Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-01-24
DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT.
VIEWS OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERVIEW WITH PROMINENT
CITIZENS.
PRESIDENT GRANT AND THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.

On Saturday at IL o'clock m, In pursu-
ance Of a previous appointment, the follow
ing citizens called at the Executive Mansion
and had an interview with President Grants
W. W. Corcoran; William B. Todd, W. O.
MetIerott, A. r. Shepherd, 8. P. Brown,
Hallet Kllbourn, William 8. Huntington,
James @. Berret, J. W. Forney, William Il.
Philip, J. W. Thompson, and James A.
Magruder, who were received BY the Presl-
dent in his private ofice.
W. ". Corcoran, esq, amer having pre-
scented the several members Of the dslega-
tlon to the President, saldi Mr.. Prssident,
We have called TO pay our respects 70 you as
the Chief Magistrate OF tho nation and
guardian Of the District. We understand
that you contemplate sending 10 Congress 4
special message In relation TO matters per-
talning to the District Of Columbia, and We
wish to Invite your attention 10 several mat
tiers Of deep Interest 10 the people Of this
District. He alluded to the fact that the
continued agitation for the removal Of the
capital was affecting their interests lnj uh'
ously, and paralyslng the development Of
the DlStrlcti that so large proportion Of
tho laborlng classes we're In need Of employ
ment, suggested tho propricty OF such action
on the part Of Congress as would Insure tbs
necessary aid in relieving these presllng
wants by the improvement OF the public
avenues and property to . corresponding
degree with that accomplished BY the city
government, and concluded his remarks By
calling upon Colonel John ". Torney 70 In.
dictate more fully the object OF their visit.
Col. Fornoy, addressing he President, took
occasion to thank him In behalf Of the PEG.
pie Of the country, and more Immediately
the citizens OF the District Of Columbla
for his liberal contribution 10 tho In
tcrnatlonal EKpositlon-au example which
had been generously followed BY many
others. He then said that all his pre-
dccessors, beginning with tho nlustrlouS
Washington, had given special attention 70
the District Of Columbia, and that the PEG
pie had gratefully received the Init nation
that President Grant had intended 10 address
q communication to the two houses Of Con-
gress directing their attention to the urgent
necessity Of repairing, improving, and paw
ing the avenues Of the clty-all Of which had
been damaged and almost destroyed during
the war-of extending tho public grounds,
Of increasing or enlArg,pg the national OF
executive edlAces Of cleaning out our rive
and harbori Of celebrating or utilizing tina
great nuisance, the canal and Of MAXIM
our great metropolis worthy Of 4 population
including Georgetown and tho county, o
nearly one hundred and seventy thousand
people. lie stated that many Senators AM
members Of Congress had become larg
owners Of real estate since the war, and tina
enterprisinE men from other sections wsr
daily moving into and buying property Y
the cityi that capital In which the publ
buildings and grounds were estimated TO b
nearly equal in value TO all the property an
buildings belonging to private individuals
and which had been, through his valor an
the valor Of his comrades In arms, sayed :
the public at an iucalculablo loss OF bloo
and treasure, should be preserved and mad
worthy Of It's traditions and Its future tbs
with more railroad communication Il WI
destined to DO one OF the lovellest and mo-
: attractive spots on the continents that
was occupied by population OF great Int
, ligence and enterprise, and that the poop
: look to him with abiding confidence as the
guardian and their friend.
The President said he wished 10 see II
now great nation, and he thought on
| naDital ahnuId ha Imnrava1 4. .
worthy OF our national position. We haV
now some OF the grandest public building
In the world, and the business Of the Gov
ernment required several new Department
structures. The country was nov payinl
more rent for the use OF private property i
Washington for Government purposes thai
would pay the interest on the amount re
qulred To construct permanent and SubstAn
tlal buildings. Many OF the structures nov
rented and occupied BY the Government
were unsuitable for the purposes used, and
afford no protection against destructioh b.
IRE OF the invaluable archives OF the Gov
ernmsnt which thsy contain. He thought
tho capital should be made attractive, and
merit the just pride OF the American people,
while at the same time Il would command
the respect Of the peopla AZ IN. IA voTls
Waiting IL. Hs ala nat think II prousy tia,
an appropriation for all of ths.a improy.-
ments shouId ba mado a, ons lima mi ,hs,
,nb.t.ntIaI Imn,ov.u.n,. .hon,5 I. -.
,ro,n 80 % -
Co,on., win,.n IT pnp,, ......, a..
p,..rS"n, ,h., ~ ,ha n.aa,. y, NJ. .u,.,-,.- ~.
.ra ,ha nI.,,,o, daS,rSS - a. .sssN-
10 o-r.u,,. ,h.I. -. -, 49,. 80,
in me dov.,onrOoD, ~ All, - 1900 -
ter0,t,, maj thov IooLsa a. ~ FT,.n,,r. :.
their immeaIats rsnrs..n,s,,va. "a ,S.,
whus ralvIno rron ,h.D,..r~.. A. -
degrees. thew S.lt that 4 .tror1 hon.s., 80
from him To tbe Congress ~ Al. Hated
State. vould bo worth svsrvthIrv 10 thsm,
thai bo had rov.r LDo-n ~. 80. ~ -
40 Alive 10 the ncce,sIty ~ tho dsT.,SD.SS.- :,
az ,h.,, -, ....-, - -
of beInV All. 10 msts w.shIn~, S 80
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