National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-04
PEENsYLyAEIA AVENUE.

While the pavement of Pennsylvania
avenue is rapidly wearing out. the desire
for its requirement is daily gaining addi-
tional strength. Some months since an in
fueHtial meeting of citizens doing business
on the Avenue was held, in which resolu-
tions were passed asking the Commission
ers, for reasons given, to have it repaved.
The petition was largely signed, and TO-
day nineteen-twentieths of the business
men on the Avenue are anxiously in favor
Of It, A small counter. petition was pre-.
sented, its principal signers being those who
simply rent out stores and dwellings, and
are not Immediately affected in the prices
they obtain by the fearful condition of the
street. Since then, however, many of
them have withdrawn their signatures, and
are now quite willing the work should 70
forward. We have in the last few DAYS
taken great pains to sound public opinion
concerning this much-needed improvement
among property owners and taxpayers liv-
ing of the Avenue and not doing business
thereon. The recognition of the necessity
Of repaving the Avenue Is universal
throughout the city, and the volume of ex.
preston In favor Of it Is most emphatic; 50
much so, speaking for the mass, that we
suggest the propriety of formal public
meeting Of citizens of Washington, to be
held at an early date, for the purpose of
taking this matter up. 1t Is the fact that
great number Of prominent taxpayers de-
sire in some open way TO advise with and
aid the public spirited merchants and bust.
ness men Of the Avenue In securing an i'm
mediate commencement of the improve.
ment in question. Perhaps the most feast,
bic method Of bringing about the meeting
would be for Messrs. G.. W. Cochran, NJ.
w. Calf, W. H Morrison and W. II.
Clagett, the original committee of the mer.
chants and business men appointed to wait
upon the Commissioners and present the
petition for the requirement., TO unite in q
call to citizens generally to attend meet.
ing for the purposes indicated. This,
though, is merely suggestion.
There is really no time to be lost. five
would have the work done this year the
contract must soon be given out. If it is
postponed we shall have the disgrace of
the present and worse condition of thu
Avenue staring us all in the face through
the most brilliant year thus far in our
country's history. In i've months we enter
upon the one hundredth year of American
Independence. Our shores will be visited
during the year by thousands on thousands
Of the eminent and wealthy people Of
England and Continental Europe; by thou
sands on thousands Of the old civilizations
Of the East from the isles of the sea and |
all our Western Continent In the aggre.
gate millions will pour into Philadelphia.
To all these people the city Of Washington
will be the second principal point of at |
traction. We wish our citizens could be |
made to realize this fact more than they do,
but surely American pride ought to prompt |
US to show the capital city of the United |
States to its best advantage In the eyes of |
the foreigners who will be here. Pennsyi-
vania avenue is one of the celebrated |
streets of the world. In some respects IL
is. perhaps. the finest streetrof the world, \
and just now it is certainly one of the worst
paved ones in the world. If 1t stands
through the year 1876 in It's present condil
ion it win infinitely disgrace the Capital
IN the eyes of all visitors, and all the other.
beauties Of the city viii not efface the bad
impression. The most celebrated drive In
Be Rim is Under the Lindens," trees
planted on one Of the principal streets Of