New-York tribune., 1875-08-07
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
SENATOR sARGENTS DEFENSE OF THE
RING REVIEWED.


RING REVIEWED.
PRETENDED IMPROVEMENTS ExPOsED-DEFEcTIvE
SEWERAGE, IMPERFECT DRAINAGE, AND DAN
GEROUs PAvENESTs.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Senator Sargent Of California, in re-
ent speech in defense Of himself and the Washington
Ring pears to be reckless in his statemens In gross
cxaggeration of what the Ring have accomplished the
Senator says:
Half dozen years ago Washington was quag'nlre
with surface drainage, irregular grade s,cKy n'8a IA
bic hole. Now Ia OF the most beautiful cities III the
world, with scores of miles OF finely paved streets ~
many miles OF sewers regular grades, beautiful parks
aud from being Of the most sicky Is one of the most
healthful cities on the continent
All Of these improvements have been enected, the
Senator would have his hearers believe, through the
agency OF the Washington Ring II certainly is not an
agreeable show that most Of the foregoing state
not true and the rest gross exaggeraons hut
such the facts. What man who saw this city six
years ago will believe the first statementthat it was then
"quagnre quagmire IL soft, wet place, that yields
and shakes under the foot Who believes that the wise
founders OF this Government selected such ground upon
which to build the capital OF the natoni The truth is
that topography aud mnoss OF the soil OF Washing
ton both most admirably adapted for the site OF
city. In short this statement Of the Senator Is not true.
II Senator Sargent meant to apply the term "quag-
mire" to the moral condition Of Washington, it will be
hard to show how its shasy character has been in any
respect improved by the Ring.
"wh surface drainage" Well, we have that now,
and present character very much than 10 was
six years ago. Many Of the old and welleonstructrd
have been altered greatly to reduce the4r
effective capacity md all Of the sewers are so small
that they often overflow, spread filth al over the
surface and nundate many cellars and Easements with
the disgusting pollution. Most OF the new sewers
also very eaky causing the soil to become foul and
nOxOs; and many of them so badly built, and are
rotten o make it exceedingly dangerous To drive
over them times Of heavy rains In several instances
have caved ill., and carried down horses and ear
ragcs although the occupants Of the vehicles have thus
far escaped On the whole the condition OF Washington
has not been improved by the expenditure Of my mil
lions Of dollars by the Ring, on its drainage and sewer
age On the contrary, 1t will cost many millions more to
correct the very great blunders of the Ring.
"Ifreguar grades Well, some grades have been
changed. but they still Irregular and the improve
ment thus effected will hardly equal the damage done to
property But to reduce all the city streets and avenues
to grades corresponding to the changes now made
must cost over 800 600 more and until that done
or the changes made modified the city must continue
to present tornlip and ragged appearance.
"a sickly ntolerable hole This characterization Is
well known to pappcble tO the City Of Washington
the expression is and vulgar People OF refine
ment have always found washing to be quite toerae
ard agreeable too And 1t Is believed that most sen
QUITE areeabs stay here long their constituents
consento it, As for health, this city has always com
tany 40 six seven. and eight years when s health
was actually better than has been during the last three
contrary The present pther unfavorabe condition OF
health arises, unquesiionably from the recent
most ahomnabe and stupid Ring manipulations OF the
sewerage. .
of miles Of finely paved streets" Senator Sar
gent should have added that not one Of the scores Of
miles is in sound good condition The concrete Is
being rapidly dsntegraed, and the wooden blocks are
rottng 80 to make driving on them not only disa
grecable, but positively dangerous IL not nkciy mat
any other city will invest largely in such fine paveneAts
In speaking cf the two invesugaGOis py congress
of tie dongs OF tho Board OF Public works, thc
there is not the least showing that Gov Shepherd
his colleagues ever appropriated dollar 10 ther own
yse ever had cents interest in any contract; or did
one act unworthy OF honest men" Is this not quite
equal the most audcious or reckless etatene OF ever
Ins.e by Mr. Shepherd Lmsef The truth is that during
the gaons tile Board, Of which Mr. Shepherd was
the head found tO be so thoroughly rotten u us very
core that the last Committee reported hepup
lsaIsaud Democrats nfavOr Of its Instant removal when
was promptly done b' Congress Ana when MI snephtins
name was sent with two others, to the Senate f conr
nation IA q Commissioner to succeed the Board, Mr.
Shepherds name was instantly and Overwhelmingly 10
jected by the Senate .
trial in his own state his completely with the District
OF Columbia Ring, and Mr Goriian' Secretafy ol ts
senate ia IN IN the pSa IN. oe .he eduntpg AGO
Nv nominating Mr.. Shepherd to be one OF the Commits
sioners Of tine District Mr. Shepherd remained IN MI
Gorham's Office while the nomination Was discussed by
the Senate, and Nr. Gorhan himself @ctcd as MS
messenger passing In and ont OF the senate
and reporting % to ss n s sae ssnan srsen wa,
the only man the floor OF the Senate VINO dared I'd
raise his voice In defense Of the Ring ana was Only pre-
vented FROM spcaking against time ana ssaVng on vote
ON the nomination, by resolution sent from the House
pOstpOung the hour OF fnal adjournment Sargent was
one Of the senators who voted FOR Shephefds SOhnr
oiion the other being Paterson, Spencer clayton,
Flapagan and Jones. II any two men were lnplvated
with the District Ring they were Sargent and G0rhaln,
aud their defense their o0conprators should be taken
for what it worth i'll the hight OF these fas'S b.
Washington, D. o., July y, 1870.