National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-31

lFrom the Richmond Diapatch.l
The Washington kKPUBLiCAN commenting
upon what this paper had to say about the ad-
mlrable system OF Improvement Of that city now
being carried out, makes statement which Il
one Ne remsTsed mat nc Pederai Treasury
was an ever-ready resource for the Federal capt
tai, and would relieve the citizens OF that place
from heavy taxation for public Improvements.
The RKPuBIGcAN states that during seventy years
"the ngurua Of the Federal Treasury show that
the Government has paid only ten per cent. OF
the moneys expended In public Improvements
here [therel while the citizens have paid the re-
naming ninety" This Is most creditaDle to the
people OF Washington. We are sure that II was
thought everywhere that the Federal Govern
ment paid much more towards the Improvement
Of their city, and we, for one, would have con
sidored Il quite proper that II should have
done so.
Washington city is the national capital. To q
good degree the national reputation for enter
prise, civilization and refinement Ia involved In
the appearance OF that city; and generous
spirit among the people would Justify the Gov
eminent In liberal expenditures for Its improve
ment and Identification.
But the fact brought out by the REPUBLICAN
strengthens the arg ment which we endeaVOred
TO present TO our readers as to the manner In
which great cities were built. Tue people OF
Washington, and not the Government, are I'M
proving that city. What warrants their vast eX-
penditure OF money In improving place which
might wei be improved at the national expensef
Why, the growth Of population, the enhance
ment OF the value OF property through the
agency Of the improvements made by the money
raised by taxing the peOple. OF course this
makes the example more pointed and striking.
Washington, so far from being an exception to
q general rule, Il exactly an example TO the very
point OF the argument we have been long ad-
dressing TO the people Of Richmond. The people
Of a city may Increase their wealth by imprOy-
ing their tOwn-by increasing its comforts aud
the facility Of communication between its eG-
tremes. Nothing else pays such people better
and faster The policy Of liberal and systematic
improvement In the grades Of streets and In the
general ornamentatlOn OF a city brings directly
the remuneration TO the city government for
every dollar expended, aud dinuses among the
people more than ample reward for every cent
paid In taxes towards such improvements.
Washington Is solid example. Look at Its
rapid growth. The Government has not done IL
at all. The people Of the city have achieved II,
IN great degree, by their own energy, forecast
and nberality. They have done wonders, and
their present plan u grading and general i'm
provement will, In ten years, make their city one
Of the gfandest on the continent. We make the
prediction with no doubt that It will he verified.
The people Of Washington show something Of
the saEaoity Of the second Napoleon. lie eX-
tended the bOuleVards around Paris, giving the
property -holdeTs ten per cent. upon the value Of
their property before the improvement and tax
ing for the Government all excess. The result
was immense gains to the Government from the
enhanced value and rents Of the improved prop
eHy. The example was good, and all communi-
ties which judlciUusly follow 1t Will he rewarded
hY n similar result,