Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-21
Old sInnde - ReYamped.

The Chicago Tri5ga. is surely not 50 much of
partisan paper a. 20 be obliged to reproduce
editOrialy the silly ISLANDERS Of the New York
World against the District of Columbia and it,
government. And even in the way OF party
interests We do not see, now that the October
elections are over, what Is to be gained By re-
vamping ne World's cansrtIs about the District
authorities carrying the late election here BY
wholesale frauds. IL there ever wa a fair cleo
ton, In ~aicA the right to vote and ihe right to
challenge in the registration was fally main
tanned, IL vas that in this District this month.
The T. baae should take notice that the faisifer
OF tie World does not take any pains TO main
tain consistency in his statements, and that in
one breath he charges the Board of PubIic
Works WIth holding the negro vote here en-
mssse ~ carry our election, and IN another with
sending the same negro vote to PennSyl-
yania icr use on the same day. His
other aiiegat ions are OF the same absurd
seli-refut;ng character; as for instance, the
statement that the value OF property has been
grossly exaggerated here 20 make up assets for
taxation and the loan. Now il Is susceptible of
ready proof that the real estate assessments
here, 80 fe- from exceeding the value of prop
er-y, 1t come up 70 its value by at least one
third, and we know from consider able personal
observation that there is scarcely piece of real
estate ir Washington to be purchased for less
than double its asses ment If the editors OF the
Chicago Tribune and New York World will
make a little personal inquiry here in the way
Of comparing the prices at which property il
held under our ''ruinous" system of improve
ments, and the prices at which the same prop
erty is assessed, they will speedily see how much
and how little truth there is in the statements
published by them. IL will perhaps surprise
them, too. il they have taken any stock in these
gt0ries 10 nd that "a r-oDe-fv hare N N
supposed TO be "ruined" by the operations of
Board of Public Works has really doubled, and
IN many instances quadrupled in value since
the board entered upon their work OF improve
nents. The increase in values of property as
improvements progress is really wonderful, and
would remind the editor OF the Tribune of the
similar magical growth and prosperity of his
own CITY.
The stale charges that TIE city press has been
bought uP" by the Board OF Public Works are
suited u the calrSer Of some siang-whanging
CrOss-rCsls. paTty paper, but are unworthy OF
metroI o!,tan journals Of the character OF the
TrItars ard World. II might just as fairy be
charged upon these papers that they are bought
up Is EtltOn K 90. because they happen to
port Greeley for the Presidency. The truth
l.. thai Z HE STAR-sud we believe the same is
true Of che other papers hcre-advocated the
change from the old iDbscile, eNtTayagant, do
nothing system Of municipal government to the
present system, wears before the change was
made, from the fact, evident TO every
man Of intelligence in the Community
that nothing ever would be elected to-
wards raising the capital city fr0m its dis
graceful condition until there was change in
Its mode OF government. The change has been
made, live, energetic men have been placed in
the management, the effects have been magical
in tie way o. public Improvement, and despite
any drawbacks OF impeTfectIOns such a. are
incidental 10 ali human work, the general
results OF the operations OF the BJs.d OF Public
Works have been such as to fairly earn the
coDmendatiOn of, not only the press, bit OF the
great mass of the voters, white and black aud
OF the business men almost in a body, a. shown
by the vote at the late election. And if the
TTtUas wsre transferred to Washington, we
know, frOm its past character for enterprise and
public spirit, il would, also, be on the side OF
the Improvement men, and against the old
fOges and political fossils who seek to erabar
rass then.