New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-12
Our System Of Public Works, and
What Has Been Done.

There is, probably, no city in the world in
which such wonderful changes have been
wrought during single year as have taken
place III Washington within that period, as
there is probably none in which more mag.
nifcent system Of public Improvements ex.
lists than that established, aud so energeti-
cally carried forward by our Board of Public
Works. As our readers know we have given
no fulsome support to the board, and indeed
that we have been rather a silent observer
oftheir action than their interested champion.
But 4 careful perusal of their annual report
tons during the past season, has satisfied us
that they have not only faithfully consulted
the best interests of the city, but have rem
dered and are still rendering our citizens
benefits and blessings worth vastly more than
they have cost, and, therefore, that they are
entitled to something more than silent &C
quiescence in their efforts to make Washing
ton an honor rather than a disgrace to the
nation, as it so long has been. We propose
to show, as briefly as possible, why we think
J.
est, active support Of the people of the city,
and the earnest. active, practical support Of
Congress.
Our readers are aware that almost from
the day the Board of Public Works was Or
ganized, they have had to encounter all pos.
sible obstacles on the part of disconnected
faction Of our citizens through the courts and
from certain members of Congress. Injunc-
tons have been repeatedly served upon them,
Congressional investigations had, and various
other difficulties interposed. The motive
for which these annoying proceedings were
commenced-which was absolutely to stol
all improvements by the board-failed, it is
true. But it greatly delayed their work, in.
volved it in a large expense, and had an
injurious effect upon their plans generally.
Yet they are not satisfied. Mr.. Roose.
welt, a bogus New York "reformer," who
had the fortune to be elected to Congress fol
single term, and then to be laid on the
shelf, and who has personal grievance tC
avengc on the board because he could not
fasten one Of his worthless Tammany de.
pendents upon them as q sinecurist, has
renewed the war and succeeded in inducing
Congress to order another investigation into
their proceedings. The pretense that regard
for the public good, or the welfare of the city,
has anything to do with this movement, is
gross fraud. Every other active enemy Of
the board has, like Roosevelt, some personal
grievance against them-he has failed to get
a fat contract, to black-mail the board, to
get comfortable birth for himself or his
friends. This new investigation, following
so close upon the heels of the long, search.
ing, and embarrassing one Of the last ses.
sion, is, Of course, wholly unnecessary. 1t
will delay work, however, cause considerable
expense, and annoy and embarrass the
board. That is all its authors hope to &C.
complish.
But we are losing sight of our main pur.
pose, which Is to show why the Board Of
Public Works is entitled to our active sup
port, the confidence of the people, and the
cooperation and aid Of Congress. From the
report of the board to the President, just
Published, we select such facts as bear upon