Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-06-14


TO be eonsruc;ed, bridges 20 De built, nuisances
to be aoateo. and other Improvements TO oe
made which will be pressed upon your after.
sfa'ion. While mere i. so mucs. 10
he done we must remember that tne moP ey 20
carry On such improvements comes fT ON tns
burden Of taxation already bears ne,,vily upon
tnen, and should not be lncreasSd-;ha. the
people expect us 20 retrench and economic 81
far as Is consistent with the public Interests 10
view of the pressing demands for improve
ments. Therefore In our discretion we should
proceed with care, exercise sound discrInina-
ting Judgments, and favor only such measures
as are most required and as will accomplish the
greatest good for the people al large, and secure
the most substautiei and beneficial results
The canal has been 80 long neglected that it mas
for lie debris Of the city, from which the arr
- infused with its nauseous and malarious in
nuences, generating disease among the people
and bringing reproach upon the city. In its
present CONDITION il can be used 10 no good pur-
pose, but Is wholly useless. 1t should DE- so
improved as 70 contribute to our commercial
and business interest, or In some other manner
so olsposed OF as 10 remove that intoieraole
nolssnce from our midst. The river front too
demands our earnest consideration. The trade
and commerce of this District which is COZ.
stantly increasing mas now reached point OF
ignificance " hIch demands the improvement
OF the wharves and the channel OF the Potomac
and justifies the hope tina: the general gov
eminent Will aid us IN this matter by an appro-
priaiIon at least as liberal as mas been its Gus
tom to grant for the benefit OF other cities under
similar circumstances. To secure this mu n
ues lIed oS,ect we should take such action as
will bring II properly before Congress ana i'm
press the minds of memDsrs with lis impor-
taDCes and IT. merit ~ claim for their early
ton. think II would be we'll for You 10 ap-
point a SPECIAL committee TO attend 70 this i'm.
porIant matter. The attention of our fellow
Citizens has recently been attracted 10 the want
of increased railroads tor our city. IL is be-
Ievsd there is no city in the Republic equal N
population, wealth and relative importance
10 Washington, whose railroad facilities
are so meagre as ours. Favored by nature
with heaIthful and salubriouS climate,
splendid water privIledes for extensive man
ufactOries, situated upon broad and magniti.
centriver, ample, with proper Improvement,
for an extensive commerce, and capable OF
bearing to our wharves the largest vessels IN
the world: nearer, by many miles, 10 the rich
agricultural fields and immen-s mineral re-
eions OF the West, than any other greet tide
water city. Surrounded by an extensive and
productive country, whose natural resources
are great, and are now being more fully de-
yeloped than ever before; embracing within its
limits the Capitol of an empire, possessing an
accessible property of eighty millions OF dol
lars, and a population of one hundred ana fitty
thousand souls, and yet not having one railroad
thar !, can call Its own, which its citizens
can exercise a controlling influence. This Is
certainly an anomalous strange condition. In.
deed, Washington is yet in her she'll, and her
people anxiousiy expect the shell to be- broken
at Cnce. We have seen other cities less ia vored
by nature stimulated by railroad enterprises,
Use up rapidly 10 almost uubounded prospect
~, and so we shall see Washington If we are
true TO ourselves and TO the interests OF our
constituents. Let go ahead in this matter
and by wise ard Iudicious course of action
aid our citizens to secure the impulsive infiu-
ences OF such railroad enterprises as will place
us IN connection with the various points OF the
country, and thus give animation, vigor, and
increased prosperity TO our capital city. To
bring these matters properly before this Board,
and secure that careful and earnest considera.
ton and prompt action which their Importance
demands, recommend that you add Commit
tee on Railroads TO your list of standing COM
mitiees. Our free school system, though prom
sing rich fruits, Is still In its infancy, and re-.
quires careful nourishing. The General Gov
ernment has heretofore made extensive grants
of lanos 10 the States ana Territories for school
purposes, and distributed among the Safe.
