Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-09
A western View OF Washington.

The following editorial article from the Indi.
annapolis Journal Of the 9Th inst will have special
interest just now, for the that 1t is based
on the personal observa atoms and in yestp ations
of It's editor, made during q visit here q couple
OF weeks ago. The article will also have addi-
tonal weight from the fact that up to the time
Of its editors late visit to Washington the Jour-
mi, guided doubtless by the sort of hearsay evil
dence sent out from Washington by careless or
malicious correspondents, was rather disposed
to criticise unfavorably all matters relating to
the District government.
The Journal says:
: The reply of Governor Shepherd, of the
District of Columbia, to the Undergraduates of
Congress, seems, on its face, to be q full and
frank expose OF the financial condition Of the
District, and will aid the committee very mate
rally in their investigation. The present status
OF the affair is about this: The committee hay-
ing decided, very properly as we think, not to
pear the whole burden OF the inquiry, nor to
enter on the investigation without specific
charges, have called on the memorialists to file
their complaint, or in other words to submit
their charges, and the latter are now engaged
IN preparing their case. Meanwhile, in order
TO expedite matters and clear up as many pre-
hmiDary points as possible, the committee sub
united Inst OF searching interrogatories to Gov
Shepherd, TO all the points OF which he has An
swered at length, in a document covering nearly
1000 pages OF manuscript. The Governor also
urges the committee to visit each office of the
a tlOrOQpl
sonal examination or the books, satisfy them
selves as to the correctness OF his Statements
The celebrity with which he has prepared mis-
voluminous reply to the committees questions
ana the apparent frankness and fullness there
OF, are calculated to create a good impress on
and we sincerely hope, on every account tn al
tne investigation may prove the charges of cor
That there have been extravaganza ard reck-
lessness OF expenditure cannot admit of a doubt:
but It remains for the investigation to disclose
he haC haas.
1.-The fact that the Board OF Public Works
essayed to do the work of about fifteen years in
three, almost necessarily involved mistakes of
engineering, and a much greater outlay of
money than would have occurred had they pro-
ceeded slowly, carefully discussing every meas
ure and counting the cost OF each step as thew
and accomplish the greatest possible amount
OF work in the least possible space of time
and this have PROFESSIONALLY done. 1t is GER
tsinly safe to say that no city in the United
states, and we doubt II any in the world, was
ever more improved during the same length of
time, than Washington has been during the last
three years: Ii large amount Of money has
been spent it must be confessed that an amaz-
ing amount OF work has been done, and that the
finished improvements are both extensive and
beautiful. The question of official fraud or
with the Investigating COMMITTEES, which il
thoroughly competent and disposed to do its
DUTY; but as matter OF fact, we feel bound to
s say th s,, the improvements in Wash
Of the most surprising character Nearly
every street in the city, and in GEORGE
town as we'll, has been brought to a uniform
grade; new streets and avenues have been
opened and old ones extended about one hun
dred miles or Asphalt and Nicholson pavement
have been laid; sewers of great length and ca
paclty have been constructed; wide spaces of
low land have been filled up and m ade availa-
Die for building purposes; a noxious canal
which formerly bred pestilence and death, has
been converted into an attractive drive; two
shambilng and dilapidated market-houses have
oeen torn down and replaced-the one by a
oeautiiui park, and the other by a sp acious and
ornamental market building; aud, in short, the
city mas been completely metamorphosed.
bow much, If any, of illegitimate speculation
or fraud may have accompanied this vast
scheme OF improvement Is for the committee TO
decide; but 1t Is due to Governor Shepherd to
say that ne seems disposed to afford them every
possible facility In prosecuting their inyestiga-