The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-01
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPON-
DENCE.
ImprOvemcnts-...C Cholera -.-. Shade
Trccs.-.The Pneumatic Tubes.
Postal Cards---CiviI Service.-The
Life OF u Clerk.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. June g

WASHINGTON, d. G., June 81.
Editors Of tie GLOBE The streets of
this city are just now in a fearfully chaotic
condition. Hundreds of men are engaged
in tearing up dozens of streets, changing
the grades and re-paving, causing much in
convenience to traffic and unpleasantness
to locomotion. But all with an eye single
to future improvement, and totally regard
less of expense. Millions of dollars have
been expended, numerous contractors have
grown rich, and millions more must be ex-
pended and more contractors grow rich ere
the programme of improvement be COM
pleted and Washington rank as the most
beautiful city on the continent.
Money appropriated for school purposes
is diverted from its legitimate channel and
goes into the streets, while the Board of
Public Works does not pay its hired labor
ers, and the patient teachers are compelled
to rely upon anticipations of future pay
ment They are now without compensa-
ton since February last, and at the end of
the week will be entitled to six months pay.
Many of them are poor, and are compelled
to borrow money at ruinous rates of inter-
est to meet their daily necessities.
The cholera is here, and we shall soon be
in the midst of its horrors. At least a half
dozen cases are reported. There are those
who dispute that there have been any cases
of Asiatic cholera in this country as yet.
But there is fatal epidemic progressing
rapidly toward the eastern seabOard, and
don't suppose it makes much difference to
deceased person whether his stalking off"
be attributed to cholera, cholera morbus,
or some other equally fatal disease As
usual, where one dies of legitimate disease,
two will ''shuffle off" through fear and
people .oM persist in eating unsound fruit,
cabbage and cucumbers, and washing the
whole down with rcd-hot alcoholic drinks.
But some of that class can be spared Just
as well as not, though funerals to poor
relatives are expensive.
1t is said that four thousand shade trees
have been planted in our streets and ayen-
ues this season, and that fifteen thousand
choice trees have been secured for future
use.
Brsbanes pneumatic tube, designed to
facilitate the transmission of manuscripts,
proof-sheets and printed matter between
the Capitol and the Government Printing
Office, has become familiar to the public.
Congress appropriated $15, 900 for this pur-
pose, of which $4,000 has already been
expended. The difficulty of construction
proved to be greater than expected, owing
to the depth of the cutting necessitated by
passing under streets and railroad tracks,
the heavy pressure of the ''filling in"
crushing the wooden tube in numerous in
stances. Several springs were also cut
into for which there was no adequate
drainage. The commission appointed to
Investigate Its suspension and failure have
made favorable report funds have been
raised and permission given to renew the
work, which will be completed before
another session. The distance is about one
mile; much valuable time will be saved
and great convenience achieved for both
Congress and the Public Printer through
Its successful operation.
The Postofiice Department is much ana
thametized In these latter days. Mr..
Creswell has small elephant ON his hands,
while the Morgan Envelope Company, who
have the contract for supplying postal
cards, have an undoubted good thing on