Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-05-27
Wasninoton Correspondence.
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., =
I Mar 2lst, 1870.

In this letter u is uesifeu 10 say Anew
words about our Capital. We Americans
do not like to be behind other nations in
whatever relates TO civilization or material
prosperity; hence the interest we feel in
what may he regarded rs m indeX,-a
measure in par--of our wealth and pow
er. To the patriotic American the city oil,
Washington becomes a Mecca. Though
at first many are disappointed in the CAPT
! tai, like some persons, on increaed ac-
quaintancc, and he who stays long enough
to feel well acquainted with it, comes to
love it, notwithstanding its many faults.
We have faith in the glory OF its future.
Paris, because dear to every Frenchman.
has increased wonder fully and has become
It's nat on's pride; so will Washington
become a model city. TO eclipse all others
when every man III the land feels that he
has an interest in it, Everyone has such
an interest. directly or NATURALIZATION ltt
him know all abou, il let him he familiar
with IL rs he is with his own field or
house.
From The top of the dome of the Capt.
tol, $50 feet above high water in the Po-
lomac, is 4 complete (and at certain sea-.
sons of the year, most beautiful view oil
the city with its surrounding country
The broad Potomac is first 10 catch the
eye with its sparkling in the afternoon
sun. Ii issues out OF the hills on the
northwest, passes Georgetown. and
spreads itself in front of the city to the
width of mile or more; the Eastern
branch is almost rs wide from lis Junction
with the Potomac up to where II lions
from between the northeast hills so that.
OF all sides but the North, Washington is
surrounded by broad sheet of water.
Stretching from the Capitol south and
west 10 the rivers, We see III almost level
plain. once an alder swamp. now hidden
under wilderness OF biick walls aud
black roofs or drained and laid out in
streets waiting the house builder. a wide
ditch, lis sides OF stone, receiving tho
waters oil ribcr creek midway fiom lis
two ends, and the sewerage Of the city
along is whole length extends in a sort
of curve from the Potomac To the East
ern branch. As may be imagined, this
canal $50 styled sends forth in the no,
weatherol summer all manner of smells
If the traveller who counted seventy dis
tinct smells nj his window in Cologne,
should attcmp 10 count those from the
canal. he would meet with signal failure.
overpowcrcd with she number and
strength Ii ~il cost thousands for the
city 10 yet rid OF this nuisance. That
portion OF the city cut oil by this canal is
known rs the Island, and in it are The
greater of places which are TO Washington
what pig-s,y is 10 US.
The Capitol stands outside of this canal,
on the blow OF hill, 30 feet above the
level Of tho Potomac, fronting the East.
As the city is a, its back. not in front,
the stranger may ask, chow came this on
our father OF his country designed
the Capitol 10 be on this hill--Land
owners and spectators at once held
the land there at such high prices that
builders preferred the low swampy
ground in the rear OF the Capitol which
ground is net work OF broad straight
trects, eros ing each other at right
angles, necessarily travelled. ariStocratic
dwellings, and among which massive
public buildings of marble or granite.
covering entire blocks, are conspicuous.
Thus the cupidity OF men turned TO ac-
couu, in causing improvements to be
made where they were most needed.
The tile of building is now turning
toward Capitol hill. 1t is rapidly being
covered with comfortable dwelling
houses, and will, if it has not already.
become most desirable place of resi-
dencc in Washington.
From one high poin; oil observation on
the dome, much is seen at n glance.
From under our feet avenues radiatc in
all directions TO rivers, and northern
limits of the city, crossing other streets
diagonally at various angles. But justice
can no, be done to the variety of the
view by verbal description or even by
pictures.
The Virginia hills on the West, the
distant nights OF Georgetown, those be-
yond the branch dotted with whitewashed
cottages standing ont conspicuously on
the dark back ground; The navy yard and
It's busy vicinity. the squares and govern
mentrescrvaion which say to the crowded
houses, thus far YOU may come and no
farther, the trim grounds of the arsenal
where the rivers unite, the just discerna-
bic city oil Alexandria far beyond, and
hundreds Of minor objects that catch our
eye by some peculiar feature of their own,
all form together picture at once in
teresting and worth hours of study. A
picture also representing well the Ameri-
can nation, Tor in it arc seen, youth,
energy, great capacity for continued i'm
provement, the promise ola future which.
il not perfection will be very near it.
There is not much probability of our
Capital being moved westward, it will
remain where i is of its own weight.
S. L. G.