National Republican., 1875-06-11
REpAv1Ee OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,
Ths Judgment of the People.

ltWas only a shert time ago when q meeting Of
merchants and business men was held at the
Board Of Trade Rooms for the purpose OF initis-
ting measures for the requirement. Of Pennsylvs-
MIA avenue from Fifteenth street to the Capitol
gate As result Of the meeting petition to the
Commissioners Of the District was drawn up, ask
ing them for the reasons recited, to cause this
Improvement to be made. With less than ordl-
nary effort the bona fde signatures OF many busi-
ness men and merchants engaged in business on
the Avenue and the streets interesting it were
obtained. A committee, consisting OF Messrs. W.
ard William II. Olsgett, presented the petition
to the Commissioners, and in vigorous aad appro.
favorable Confederation. The Com missioners lis
tened with interest to what the committee had to
say, acknowledged the Importance and necessity
OF the request, and promised quick and decisive
Since that time the petition has been greatly
strenRthened The addition OF numerous and
influential names and, besides all this, the dis
cussion among the business men concernlng this
subject has been constant and earnest, and has
clearly developed the
FOLLOWING OPINIONS:
First That 1t is of vital importance to gentle
men engaged in business on the Avenue and tts
iDtersecting streets TO have a new pavement laid.
The condition of the present one is maniiestly OF
q character to endsnger lie and limb, and IS ut
terly unfit for any Of the purposes OF mere pleas
ure driving. The natural result Is recognized In
the fact that the Avenueis almost wholly vacated
Of elegant equipaRes, and given up to the rough
appearapce Of vehicles for heavy drayage. With
the disappearance OF the carriages the trade Is
also fast disappearing aud is being rapidly d.
verted, especially for small, quick purchases OF
household necessity, to other marts OF trade
This fact stands out in relief so bold that many
Well.judging merchants are Of the opinion that
the losE during the next fiscal year, In the prehts
Of merchandise will equal the tax laid on the iner
chants of the Avenue for new pavement These
are questions Of pure utility. Those pertaining
to harmony and beauty in the OrnamentatiOn Of
the city have their natural weight, but they are
DPrtiuent TO this discussion.
Second The merchants and all interested feel
that this final improvement Of our grand
thOrouRhfare ought TO be made during the
THE SETTLED WEATHER OF SUMNER
and early fall; at time when the foundations of
the pavement can be made firm and even and de-
libeTately; at season when the business men, as
the interested parties, have abundant time to
personally see that the work is being we'll and
faithfully done; at a time when labor is cheap,
and when economy can be practicsd in every de-
partment of the great work, and above ALL so that
il can be finished in season. at least for the winter
trade and the proper reception of the vast crowds
that will come here with the new Congress. This
purely local consideration is immensely aug
mented by the event OF
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION,
which commences, as our citizens are aware,
early in May. For the first time 10 our immortal
history as o nation the city of Washington is to
he The scene and theatre OF the meeting at one
time of European tourists, representatives Of the
fashion and splendOr of the Old World, of science
agriculture, Invention a4 all progress. They
will come by thousands and tens OF thousands, and
sorry sight seeing, others will come tor inspection
and 10 look for the proofs Of all our assertions.
Dreadful, most dreadful, must be the mortihcl-
tion experiencedm If they md Pennsy lTania avenue,
which has not only national, but European
reputation, unsghtly sea of gullies and shoals,
bogs, quagmires and rotten wood, impossible for
carriages, dangerous TO the pedestrian, and as
cherries in the GeseTtion Of its gayety and busi-
ness as Babylon ITSELF This is no overdrawn pic
ture 1t is the simple, unvarnished truth.
Again, discussion has developed the shrewd
opinion that it will not do
TO WAIT FOR CONGRESSIONAL AID.
The next House of Representatives will be Deul-
cratic While neither its generosity or knOwl-
edge concerning the District are matters for spe-
ca apprehension, it is fair to say that its time,
thought and action will be principally consumed,
without, doubt. in organizing, with such wisdom
as it may have, Democratic victory for the en-
suing Presidential election. In view Of the
past, however misiudged, one can hardly expect
a Democratic House to rush forward with ap-
but Democratic H House in the end, will probably
he Just and generous.
The discussion has also developed the opinion
that there is no attachment TO this movement for
q new pavement
OF RINGS AND POLITICIANS.
In this regard 1t is spotless. If our knowledge
is at fault, the honorable and eminent citizens
who brought the movement forward are members
OF the Democratic party, and Its first public adTo-
cacy was in these columns. The movement was
spUnIa aneous one, growing naturally out OF the
ABSOLUTE eXfgencies Of the c1se, and every business
man who has signed the petition feels that the
is free from all ts int OF bribery, jObbery
and speculation. 1t is a forward movement en-
IRG8Se and in it the voice OF is no moro poten-
tia than that Of another. This is one OF its hap
piest ieatuTes-the one, in fact, upon which the
Comm ssioEers may rely for union and harmony
in the adjustment of the expense. The popularity
OF the movement is singular, very unusual; and
all will be reioiced to hear at an early day. from
those in authority, that the requirement. has been