Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-12-12
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 6, 1872.
THE LAKES TO THE CAPITOL.

THE LAKES TO THE CAPITOL.
My last letter to the ENQUIRER was from
Buffalo, New York. Buffalo is only about
thirty miles from Niagara Falls, and could
have continued my journey that far, but,
upon deliberation, concluded not to do so.
There is less to see at the Falls in winter than
in summer. I mean less that is enjoyable to
see To stand out in some bleak place and
look at an ice.rimmed fall of water, where the
fierce winds cut you and snow pelts you in the
face, is not the top notch of human enjoyment.
Then whenever a man goes there, winter or
summer, he has to submit to legalized robbery.
This noblest of natures works has been pros
tituted to the use of den of swindlers. My
advice to the reader is to keep away from Nj
agara Falls as longas there is any other place
on earth to 60 to. Ifyou have an abundance
of money, however, and don't mind being
swinded, why, then pack up and 60 to the
falls, and stay till your money is out, which
will be in about week, unless you have a
bank.
left Buffalo in snow storm. The wind
blew and the snow flew. (No extra price for
poetry.) walked to the depot on account
of the epizootic. Most of the horses up there
have got the "old epizoo," as the people play
fully call it. Soon the storm lulled and we
flew along over the Lake shore road, upon
the bank of the beautiful Erie, at the rate OF
forty miles an hour. We got ahead Of the
storm, ran away from it and left it to howl
and rage in the rear.
We got to Cleveland for supper, making the
run of nearly two hundred miles in about six
hours. We were landed in an immense pas
senger depot, through which trains thunder
all the time. The traveller will get good
supper at Cleveland for seventy-fve cents.
At all the larger dep6ts in the north, lunch
rooms are provided, where man can get a
handsome lunch at very moderate cost. A
cup of coffee, sandwich and piece of mince-pie
will cost him only twenty-five cents. These
tidy lunch rooms, with everything about them
neat and clean, and really good fare at low
prices, are seldom seen in the south. There
the traveller must pay dollar for hasty
meal, and not get what he wants at that, unless
it is the dyspepsia.
Leaving Cleveland after dark, the Cincin-
natl passengers awake next morning In the
Queen city. The weather moderated some,
aid only now and then we're there patches OF
snow to remind one of winter.
From Cincinnati I came direct to Wash.
ington by way of the Pennsylvania Central
route. People were hocking into the city
from all directions, to attend the meeting of
Congress, and the trains were crowded. The
one that brought me here had eight cars, all
full.
WASHINGTON
Is not very inviting place to the stranger,
after he has been here few days and seen
what there is to see. Unless he has business,
he will get tired in week and want to 60
home where he ought to have staid in the first
place :.
It costs one about twice as much to live
here as in any other city between the two
oceans. The inhabitants seem to make 1t
point to realize enough out of session OF
Congress to last them until the next session.
The charge for board, at the frst-class hotels,
is five dollars day. For fire you must
pay dollar extra, and by the time few
other extras have come in you will find your
bills running up to the tune OF seven dollars
day. There are hotels here at three and
four dollars day that are very good.
Prices for board in the private boarding
houses, vary from twelve to twenty dollars
week. Those who remain allthe year round
may have deductions, but it is impossible to
live anything like respectfully on less than
twelve dollars.
Senators and Congressman who come here
with their families and live in style, at the
best hotels, have to pay for it roundly:: There
is Senator here with his wife and daughter,
who pays four hundred dollars a month.
Another, with finer apartments, pays three
hundred dollars week. So you see you can
live as expensively as you like.
The salary of Congressman is i've thou
sand dollars year and mileage, &c., which
brings it to six or seven thousand. Most of
them save money. Others who are rich, spend
more than they earn. Some come here for
"good time," and don't mind expense.
While speaking of salaries, it is said that
the President saves not more than half his, but
l don't believe it. He is economical, and the
government furnishes about twenty thousand