large sum of money, which most OF the
STATES applied TO their school fund, and vet
here, where large proportion of the pro-
perty belongs to the Government and is ex-
empt from taxation, and where hundreds of
the children OF those from the States who are
IN the employment OF the Government are
being educated in our free schools, IL has dom
lothing TO aid us in bearing the burden, but
hitherto our people have patiently borne il
by heavy taxation. In my judgement, this rs
such manifest in justice as calls upon Congress
for correction, and believe il is only necessary
10 take such measures "a Will attract the atteu-
ton of Congress TO IT in order to obtain such
lief as equity and justice require. and AS we
have reason TO expect. l hope that you Will in.
struct your committee before Congress to at
tend TO this important business. In conclusion
permit me 10 remind you of the adage sThe
world is governed too much" Our constitu
ents do not require large accum u latiou Of
laws al this time, nor large and numerous ap.
preparations OF their moneys, but they do ex.
pect US, by careful and sound discrimination,
TO pass such appropriate acts for necessary
and important purposes, will tend TO pro.
tsct their rights advance their interests. aud
improve and adorn our city. Representing as
we do, an intelligent constituency AZ the Capt.
toll OF the freest and most liberal Government
on earth, where the avenues 10 literature tire
arts. sciences, the learned profess IONS ana 10
all mechanical and other industrial and useful
employment, have recently been opened alike
20 all classes Of our fellow-citiz ms. an where
every man can stand mp in the full stature OF
ms ma nhood, and planting himself upon the
Cherished principle OF equality, demand ard
enforce his equal right 10 participate in all our
public affairs, without any in vIdious distinc.
tion OF race or nativity. may not indulge the
your legislation Will be guided by the rules of
equality and justice 70 all, and your minds i'm.
pressed by the beautiful sentiment advanced
by one OF our illustriOus Presidents, THAT the
blessings OF Government, like the dews of
Heaven. should descend alike upon all"
AT the close OF the remarks of the President,
on morton Of Mr.. Baker. II was ordered thai
the address be entered on the journal
A message was received from the Common
Council announcing its organization
The board then resumed the election OF of.
neers, when MI Sidrey = Baker, of the Sew
enth Ward. was elected Vice President; Col
Chas. L. Hulse. of the First Ward, was chosen
Secretary, and Francis Over (colored) was an.
pointed Messenger.
Mr.. Baker offered . resolution that the
rules OF order of the late Board of Aldermen
be adopted for the government Of this board
until otherwise ordered" adopted.
Mr.. Clarke offered the following
ReSolred, That committee OF three be an.
pointed, 70 be styled a Committee on Rules.
Adopted, and the Chair appointed as said
eommittee Messrs Clarke, Connolly and Nc
Catnran.
Mr.. Clarke offered the following, which was
adopted:
whereas II Is necessary, in order 10 provide
employment for the laborers and mechanics
business for the merchants and profitable IN
vestments tor the capitalists amongst US, and
10 further develop the superior natural ad van.
tages this District possesses for manufactures
and commerce; also, thar the growth and pros.
peIliy OF this city may not be retarded by any
lack OF enterprise TO increase its facilities for
trade, and 10 conform with the rnest desire
OF the people, that ca ly action be taken by these
Councils 20 give them proper announcement
IN their efforts TO secure the construction OF
railroads 10 connect this capital Of the nation
with the surrounding country and with the
remotest locality OF the Union: Therefore. be il
Resolred, hat there be added to the list of
com mItiees Of this Board q standing COMMITTEE
TO be called the Committee on Railroads. TO
whom shall be referred all subjects relative 10
railroads.
MIR. knight offered the following, which was
adop,ed:
ResoIred, That there be q special committee,
consisting OF three members Of this Board, ap.
pointed TO investigate the manner in which the
appropriation by Congress OF $3.50 9a3 50 TO pay
certain claims for improvements in this city,