Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-10-05
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Sept. %, 1870.

Nesgrs Editors Of the Waterman -
Some things are shared in common by the
people of distant portions Of our country, and
having but recently visited Vermont am
led to remark upon the apparent unaniml'y
of the climatic conditions Of the two sections,
as they appear at first sight
Newspaper accounts have portrayed the
suffering condition Of the country along the
latitude Of Vermont, from extreme drouth,
but neither that, nor a stayof month upon
the banks Of your beautiful river, could give
me a realiziRg sense Of the true condition OF
New England at large.
But trip through portions Of New liamp-
shire and Massachusetts, however, served to
illustrate the condition Of other parts Of the
country as given through the newspapers
where in the staple products great dearih
seemed inevitable
In like manner, for two months past, very
little rain has fallen here, and were it not for
extreme depth Of the soil Of this land, the re-
suit must have been equally disastrous As
it is. however, there is but little falling of Of
the general harvest Dust is very deep in
the streets, and accumuIates strangely within
houses forests have put on a dying look, and
hillsides are turning brown everything, in
fact seems to cry loudly for rain and yet, the
promise of the harvest has been fully verified.
People have waited long, and anxiously pre-
dicted, but as usual in such times all signs
have failed, and anxiety at last pinnedits faith
upon the coming equiuoxial storm. Surely
the observance Of that time-honored practice
would not fail and q steady rain lasting from
the evening Of the 18th to that of the 10Th
inst, brought relief from dust aud restored
Washiugtonians again to mud for a short
time, but brought no permanent change Of
weather.
THE CITY.
The inert appearance of the city incident to
the absence of Congress, is gradually under
going transformation to another character
Its once dopopulatcd streets begin to teen
with signs Of life. Hotels and Restaurants
have putou business air, and newsboys and
bootblacks, rejoicing that their harvest is at
hand, are neither idle or dumb" The city
government is in a most deplorablc condition.
The mayor elected last spring, as the Peoples
candidate, upon the plan of economy and re-
form finds himself able to run but half Of the
ship, while other parties run the other half
and as they endeavor to 60 simultaneously 10
opposite directions Of course the ship goes
around and around, or, rather, don't 20 at ALL.
In other words, the reform party carried the
day and have the mayor aud city council
while the board of aldermen being elected
once in two years, in alienation with the
mayor, are anti-relorm, and as in the contest,
party feeling ran very high, of course dead
lock is the result, with no hope Of its being
otherwise until one or the other party shall
have been disposed Of, which must be one
year at least, and perhaps two.
THE CAPITOL
Like a monstrous thing of life awaking
from dormant sleep, here and there exhibits
signs Of coming animation. At the south
end Of the building the driveway has been
removed, and the grading and terracing Of
the grounds are being extended in that direc-
ton few yards, which very materially inn.
proves the general aspect of the grounds but
as this is only one step in the direction, where
many seem to be loudly called for, the Won
der Of all is that the effort is not for the COM
petion, rather than the mere patching up Of
this part Of the Capitol grounds. 4 huge
pile Of dirt has also made Its appearance at
the eastern front Of the building, the precise
utility of which does not appear, but of
course it has its oGce' About the steps
Of each wing Of the building upon the east
side. sewers are being constructed for the pur-
pose Of draining the ground immediately
about the steps A curb Of granite, and flag
stones Of brown sandstone, to correspond
with those in front Of the west centre of the
building, are to be laid about the steps, and
also to extend around both ends Of the build
ing, uniting with the tagging above alluded
to. Every one familiar with the Capitol will
appreciate in this, the abatement Of great
nuisance heretofore existing, in the mud usu-
ally found in these localities,
Internally a general putting in order is
taking place.
Senators and visitors at the Capitol will
doubtless be rejoiced to learn that the old
" Star SpangIed" carpet in the Senate is now
to be carefully packed away in Old Virgin
ia Twist, or camphor, that, as the govern
ments necessities may require, it can be used
in various smaller ways in the remote p
future unless perchance the general fixing
up, preparatory to the general meeting Of
Congress, Of the smaller offices or Committee.
rooms may require an immediate cutting
and patching up Of the old affair.
Meanwhile the new incumbent not having
been indicted into Office has not yet display.
ed to the public gaze its harmonious yet
brilliant colOrs, but will doubtless soon, as
Mr. John r. French, the Sergeant-at-Arms
Of the Senate, has just effected the purchase
IN New York
In the other wing of the Capitol, carpets
are being cleaned, furniture repaired and
put in good order, in anticipation
IF the meeting Of Congress.
THE COMING SEASON,
In casting its shadows before it, promises,
hough short, to be not less active and interes.
ing than is generally the case with the advent
If new Congress; fashionable life in Wash.
ngton Is never more clearly exemplifed than
Turing the three or four months season, which