Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-03-31
OUR wASHINSON LETTER.
DISTINCTION. March. %. 1870

Since the vernal equinox we have had
sunshiny weather, but the gentle zeph-
yrs bring no healing on their wings, for
they lift such quantities of dust from
our ill-paved avenues that, as it rises in
dense clouds, even the Goddess of Lib
ertv on the dome of the Copitol is OBJ
scured from view of the half saHpcating
pedestrian below.--It is to ue hoped our
law givers in Congress may experienc ce
its discomforts at least to a degree that
will induce them to take up and pass
those sundry little bills for street paw
ing and improvement that now quietly
slumber with the Committee OH the
District of Columbia.
A sagacious old blind man of this
city, claims to recognize the original
locality o. each dust cloud as it sweeps
along by the sensation it produces on
his palate and olfactory organs. There
said he, as the Sahara like blast came
blowing up toward the Treasury.
THAT'S from Harvey's, for L can taste
the oyster shells, and that" he said,
half strangling, lis Twelfth street, sure
enough, they opened sewer there
lately" Still another dusty cloud,
cumulous and dark, came sailing up
the Avenue and ducking like an ostrich
ne lUTltl uG NdllOldl
Hack DIN their manuer.
To paraphrase on Burns, we might
say as our dllitant Congressmen-
o wad some pow'r the giftie gle 'em,
To see our streets as blind men see 'em,
1t wad frae nony dust he ap free 'em,
And filthy notion
At every lull in the storm, the ladies
sally forth, SO intent on the openings of
goods at our fashionable stores, that one
would suppose their only idea of Spring
consisted in the artificial novelties it
brought in train for personal decoration.
Such sales of dry goods, chignons and
dear little nothings of hats is enough to
frighten the most plethoric purse-but
it's fun for the ladies, and funds for the
shop men whose faces beam with de-
light at the revival of trade.
The hotels are full, and more active
lobbying is going OH than was ever
known. Tariff and anti-tariff men are
here, pulling in opposite directions
The delegation from the Bank of Cali
fornia, after their sound drubbing in
the House of Representatives, while
fighting against Mr.. Sutor, have given
upin despair and are packing up their
trunks for home.
Fremont's lobby-said to be the richest
lington and, backed by the millions in
gold loaned him on lands to which he
has no title, he is keeping open house at
the cost of $50, 900 per annum for Hotel
bills alone, and clamoring for subsidy
for his usual projected Rail Road.
The Cuban lobby is quiet, and makes
up for its poverty by its restless earn
estness and energy, which is gradually
having its effect as will be seen by the
reported resolution from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs.
The St. Domingo lobby is composed
of the President and one or two chosen
counsellors who are urging the ratifica-
ton of the treaty, of annexation with
a persistency that is characteristic. But
Charles Sumner is dead against it, and
no one can convince Charley you know,
for spite ofhis classical philipics how
ever, we venture to assert that San
Domingo-the most valuable island of
the Antilles, will yet become the prop
erty of the United States.
The penny wise policy of the Com
mittee on appropriations in cutting
down the estimate for the Navy is
Meeting with the severest criticism
since the publication of the letter from
Secretary Robeson, in answer TO the
Committee on Foreign Relations who
requested information relative to our
force in the West India waters, and
why more vessels had not been sent
there. The Spanish fleet at Havana
and about the Island numbers eighty
three vessels of war. manned by 1900,
or 4, 500 more men than we have in our
entire Navy. About half the Spanish
Navy is in these waters, now with this
formidable fleet so near our coast a
proper regard for safety, and tue preser-
vation of the National honor, should
impel Congress to vote an appropria-
tion of men and money, sufficient at
least to counter balance the Spanish
forces who, with our complicated
Foreign relations, might any day
menace our shores. The Secretary
says he cannot send another vessel to
sea and in his first estimate asked for
900 additional men to enable him to
put in commission forty vessels all
told.
The amount of money destroyed at