National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-07

By the Chairman: Q. Is your testimony sub
stantially correct as given therc9 A. Yes. sir.
1 have only to state further that the statements
which made before the last committee have
boon verified by the facts.
The testimony of this witness IN the former
Investigation into the affairs of the District.
found at page 1888, and following, of the Stark
weather report, was ordered to be printed, AMI
Is as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. o., April 10, 1873.
TESTIMONY OF FRANCIS P. BLAIR.
Francis p Blair. duly sworn and examined
BY Mr.. Chandler: Question. How long have
yon resided In Washington Answer. I came
Stass wSs GS gSs had occasion % know tho
history and condition OF the Washington canal
since you came here. A. Yes, sir; have known
thinks that filing up the canal will mako IL like
great sponge or morGss, and that the feculent mat
s s f nss. ns s: I Ss e. sSy. Ss
pact as high as the tide rises, and keep out the
tide by waterproof walls 1t each end; then the
sbOys tids,wsssr may Be made ; sOrt Of french
drain- with rubble stone. The filing completed
der the nuisance 70 ss HSn e se' \, aS S
ne true solution Of the canal dificulty would be
that 1t was the greatest folly In the world 10
bring canal through the city; that we had .
city should be carried on Though that " NN'
By Mr. Eldredge: Q. What do you think Oft he
canal for commercial purPOses' a lido not think
By Mr.. Chandler: Q. This statement by Gen.
eral Jackson was made to you, was III a. Yes,
| q. whenf A. think in lssa or 1888; sOms-
where along there.
q. His opinion was very i1sdf A. Yes, sir; he
20 attempt BY . canal to supercede tlde-uatar
river river flowing along by g city, and made the
canal the channel OF its commerce Wherever
IL becomes dirty, unsIghtly and sickly.
The canal We see has COME to this result. DR..
OF the Board Of Health; yet concur with him In
the belief that If the canal were kept clean and
deep by dredging, or sufficient fall Of water, Il
might not be so hurtful as hitherto to the ciryfs
health, though open in the mist Of 1t; still Its
emanations would be unwholeseme, and the moi
some gatherings on Its sides, IN the name Of COM
meree, would be a poor compensation to the Peo-
pie for the loss Of the salubrious air. the reViVng
green turf, and cooling shades the park was
of its surlace-water by cutting down the grade or
streets from the background In the central parts,
to run off rapidly through streets terminating at
the river shore, Will perfect its health Although
the depth of the cutting in some streets made .
bad impression for the moment, when the houses
have easements built under them, as they will in
the course of time, the value Of the property will
be immensely increased and the beauty Of the
streets improved by the elevations thus given to
the windows.
q. You believe in the policy of getting uniform
grades! A. l do; and carrying them through tho
city and into the District beyond Boundary street
1 believe the plans generally adopted by the city
government the best ever suggested. They do
sfnnsd them to ali M the Outline which nap1ts
to have destined for the site of the capital
Of our country. The city and Its surrounding dis
mounting by grades from the Potomac to the hills
1--WE miles beyond It's northern boundary, and 500
feet above the tides. The first terrace ariset
from the circle of Boundary street, making thas
beautiful e0ronet Of wooded heights that crowns
tho brow and LOOKS down upon the city and the
Fort Washington. The next grade brings US to
the circuit OF forts that protected the city during
the late war. The roads made to unite these de-
fences by the soldiers formed an outer circle to
Boundary street, two miles beyond. They arc
located on eninences that command the country
on both sides Of the circuit, while the city is in
visible and sheltered by the FIRST elevation that
surrounds 1t. The third elevation is that which
makes the dividing line bstveen the District OF
Columbia and Montgomery county, Maryland
1t Ia i've miles from the city limits, the direct
Sevsnth-street road
To this point all the parked avenues from the
city tend. They emerge at right angles, and on
reaching the military way fall In through 1t into
the graded seventh street road from west to east,
Yard and from Georgetown, and pursuing It's
route northwardly two miles meets all the coun-
try roads that converge at silver Spring; Rock
creek and Slago approach each other 50 closely
here to leave at the summit-evel plain q lit
tie moro across than one mile to divide them, Thus
bringing together at that place all the country
roads seeking the city from the northern, eastern
or western direction. The Colesville turnpike,
the Sandy Spring turnpike, tho BrookVIlle turn
pike all maeadalnlIed, are brought on District
line at this spot and the Rockville road and such
others as cross the Rock creek to fall into the
general rendezvous, which is also the depot of the
Metropolitan branch OF the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. This shows the Importance Of render
ing as perfect as possible the thoroughfare Of six
miles leading into the heart Of the city from the
highways Of the country, which concentrates its
products upon this railroad depot. Thence they
ia markeE of either RRltffnnFa nr
Washington by the steam or horse car, or by tho
wagon Of the farmer, who may continue the trans
portatlon on the Seventh street graded and mac
adamlIed central city road.
