National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-09
THE DJSTR DT ABRoAD.

The Washington correspondent OF the VdHei
Virofniaa, q stauneh Republican paper, printeC
at SLaunton. Va, gives the following truthful
account Of the Transform sti6n scene which hsl
been enacted in this District:
A few years ago, 10. farther back than 1859
Ma'hRgon c n Vas sr, t9S s Ss.
all It's broad eItent-so much 50. that the visitor
that happened within fits limits left II, ever and
anon, with feelings Of disgust IL cot Of shame,
The streets were but series Of qua gnlires. deep
futs, and dangerous holes and RHllies. Every
day during the winter from November to May.
one might see in aHy part OF tine Oity north Of the
line of the old canal, 8 stalled Wagon, cart OF
hack, or an upset vehicle Of some siad. Passage
through the streets with safety. was the exoep-
tion, not the rule. The Pedestri4p could scarcely
pass over from one street to another without fur
nishing the bootblaeK Q hard Job or. himself with
drenched feet Mud was, as cotton used TO be-
knights empire universal @rd imperial. The
repairers OF wagons, carts, hacks and all classes
of vehicles held high carnival: but their ocoupa-
tion. like 0thello's, is gCpe EoS. :
For the once rough, miry, 4GaSTy streets, are
beautiful passWays, SO smooth and leT Ell that the
noise or JOstling Of locomotives is scarcely per-
ceptible. Beautiful parking, with lis green as
pect, salutes You at every step tS2t you make
along the Well-graded and elegantly paved
streets. Majestic private residences, uldcr the
impulse Of magnificent improvements, project ed
and contaminated, under the auspices Of the
Board Of Public Works, have risen GI all over
the city, and are going up every Day. The nu-
merous and spacious public rescTYatt.ls, Hitherto
nndistinguished as such, bc=usaed BY gushing
fountains and varied ornamental Embellishments,
present an almost Elysian as;-ccS. Tie cid canal
once q hideOus eye-sore, and lg--e-y of musdui-
toes and malaria, and positive diSSrace to the
city, has been filed up, and smooth, lr5ld streets
run along fhe course Of its once pestiferous and
ugly channel. Property hrs quadru. le1 in value,
and millions Of capital, owiag 20 the diversified
Improvements and beauties Of the civ. have been
attracted hither for investment. Ind still 1t
comes. In truth, the capital las been trans
formed IN the short space d three -e1r1, into one
OFF he mos hna laIff nu, ont or r1On0o
The Washington city Of years ago, aloag side
OF the Washington city OF to-day, IS the nlagnIh-
cent and elegantly-aPpOilted d-aviag-room, in
contrast with the rOugh, dizzy cook room. One
might well imagine that Elatdin, With his won
derfIl lamp had been about. No ore vito knew
the city in 1909, and knows it now, viii dispute
the justice Of this tribute TO the Board of Public
Works. Indeed, the trans formation is absolutely
wondrOus-almost defying be,ief, and vet the
Board Of Public Works thIt did I'll this has been
assailed with the EXTREMIST bfterr erd charged
with Wasteful extrayagance srd absolute corrIp-
ton. The reason is supposed tohe That the iuTes-
fighting movement had its origin, Ike many
other things, in politics-Eay be in "Democratic''
hankeTing after the spOlls for II singular cir
cumstance that nearly all the leedtng Iustigators
of the investigating movemeat-the asssilants Of
Improvement ana it's authors. the Board Of Public
Works, are old time Democrats OF deepest dye,
who, in times Of yore fattenef 20 gorgioe wealt
on Democratic spoils. Long fasting has doubtless
Ehetted their appetites and N ade them hungry,
and hence they are striking for the repossession
OF the city government. But they are destined to
ulsapPolhtmenl5 boE IT'S generally conceded that
every charge has been mot and disproved, and
that the improvements already completed are
worth many times more than the cost and have
laid the foundation for ma king the national capI-
tai the most beautiful and attractive city on the
earth.
In the desperation to fix blame and wrong upon
the board, the investigators. as last resort,
brought forward witness evidently trained for
their object, Mr.. Adolf Clufs, member Of the
board, whose remarkable statements produced at
first some sensation, but 1t turned out on cross-ex-
animation that this evidently Well-driLed, and
certainly wellriddled testiaer failed to make any
complaint or report or exposure Of the frauds and
corruptions to which he had testified before cross
examination, thus establishing himself his own
infamy and unHorthiness Of belief; and that he
ne was compelled by the shameful exposure pub
ncly made Of him to confess that there was no
1rauq on the part of the board, aud that he had
never designed 70 mako any such imputation
Ths matter Of the improvement CT Washington
city IS lar from being mere city concern It 10 o
matter Of national import and Interest, a concern
OF every patriotic and proud citizen Of the United
states. And the whole nation will sooner or later
realize lis indebtedness to the patriotic and brave
public servants who, IN defiance Of cIamor and
obloquy, adhered to their Isudable pnrross Of
city
Nor can Il be doubted that Governor shepherd.
whose tmmoyable integrity has been triuInphantly
concentrated by this Investigation. and whose
sagaclty, patriotismi and staunch courage, have
Deen most signally exhibited and vindicated from
nrst 70 lSst, viii come in time TO be regarded a
great public benefactor.
One thing worthy Of note in this connection
that this grand work Of giving 60 the nation q
mated from, and was Contaminated BY, Rspubli-
cans The Republican party may we'll make II
one Of ts many boosts. The liberal p0iiey party
it eertatn'y Is,