The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1872-06-01

Editorial Correspondence
n TiSit to Washington and Mt.
Vernon

vernon.
Having lately paid visit to Washington we
think an account OF what we saw and heard NAV
prove interesting to our readers.
The traveller from distant parts of the country,
in making bis Journey to Washington, necessari-
ly gets very unfavorable impression of Mary
land agricultural farm life, progress and thrift.
in passing from Baltimore to Washington, over
the Washington branch of the B. & o. R. r.
Between the City of Monuments and the CITY of
Magnificent Distances the country presents des-
olate, barren, unthrifiy appearance generally
1t is true that here and there you see comforta-
BILE farm house with good outbuildings and a
farm that shows some of the indications OF indus
try and improvement. But these are the excep-
ton. The Relay House is the point at which
western travellers to the naiional capital change
cars for Washington. A hotel, large and COM
modious railroad station, the office of DR.. VIM.
R. Wilmer, the collector CT Internal Revenue for
the 9Th Maryland Congressional District, and
some two or three small houses fill the sum total
of the place. The indications around the station
at Laurel are that considerable business is done
there The station has substantial business air
about il that is refreshing along a route seeming
ly destitute of this element. Bladensburg, except
for the historic associations connected with its
name, has nothing of interest about it. 1t was
the birth place of the distinguished VIM. Writ,
the scene of battle between the British and
Americans in 1914 and was the duelng ground
for those ambitious of that sort of distinction
during the days when the "code OF honor" was
in better repute than at present. Here is where
CLAY shot the coat off OF Randolph without doing
any harm to his person, and where Deca-
tur fell a victim to the custom of dneling. II
was the ground usually selected for this purpose.
To. day il is scattered village, having number
of comfortable residences and one or two pros
porous looking stores.
WASHINGTON CITY
in point of numbers has over 100, 900 inhabitants
and is beginning to assume considerable proper
tons compared with its wonted size and impor-
lance. But there are many reforms to be worked
out in her midst before she can stand in the front
rank of American cities and occupy that position
that Justly belongs to her. Leaving the car we
locked for genteei restaurant where we could
regae ones self with palatable dinner. We
found one. Took our seat at a table and gave
our order. After waiting almost half as long as
it would have taken US to return TO Baltimore on a
through train, our filled order came to We went
through the motions of taking dinuer-somewhat
reluctantly, though hungry. We have con-
cluded from this and former experiences in Wash
ington restaurants that there is equally as much
urgent demand in the kitchen and table service OF
Washington as there is in the ciUiL service of the
nation. An enjoyable dinner at a restaurant in
the city of Washington is piece of good fortune
that one rarely meets.
Since the District of Columbia has been terri
torialized, numerous improvements have been GO
ing on that have been sorely needed and loudly
demanded by every principle OF municipal JUS
tice, progress and development. Large appro-
priations have been made TOR improving the city
And to the eyes of the occasional visitor these APP
preparations have been at work Their fruits
are seen in almost every locality.
Pennsylvania Avenue, broad capacous,
metropolitan street, with the Presidents house at
one end and the national capitol al the other has
been improved with a becoming Nicholson pave
ment. Shaded on each side, adorned with broad,
accommodating sidewalks, amply sufficient to
accommodate all passers without incommoding
or crowding any, Pennsylvania Avenue, clear
and neat in her new DRESS stands peerless as a
great thoroughfare in large city. Under The
old stone pavement regime, filthy cutters and a
dirty street panied the eye of those who were de-
sirous to feel pride in the great avenue of the
nations capital. But now cleanliness graces her
entire length. New neat and costly buildings
have sprung into existence along this Avenue OF
avenues On its level bed and smooth surface
can be seen the horny handed farmer with market
wagon, the gardener with his supply of truck,
the huckster With his vegetables, poultry, eggs,
&C., finding their way TO market. Open barouches
OF the fast youngsters or the rich merchants who
are riding for an airing. the frst-class carriages
of Congressman, with gold mounted harness and
liveried coachman, the spanking buggy and pair
supported by some fair lover who is driving 70,
the heart of the fair one beside him, and then
youthful naidens who hold the lines gracefully
and drive dextrously spin over the fine Nicholson
along Pennsy lvana Avenue altogether in a sort
of metropolitan freeness that partekes of the
air OF universally that belongs to the American
Republic. To use Yankee phrase the avenue
is ''clever" and the sight Of the commngling o.
ali classes of society along its arena is pleasing
and refreshing.
In the important streets Of the city, where il
has not already been done, the stone pavement:
are being removed and the Nicholson put down
in their stead. The old canal and sewers that in
vaded the central portions of the city and made
themselves an eye sore to the man of order and
progress have disappeared along with Other
nuisances that have been removed. CLEANLINESS:
appears TO have taken the place of filth and the
old is being displaced by the new order of things
On the dome of the