Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-12

Unprejudiced and fair-minded writers from
the capital bear cheerful and honest testimony
not only 70 the extent of the improvements
which have transformed the city from one of
the least to one of the most attractive cities in
the country, but to the indomitable pluck and
energy Of the men who are responsible for the
transformation. We clip the following from the
Washington editorial correspondence of the
Norualk Comm Gazette. The writer, a gen.
ueman OF high character, who is temporarily
residing here, is a property-owner in Washing
ton, and he pays his taxes cheerfully, recogniz
ing, as he does, the value of improvements and
their bearing upon the future of the capital and
the welfare of its citizens:
" Considerable local excitement has been
caused by the Introduction into Congress of a
resolution calling for an invest cation into the
local anairs OF the District government. An
enormous amount of money has been expended
by the Board of Public Works, and the most
Prodigious amount of work has already been
Done. The transformation here approaches
almost TO the miraculous. Those who have not
visited Washington since the closing period of
the war, would scarce know the place. 1t is
perhaps unreasonable to suppose that there
may not have been venalty and corruption in
some part OF all this vast work and expenditure
but that in the main, the work has been hon
es'ly done, there cannot be much well grounded
doubt. IL Is due to those controlling the Dis
frict government and also the nation that the
examination shall be 30 thorough and exhaust
uiously circulated by the press, If they be
false, and II true, that the guilty shall be
brough. to light and punished. 1t is plain to
see, however, that those citizens most exercised
about municipal c0rruptiOns are the old dis
loyal, do nothing Washington regime, who
make no effort TO conceal their yexation
and chagrin that the Yankee has come
down upon them and seized the town and
LETT them poverless in all local reforms.
The best abused man of the vhole lot of wide
awakes 10 Governor Shepherd. We do not know
him, except by sight, and yet il any man de-
serves the nations gratitude. in our judgment,
II u THIS much abused Boss Shepherd" Rising
from poverty and Obscurity, he has by dint OF
industry, sagacity and enterprise won not only
fortune and the highest political honors, but
the confidence and esteem of all who know hin
Intimately. This man has done more probably
than any other twenty men towards rezenerat-
ing this once unsightly and repulsiye, but now
beautiful and attractive capital. People of
wealth from all parts of the north and west are
rushing in here, selecting the desirable building
sItes, erecting beautiful e. ices for winter resi-
dences, until the future Of Washington Is as
assured for popular winter resort "a Saratoga
or Long Branch for the summer. We predict
that In less than ten years Washington will be
the most beautiful capital city on the face of
the globe, and that the whole nation will feel a
pride IS ardent as the French people do in
Paris A taxpayer here has one satisfaction
he cannot always have elsewhere. He can see
for himself the IMPROVEMENTS made with his