Evening star., 1870-02-07
WHERE SHOULD RE THE CAPITAL.
NO. Nv.

PECULIAR ADVANTAGES or WASHINGTON.
ihere are other items of comparison, which.
though Of minor force separately considered. in
the aggregate, and as weighing in the already
well loaded balance, are OF value. These per
tain especially to Washington itself, as COM
| pared with any Western locality.
| ITS DELIGHTFUL AND HEALrHFUL CLIMATE
The climate of Washington certainly has no
SUPERIOR in the country for a capital. 1t is
| either severely cold for the Southern nor un-
safely hot for the Northern inhabitant. And
wi lie it has neither extreme, it has mildly the
| good features both of Northern and Southern
climate. Its greater softness than that OF the
West. in the same latitude. by its proximity 10
the sea, even makes its attractive to the West
ern man. And while il is noted for its calmness
clearness and sunshine, yet, by the Influence
of the ocean and the gulf stream, it is not, like
the West, subject to severe droughts In health
fulness and exemption from epidemic and en-
demic diseases, IT has long been known to excel
every other large city in the United States.
IT'S uNsuRrAssEDi SITUATION FOR NANrFAc-
TURING.
Ii is no reproach TO the people Of the national
capital, city founded solely for that use,
that they do not enter into manufacturing and
other profitable enterprises; and it may be a
misfortune, but IL is certainly no fault of the
inhabitants that il has 50 little business outside
of government duties and local trade. But
Washington is not surpassed, if indeed equalled
by any Other locality of the country in adyan-
tages for manufacturing, and for trade and COM
merce incident thereto. The great falls of the
Potomac are situated short distance above the
city, furnishing water-power, easily brought
TO the city itself by canal, scarcely exceeded
anywhere else in the whole land. And this i'm
mense natural power can be applied Immediate
lx af lo haa nf,
tage that no other city in the United
States possesses in so great q degree
Add to this that there is now a canal which
brings inexhaustible supplies of coal direct to
the city, as well as iron, and the wheat of the
best wheat land in the country. Besides, wood
and timber are very abundant all around; and il
can draw on the extensive shores of the Chesa-
peake, and the banks of all the magnificent
navigable rivers flowing into that bay, for fur
ther supplies. Limestone, marble, sandstone,
gneiss, granite, and other building materials are
abundant in the vicinity, or easy to obtain.
Cotton, wool, hides, and other raw materials are
produced i'm quantities not far away. An extern
siye and fertile country reaches around, and es-
pecially inland, feeding, and drawing supplies
from, Washington. All Of these combined ad-
vantages and facilities designate an important
manufacturing interest for the capital i'm the not
|
cial manufactures. The location is especially
well adapted for some particular products, in
Guiding agricultural implements, -four earthen-
ware, glassware, furniture, boilers, engines, and
other heavy iron machinery, boats, cooper work.
cotton, wOolen, and leather manufactures. Thus
considerable item will be added to the eastern
prePonderance In these Industries
ITS ELIGIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
Washington is well laid out, with wide streets
and avenues, and with elevated and picturesque
surrounding sites for residences; and though a
new capital in the West might possibly be As
handsomely located and better built at t..e start
yet it could have no better advantages 10 buiId
upon in the future than the present capital.
which at last has made a fair beginning All
present defects are temporary only, and time
Will soon correct. Railroad connections with
all parts Of the country are not SO complete as
they should be; but that result will soon be
attained in the ordinary course of enterprise.
and can, by special exertion, be hastened. And
Washington is by no means so defective in rail-
road communications as popularity reported. 1t
is commonly said to have only one railroad and
that "dog in the manger." Yet two rail-
roads terminate within its limits, and a
third will enter, in few months, while
New York, the great metropolis, has only
three, and two of those controlled by one man.
There are other cities it is true better proyided
Boston, with a railroad in every sixteenth point
of the compass, greatly surpasses it. But Boston
is the metropolis of New England, which is more
completely supplied with railroads than any
other region on the globe. Ii we consider what
railroad communication Washington already
has, 1t VIII be seen even now not to be very def
cient The proximity Of Chesapeake bay and the
Atlantic on the east, precludes the necessity as
nf
direction. 1t has railroad to Annapolis: and
no other is really required eastward. To the
northeast, and the great cities, Baltimore.
Philadelphia, New York and Boston, there is a
direct rail route. Also, due north, 90 Har-
risburg and the cities Of Western New York
there is onother, only lacking a duplicate road
to Baltimore, or closer connections, and better
timetable at Baltimore, with the present roads
Duplicate roads to any one point are neither es-
sential nor of very great use, except sometimes,
to reduce fare and freightage to proper rates by
competition. But duplicate road to Baltimore
in year will be ready for travel. To the north
west, there Is now an indirect route, and direct
road is building. A great west-northwest road
has long been running. Directly westward. one
extends into the valley Of Virginia. To the
southwest, direct through line extends TO
Mobile and New Orleans. Due south, there is
another, to Richmond, Petersburg, Whining
ton, and Charleston, with branch road south
east, to Norfolk; while Immediately southeast
from Washington the great water route makes a
railroad thithsr not very essential. Thus IL Ia
evident that all Of the main points of the COM
pass are nearly supplied. There is greatly
needed only the extension of the due western
road to theOhio river, and the completion of an
air line northwestern road to the great lakes.
ITS cAPABTLITY OF ApoRNMExr.
The capital is well adorned with shade trees.
an acquisition that time alone can furnish. The
botanical beauties Of all regions, almost to the
tropical, flourish in and about it, with little spe-
cial attention and care. II has every natural
capability Of delightful place Of sojourn and
residence. All it needs is what man can do;
and every other locality must want the same, If
not more.
ITS PRESENT RAPID PROGRESS.
Nor is Washington wanting in present pros
perity and progress. The next census will show
that, in ten years, it has nearly or quite doubled
in population, . substantial increase, which win
hardly be surpassed by another city Of equal size
in the country.
POSSESSION A STRONG ARGUMENT
And il is not q small item ON behalf of Wash
ington that the United States own nearly a hun