Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-04-29

/ TENsIoN-THE INSOLVENCY OF THE BOARD OF
PUBLIC woRKs-MRs. Oh. MARY WALKER IN a
NEW RoLE-THE MoDOo wAR-RAMBLINds OF
| THE BOARD OF HEALTH. -4a.r4f ~ rf-
Special Correspondence Of dhe Commercial.
/ -ats..5 WAsHIEaToE, April Goth.
Since the adjournment of the Senate in exec
utive session, the scene presented about the
Capital has been busy one. Under the direc-
tion of Architect Clark the grounds around it
will, within few months, be completely trans
formed, and, what has heretofore been consid-
cred as one Of the greatest drawbacks to i'm
provement upon the Hll-the vacant, barren
| squares to the North and south of the West
Park and the old buildings upon the two squares
/ to the North aud South of the East Park-will
soon bepaced in condition that promises to
make il a most desirable portion Of the city for
residences. Towards accomplishing this end,
/ Congress appropriated quite lberally 10 addi-
/ tion to the $500 600 appropriated the year pre-
yious for the purchase of the buildings upon the
/ two last named squares, which sum was found
/ to be insufficient upon an appratsement OF the
j property, they voted such anamount as would be
required for that purpose. few days since the
i buildings upon the Northeast square were sold
/ at auction, and Immediately the work of demoli-
ton commenced Those upon the Southeast
/ square will be sold May LIST. The hrst to suffer
at the hands of the ruthless invader was the old
/ and familliarly known Whitney's Hotel Situate
within a stones throw of the Senate wing OF the
| Capitol, ii has been for more THAI half a centu-
ry the resort OF our national legislators and their
Il friends when in want OF spiritual nourishment.
| 1t is a well known fact to lobbyists, schemers,
| &c. that Whitney's was the spotlto carry into eff
| feet the lille jobs that they were prepared to
| put up" on Uncle Sam.
Senators and members when there were al
/ ways social, smiling and chatty Gould those
i old walls but speak, what volumes Of tales they
| might unfold; what jobs and schemes OF plum
/ der were plotted and matched therein, and how
oft our venerable uncle was stabbed in tho midst i
Of those who should have been his friends.
| MIR. CLARK has already large force of labor
/ ers grading, curbing and paving the new road"
way around the. propose extension OF the West
| Park embracing tho two barren. squares above
/ referred to, and he expects, during the Summer,
/ to have the work completed. The old railing
/ now surrounding the wall about the present
i park will be laid aside when taken down, and it
Il is the intention to substitute simply wall and
/ coping, the era of hogs, COWS and goats
i roaming at large in our streets having passed.
| Laborers are also at work excavating for the
i coal vaults authorized by Congress. There will
L be two of them, one between each wing and the
i centre projection on the east front OF the Oapi-
/ tol. Their capacity will be sufficient TO hold
/ supply for the entire yeaj, and they will be 80
constructed that the coal may be dumped through
i openings at the top, thereby doing away entire
ly with the old practice Of shoveling large por-
Il ton of the winters supply through the basement
/ windows and causing, even with the greatest
care, more or less Disagreement to theswalls sur
i rounding the windows. ...,...-.
The question most agitatIng the citizens is the
controversy over the operations and financial
/ condition of the Board of Public Works. The
correspondents of several OF the leading pa
| pers OF the country have transmitted articles
| containing statements most serious and damag-
| ing in their nature to the credit of the District,
| and causing much embarrassment to the Gov
ernor in his efforts to negotiate additional loans
| The only attempt at defence thus far has been
made by Alex Il Shepherd, Vice President OF
the Board, who had published in the New York
| Tribune, letter over his signature, denying in
toto the charges of insolvency preferred against
| the Board and making what appeared TO be
| very creditable showing i'll its behalf. Since Its
publication the letter and the writer have been
the subject of severe, and in some Instances Bit
ter criticisms by the correspondents he endeaV-
ored to set right. MIR. Shepherd though nomi--
nally Vice President of the Board in de tGcto the
Board. Everything, even to unimportant matters
requires his approval before being carried into
| operation. That accounts for the javellns being
| launched at his head-under the circumstances
decidedly figure head. In the midst of these
statements tile public are enjoying delightful
| uncertainty regarding the financial standing OF
| the District. Many advocates Of improvements
/ and supporters of the Board are urging in behalf
| of the credit Of the District full aud explicit
statement Of the receipts and Disbursements OF
| the Board since the organization Of the Terrific
| rial form OF Government 1t really soems as il
| something of the kind must be done to Offset
dhe charges 30 injurious to the city and Its IN
| terest. -.
Mrs. Major Dir Mary w szsr, of whom you
| have occasionally heard, is still with us and has
| recently appeared in a new role Having failed
| to secure either a commission in the regular
army. position in the Departments, a bill for
| her relief from Congress, or an acknowledge
| ment BY the Woman's Suffragists as one OF the
shining lights of that august body, she has now
made application for a pension, claiming she
| had contract with the Government, as Assist
ant Surgeon, during the war. and that she ls
still suffering from physical disabilities contract
: ed while in active service. -
The versatility of talent exhibited by the little
| Doctor in her endeayors to procure the needtnl
instead of availing herself of her professional
| knowledge is only equaled by that eminent the
: ologian the Right Rev. Maj General John p.
r | Newman, of the Metropolitan Methodist Episoo-
a pal church, with the chimes attached (vide Inc
| UapitaD of this city, who is now about starting
: upon tour around the world, or 30 much there-
: OF as he may be able to accomplish by the 3Oth
| of June next. looking after-not souls-but the
u accounts of our consular agents.
Commissioner Baker has the Doctors applica-
4 ton ''under consideration
In military circles the Modoc war continues
the principal topic. The acting Secretary ol
o War and General Sherman are daily closeted to
= discuss the latest dispatches and il possible 70
u devise new methods of exterminatlng 1.-THE rec
DEVILS" Here, where General Oanby was sta
. toned for q long period and had large circle
y Of friends and acquantances by whom he wai
= universally respected and beloved his muruei
IL patches from the seat Of the war, combining al
s they did Gettysburg, Antietam Fredericks
% burg &c in the account Of the first fighting
y against sirty Indians have, however, been provo
| cative of much humorous criticism at the ex
% pense of the author, and should another nigh
4 take place he will scarcely be 80 extrayagant IN
u | his descriptions.
y Our Board of Health having gotten the small
y pox and the $50 900 appropriated by Congress
. we'll in hand with the interest of the city deepl
O. at heart have been for the past month, ,earnesti
1I discussing the advisability Of vsing around thi
ga country and Europe during the coming summer
=. with view 10 proposed improvements in thei
~ system of prolonging the lives OF the people
% Result: two of them are already on their way :
OF Newport, Saratoga etc., whilst two more wi
rs shortly leave for Europe, and one poor FELLOW
1t who opposed throughout these promiscuou
M rambles at the expense of the tax payers is lei
1t at home to mediate upon the atsurdity OF n
o. position. In the meantime, many question
which should receive, without delay, the after
ton of the Board are gently laid aside until the
can be viewed through the improved optics
er our city tourists upon their return. 80 the ru
as ing class of republican government Is valued
ng hENNAr'
nd
lis Burned in q Tenement House.