, 1873-11-06

Statea did not take great impulsion soon afto1
the breaking out OF tho Rebellion, md npply 4
largo part OF their currency earnings to real o.
tuto and civic improvements. Chicago, Now
York, md Philadelphia displayed most enorgy In
these respects, aud, Hoon after tho close Of tho
conflict, were found to possess extensive parks,
improved highways, now public buildings md,
in all CASES, tho public improvements were aur-
passed by individual zoal.
Tho most wo-begone of our citloB waH TINT
which everybody had rushed with such prompts
tudo'to defend. Washington WINS a cluster OF
tradeBmen Hubsisting upon small body Of Of
tice-holdors, occasionally reinforced by gang Of
workmcn. Whenever It became necessary to build
q ship ut tho Navy-Yard. Nothing had boon |
dono aiuco tho great ceremony Of starting the
Potomac Rivor Canal to call public attention to
the town, until tho additions to tho Capitol woro
resolved upon In Fillmoro's Administration, and.
tho Washington Aqueluct was pushed forward
by Jefferson Davis. Tho Republican party got
majority In Congress about 1856, and Increased
tho quantity OF public printing which. in timo.
brought quito q number Of compositors mud
proasmon to the place. But the aspect Of tho
city had not materially changed Binco the begin
ming Of tho century. It was, iii essentials,
| ; Mup-HoLE MADE MYSTERIOUS
by certain detached blocks Of dwellings,, with
themyssery heightened by tho appearance of four
or Ave public edificcB hclplesaly blink-
ing at each other. Tho Northern people
dislilsed 1t for tho mud and tho slavery, and tho
plantatlon-manners md the poor-white morals,
which they found in it. Tho Southornera re-
| gardod Washington as IN unsnfo place to which
l. to bring their Slaves Tto city-corporation was
generally composed Of au honorary Mayor, who
seldom ,voluntoored an opinion; and Uougress
was only wrought up to spend monoy upon tho
| town Oh registering nights, or aftcr aorloB OF
| partios had boen given and there was champagne
Between 1792 and 1868 tho total expenditure
| which Congress- hal made OF every kind for tho
District, and III it, was loss than S25, ,000
This wsB tho sum ininstriously ralsed up by alr.
moved in l86o-'70. When tic southern statea
| seceded, tho following was tho
l CONDITION OF THE PLACE:
The new wings OF tho Capitol " were 2 tacsrcoly
only orc aide Of tho post-O Office was complete;
the Patent-O Office was but half-iinislod; tho
Treasury WAS only ono.thiid ita present size;
the grounds around, tho Presidents House wore
street in tho city had respectable pavement,
although good deal Of money had been thrown
away at different timeB upon the, bottomleHB
quagmfre Of PennBylvana avenue. Tho soloiory
who came to protect tho Government and the
place looked with contempt upon it. The popu-
lation was about $1,000, diminished by about
10, 900 Southern synpathizers who Ind crossed
the Potomac,
The first thing which tho army had to do with
this wretched suggestion Of u Capital was to en-
circle it with forts, which cost moro than
81, ,000, 600 In gold. Thege were 81 miles in cir
Hcuit requiring 80 miles Of military roads to con-
ncct them, and mounted, Or ~ero ready for,
In the next place. the necessities Of tue Gov
erument, and the vigorous spirit Of tho party
newly in possession, demanded
: AN IMMEDIATE ENLARGEMENT
Of tho public ediflcoB. The Capitol was finished
almost in tho sight Of tue enemy: md salutod by
all tho forts whom tho figure OF Freedom was
placed upon tho dome. The Treasury was made
into geas granite quadrangle g. IN eSPenso
.. Office woro both enlarged to their pros
ent size; aud, for the temporary accom-
mediation Of tho public oiicoH. d large
number Of descrted buildings were occupied by
: tic Government, or others rented from their
owners and the former city OF squalid distances
, became d barrack-town full aud busy to tho eye,
| but with little more Of tho substantiatiea Of Il
city than In alavo times.
THE RELApsE AFTEn TIE WAR.
Whom tho contoar ceased and the visionary
town was cleared thoro stood iuleod certain no
bio public structures, but tho distracted munich
pality Of itself Ind done nothing whatoyor IN the
3 interval to connect those groat buildings witl
: pavemonts or proper strocts, and tho constant
= movement Of troops, munitions, teams, ant
horses, had made tho highways moro dangerous
! than before. A few Northern men, who lat
:, establishments in tho om11loua time ol
: contracts, had fitted up dwellings, in the
city; but mono saemod to apprehond that Wash
> inRton might havo itu turn III roAl-estate specu-
: lation, md those who lad bought ground In the
unimprovod city quietly held it without aottine
up y Btone.
!, As tho army rotjrod and the blBinosa Of til!
i Var WIS gradually wound. up, tho town ahranl
9 sayod from utter neglect only by tho concsura
y OF yibiturs who camo to SEQ tho co1ntnontoratct
;, places, mud to attend the exciting sessions @
Congress- during the impeachment Of Prosden
1t Con, drant's accession to tho Presidency, ane
:, tho wholesale turning out Of MIR. Jol,nson's nd
y herents, changed tho typo Of resident bureau
osers and clerks ill., i bogsn to bo
g platod railway-oxtenalony, tho town would b
= moro accessible, and ita pleasant wintor-clmatl
ID available for people Of leisure and tloas fond Q
s official society. Tho first mau to take spad
la and build in q now spot was the prosent Goyor
~ u nor Of tho Diatriot,-
y ALEXANDER 4. BuErHE1tD.
=. 1Io WAS plumber, who Ind shown great OH
" " ergy in the War aA tho chief clerk mud praotica
a. apperntondont Of Mr.: J. w. Thompson, who
about the Same time, began to 10y tho Bystom o
ppsaengeY-tra1nwaya which, ut tho present time
O. ponneotH oil parts Of tue city. ;Mr. shephor
q. possessed In all unusual degroo tho qualities
n s1pahalgoneHa Of ontorpriso which Ii yet cor
q Bistunt with cloao faculty for mnutitp. I'll
Il; grandfather was All Engliahman, who had settle
ID On the Lower Potomac prior to tho noyolutiona1
ID War, and one ot 'Als Connections on TINT sid
no was tho Mate with, tho meteor Paul Jonoa 8
sla aoa, while onu oe bis maternal connections wa
70 Gen. Sna!lwooa, WHO commanded the Marylan
line under Washington and lates.
~ NOW II GAME TO BR.
r. Thoro is little doubt thpt ~ long ago na 1906
'ir LII. shepherd planned ooinpoto Tolinbilitatio
%. Of the city, aa If has suoo hoon. pairled on
Of He Invested oil hts money OIL tho upot, aud pl
or up rows Of brick houses, after tho phadolphf
@ Bty1p, on tho shelf Of Capitol Hill. Iie ran Il
TO Tie 1lty Councils, and was snade President c
~ ono Dr4nech thereof, strengthened his relatiot
with tlla Republican party. mud was liberal
divided tito enorg15a' Of tho party who
~ la act up. an. tndcp0nl9pt cand
j. ahte ,rBa!het :. TIC regular .uegl
AZ usr,. who had belonged to the rough md sord
as tyne Of Northern 7dol4ipferore, had snubbt
e. Hhepherd mud incurred his wrath Wl!en tho latt
| pto IN