Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-20
LETTER FROM U.4SHINGTON
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10Th,


WASHINGTON, Oct. 18th, 1870.
The city has gradually become more lively
as the cool weather comes on. Nearly all the
clerks are back and the Departments are not
so lonesome and dull as they were. The
great men are also returned from their wan
behring's, and once more to be seen in their
| official capacities. Autumn seems but just
! upon us with its yellow and crimson foliage,
| its delightfully."- cool air and clear sunny skies.
| People who intend to spend the winter here
| are securing accommodations, and among
/ them is Thomas Hughes, the English author
| and member of Parliament, who wishes to
witness with his own eyes the proceedings OF
our American Congress. The coming season
will no doubt be gay one. The Presidents
| family are back in the White House which has
| been painted and renovated preparatory to the
winter receptions. Poor Nellie Grant got so
homesick at her boarding school in Connect
cut that she had to come home.
At last after many delays Pennsylvania
Avenue is to be paved--and with wood too
by three or four different Companies, which
will insure its being done speedily and well.
Operations have already commenced, and by
the time this reaches you will be well under
way Louisiana and Indiana Avenues, which
start from the front of the City Hall, are also
to be Immediately paved with wood. These
improvements togetherwithth the parking of"K'
and the paving of an" streets, will make
very material change for the better in the
aspect of the city.
Senator Warner of Alabama was in the city
a short time since and appeared to be very
hopeful of the State going strongly republican
this fall. lie thought there was no doubt of
the election of Hon. B. W. Norris, formerly
Land Agent of the State of Maine. Mr.. Nor
ris was member of the 10th Congress but
was not re-nomnated to the present, the list
Congress.
Mr.. Archibald, one of the principal ship
builders of this country, whose works and
yard are at Chester Pa, has lately returned
from England and Scotland, which he visited
on a tour of inspection in connection with his
own business, and comes back with the con-
yction that he can build iron vessels as cheap
ly as they can be built on the Clyde or any
where else in Europe, and of superior quail
ty too for the same price. This he intends to
demonstrate, and thus cut the "Gordian
Knot which has been puzzling Mr.. Lynch
and our ship-owners so much. The way he is
going to do it is by employing labor saving
machinery, and thus overcome the difference
between the price of labor here and in Europe
1t is rather a remarkable fact that in no
country is machinery made to perform so
much labor as in the United States, where we
manufacture by it almost every conceivable
thing from watches up to steamships.
Speaking of building iron vessels calls to
mind an interview which several English gen.
tlemen had with Secretary Boutwell, few
days since. After exchanging some ideas on
various subjects, one of the Engishmen Ca
Member of Parliament, and a man of rather
ordinary ablities) suggested the purchase of
ships in Great Britain by our people, as they
could build them so much cheaper than We.
AT this the usually reticent Secretary opened
on the Britishers, and gave them broadside
by telling them squarely and honestly that the
sentiment of the people of this country was
decidedly opposed to hiring Engishmen to
build our ships after England had treated this
country in the shameful manner she had dur
ing the war, and that they might depend upon
it that sooner or later the people of this great
and expanding country would wipe out the
score against England; that the more speedi-
! " Englishmen and the British Government
understood this and tried to secure the friend
ship OF this country by settling the Alabama
claims, the better it would be for them; the
people meant it, and would not be satisfied
until they were on level with England in
shipping and everything else; that this mis-
chievous policy of England in reference to bel
ligerents would eventually get her into serious
difficulty. Prussia, the leading power of Europe
was growing at her now for furnishing few
arms and supplies for France, a matter of very
small moment compared with the devastation
upon our shipping by English built rebel pri-
yateers. The members Of Parliament tried to
shirk the responsibility by saying that the
fault was with the English Premier, who was
at church when he received notice that the
Alabama was about TO sail, and that he would
I not leave church until the services were over,
when it was too late. Mr.. Boutwell, said that
this would not excuse the English Govern
mcnt, who must be held responsible for the
action of any of its officers. The remarks of
the Secretary evidently impressed his visitors
with the fact that our people have not forgot
ten the treatment we met at the hands of their
countrymen; and that at least one member of
the Administration was not afraid to say so.
The city is full of malaria and there are
more cases of intermittent fever and ague