, A. Q. NJ, who has
the reputation of being the busiest man il
Washington" and is regarded by the Wal
Department as one Of the most active ener
getic and efficient officers in the service.
Ia addition to the operations above spokeI
Of as Depot Quartermaster, he has charge o
the various national cemeteries in this vicini
ty, as also of all the work shops, store houses
? &C., belonging to the Quartermaster's Depart
ment and has at the present time upon hi
pay rolls nearly one thousand employees.
To protect the immense amount Of proper
ty contained in the store houses at the Lin
coin Depot from fire, an enormous tank is el
E evated upon framework above the top of tn
buildings. This is kept filled with water b
powerful steam pump from this tank, wa
ter by the force Of its own pressure, can b
+ thrown over the buildings. In addition t
: this powerful steam fire engine is kept col
q stanty in readiness for use upon the grounds
The will of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens was ac
mitted to probate here, on Tuesday, Aug. Is
, and have copied several extracts therefron
] as some Of the items will be read with specis
n interest in Vermont, and others will
of general interest as exhibiting strong chai
acteristics of the man. After appointing HI
executor, he directs them "to pay to the tow
e of Peacham, State of Vermont, 81 600, tn
|, interest whereof at six per cent, to be appl
ed maid of the Juvenile Library Associf
ton, which was founded at the Caledoni
County Academy, if the same still be in e,
) istence, and continue to pay the same so Ion
r as it continues in active operation"
s | give and bequeath to the title-holdel
n or trustees Of the graveyard, in which IN
mother and brother Alanson are buried,
the town of Peacham, VT, $500, to be put
d interest perpetually and the interest to
> paid annually to the sexton, on condition thu
n he keeps the graves in good order, and plan
Il
, the four corners Of said graves every sprin
u If either of said legacies should lapse, Ii
l. same should go to the support Of the Bapt
Il church or meeting nearest to Danyille Centr
# my native town in Vermont"
81 give to Mrs Lydia Smith, my hous
keeper, FIVE hundred dollars year durin
+ her natural life, to be paid semi.annually
r, or at her option she may receive five thousan
W dollars She may make her election, an
" then release all claims upon my estate. Mr.
= Smith has some furniture of her own, used
- common with mine some bought with h,
er own money, as well as other, which it wou
ne be difficult to distinguish. Now she must
trusted on honor to take such as she CLAIM
Of without further proof"
:; After bequeathing to Captain Thaddel
= Stevens, his nephew, his gold watch, an j
&c terest in his home at Lancaster, and settlil
ed an annuity of eight hundred dollars per al
h. mum upon him, the testator speaks of h
d., iron works at Caledonia, and directs; eff
the end Of any five years, Thaddeus, II
!" nephew, shall have shown that he has total
abstained from all Intoxicating drinks throul
rs, that time, the trustees may convey to hi
one-fourth Of the whole property. If at Il
end of the next successive FIVE years he sh,
Il. show that he has totally abstained from
,s intoxicating drinks, they may convey to hi
W. one-fourth being one-half of the propert
If at the end of another consecutive f
ny years, he shall show that he has abstain
Or from all Intoxicating drinks, they may cony
I No. the whole to him in fee simple"
cir The will subsequently, provides that in ca
rs. his nephew Thaddeus should expire before
'n- should come into possession of the estate,
Oh otherwise fail to become entitled to the
Y, simple, ait shall be used to erect, establi
u nS and endow house of refuge for the relief
me homeless and INDECENT orphans, who shall
Ia oaraG,ll,r Al,,ootol =, Al.