But the Improvement Of greatest value, as most
comprehensive, Is that which proposes to finish
the city. It Is to become grand avenue from the
Soldiers Home westward TO the first bridge on
the road between Fort Stevens and Fort De Rus
sew and thence carried along the stream Of Rock
creek and the road on Broad branch they blend
Into one main avenue, sloping with easy grade the
500 feet OF the District line, along the current Of
Rock creek to its junction with the Potomac, max
Ing the most romantic, picturesque drive to be
On the river side Of the Presidents Mansion,
this country avenue will pass through the City
park, by the Washington monumental pillar, to
the grounds around the Capitol, embracing the
view Of all that Is necessary to save Washington
from the river miasms and from the sneer Of being
only S elk Of |ssa 6T Of d'ssnGs will
| and palaces" The completion Of North Capitol
street, as already begun, to the Soldiers Home,
|
those Of Mr.. Corooran's splendid villa, viii
| render all east Of the central Seventh
street line grand park on the the north
Mall, with ali is ediaces, including those of the
Presidents Mansion and those Of the surround
ing Departments built or to be built, constituting
the grand feature Of architectural elegance,
mingled with q rural scene, makes 1t perfect rUs
in Trbe. That Inclosed BY the military road west
stitutes a park Of ITSELF all wild and picturesque
In most charming woodland scenery. It is hllsd
rents The fieS hlIisdes rising al successive points
covered with lofty trees, with an underground Of
laurel, redbud and dogwood all beautiful in their
seasons with flowers, the little brooks running
from dells opening at intervals, dressed with 40
raj ornaments springing from woodland, would
have Induced all lovers Of parks who have pene-
trated this wilderness Of forests and azes
of strcamlets to assign superiority TO this region
in sight Of our Capitol and pronounce 1t destined
to become the most charming environ Of thst sort
ever presented to o crowded city.
1t would be an economy OF once to establish o
country road down Rock creek to the Potomac from
tho military road The purchase Of the hillsides
above. clothed with exchanging woods too steep
for blowing, would preserve them from the AK.
1t Is all now required for the contemplated PARK.
Its completion would be the work of future years
Meantime, the avenue down the stream would
enhance the value Of the arabic lands to pro-
prietors and promote the prosperity Of the cities
and country by opening now and easier grade
for the interchange Of commodities.
wealth 10 carry a. this system of imnroysmenIss
A. do not thnkth city has; but the continent
has, and the people from every section who arc
coming here and to whom It belongs. 1t Is to be
the greatest city in the world; and the wards OF
the Government are doing the work-the negroes.
We are paying them, but think that Congress
will pay US back some day.
Q. On the whole. you approve the plan Of the
improvement Of the canal and the District? A.
As far as my reading extends, there Is no plan OF
a city equal to that which Washington planned,
Just as II stands.
Q. Please state YOUR opinion Of the necessity of
the Seventh-street improvement. A. Seventh
| street Is the great avenue TO the country, which
Is 10 feed the city The several roads in the coun-
| try that come In toward the city may be repre-
sented by the fingers my hands, all tending to-
ward Seventh street as the fingers to the Arm.
All the roads from the country centre in the Sew
onth-street road. The whole country to the north
is drawn into it. It is high road, 500 feet high,
and the whole Of the country for the city
come In through Seventh and Fourteenth and
North Capitol Streets 1t Is, in fact, the only out
let to the north from the city, and is On easy road
TO the country west.
O. Your residence is about six or seven miles
outf A Yes, sir; about six miles from the CENTRE
market; the Washington county boundary-line
o. You have travelled over the SeYenth-street
road for years. What has been its condition for
many years past2 A. II is the worst road in tho
world. 1t Is light soil and cuts down to the
hub. While 1t was a turnpike, / had to lend my
horses frequently to drag out teams from the
mud.
o. What was the width of itP A. Not more