Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-01-19
Our Washington Letter.


D
Of 1872 continues to excite the active interest Of
the friends Of the enterprise, and to attract the
attention Of those who are not directly interested
therein. Stimulated no doubt by the Capital
moving spcculations Of st. Louis, the proposition
WIS eagerly embraced and enthusiastically sup
ported by the property owners Of the District.
| With libeality that surprised themselves, they
subscribed nearly ono million Of dollars in aid OF
the enterprise, and the corporations Of Washing
ton and Georgetown promptly voted to contribute
half a million more.
The next thing to be done was to secure the ad-
vantages Of organisation, by procuring from Con-
gress a corporate charter, and the passage Of an
act authorizing the cities of Washington and
Georgetown TO levy a tax upon the property of
the District to cover the contributions already
voted. Both these propositions received the favor
able consideration Of the House Committee to-
which they were referred, but they encountered
unexpected, able and serious opposition in the
Senate at the hands of Hon Justin S. Morrill,.
Mr.. Morrill, opposed the granting Of the charter
asked for and discouraged the plan Of attempting
Worlds fair at present, on the ground that al-
though no direct pecuniary assistance was asked
for still it was an enterprise in which the pride
and the interest of the government and people
were involved and to protect the national credit,
the government, if they permitted the enterprise
I to be inauguratcd would have to make heavy ap-
preparations to insure its success lie further
more holds that the country has not sufficiently
recovered from the arrangement of it, industry
and the depletion Of its resources, occasioned by
the late war, to enable it to compete successfully
and crcdiably with the workshops of Europe
even upon ourown soil.
/ In addition to this, it is contended that the
national Capital is in no condition to be seen by
visitors from an parts of the world, without caus-
/ ing the national cheek to blush with shame. For
this shabby appearance of the child of the natiou'
Congress alone is to blame.
Exercising supreme control over the affairs Of
the District for three quarters of acentury il has
done little or nothing to render the place worthy
to be the Capital of great, opulent and power
fol nation. II is true it has provided for It's own
accommodation public buildings which rival the
architectural gories of ancient Greece or Rome.
but it has also painfully illustrated the fact that
Never was a pailee made
But grew horsf IN its shalc.'
So far as the city itself concerned it has been
allowed to grow up in rags and dirt, until It's own
mother is strongly inclined to escape the discredit
Of its own neglect by repudiating and disowning
it, Instead OF building Itself up compactly, even
upon its business streets, it has rambled of to
the North and West, covering an area Of fifteen
square miles, which has more the appearance Of
an oyergrown country village than of modern
city. The general government has exclusive con-
troll off, and is directly responsible for the public
squares and avenues. 1t has been well remarked
that stranger, aside from the difference in width
can readily distngu-ha street from an avenue by
the superiority of its condition.
During the rebellion the streets were plowed
into ruts and the payements broken and ground
to powder by the incessant passage of heavy army
wagons and trains of artillery, which damage has
never been repaired, or paid for by the govern
ment The hundreds of millions Of dollars owned
by the government in public buildings and reser-
yations is exempted from taxation, 50 that it is
admitted by the National representatives that
Congress alone, or principally, is responsible for
the present shabby dress and appearance of the
National Capitol
Suddenly startled by the audacous proposal of
I the citizens OF Washington to get up, with their
own means d grahu Ohi'ersh EAposiuoh' ION
greSs has pertnenty asked Itself the question:
What VIII the people OF the world say OF us
when they come to look upon our nakedness and
uncleanness, and compare our Washington with
{ the capitals Of the Old Word?" The response
as thus lar developed IN the senate has oeen nTst
we VIII not invite them TO come ana see us at
present. ana second we VIII proceed as h'st
as possible To remove the shameful conditions
winch restrain us thereirom
Accordingly MT Morrll' as chairman oil the
senate committee on Pubic Buildings and
urouhas' proposes system OF improvements,
which VIII soon put new, a cleaner and pleas
anter lace upon the CITY, lie proposes hrst 10
convert the desert wastes OF the broad and sun
burnt avenues INTO pleasant bouieyards, shaded
by double lines OF trees IN the center, and orna-
mented with flowers and smuboery' with well
paved carriage ways on either side. Inc immense
resources oil the washington aqueluct Would
cheapy supply sparkling fountains at frequent
intervals ana private enterprise would soon "uu
statues DrohzeS anu other auorhnents'
IL Is "lso proPo7eu 10 reiio'e lne aiian'ie9' Pig
StyeS ana rooAeries from around the O"pitoi 70
extend enclose and ornament the grounds sur
rounding the same ana to thereby add an AR OF
J'l.m 70 az least one opec' IN washington
lnere Is also proposition before MI Morflli $
committee " permit private enterprise at an eA-
pehse Oh ABOUT iniiilon OIL dollars 10 erect new
inarKe'-nouse on 'De ste oil tne present tumble
down series oil ohe-story wooden sheds' when are
so conspicuous feature ON Fennsyl'ana avenue
between seventh anu hihth streels' Inc pan
submitted 70 Congress represents an immense iVe
story ouluing' OIL osautlul ana appropriate
style oi architecture anu Il erec'eu VIII NOT ohly
present one Oh tue niiest fronts oil any building
IN Washington out VIII constitute the most e1-