New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-29
RING PAYE1fENTS.


three or four years ago when the District Gov
eminent, or rather the District Ring, had COM
plcted the wooden pavement on Pennsylvania
Avenue, Washington, they celebrated the event
by what they called, in the large phrase
oloey of men who were making the
capital worthy the nation, a Carnival"
There was procession, and there were
fireworks, and we believe a ball, and of course
supper. And the District Ring said to an
admiring people: "This is the kind OF thing
/" that we are doing for the capital, for the
"whole country, indeed for humanity" They
exhibited Pennsylvania Avenue to the world.
1t was as level as contractors head, and had
more wood in il. II was az smooth as Civil
Service Reform resolution, and everybody rode
right over it in the same easy and graceful
manner.
Men. unbclieving and complaining men, said,
as they contemplated the work, considered the
contracts, and thought of the measurements,
Here is great, magnificent sham; there
"has been cheating here the work If well
"done wOuId not have been worth the doing;
"bcing shabbily done it is IN outrage on common
sense and common honesty as WELL" But the
ophicleides and the trombOnes and the bass
u
fireworks fixed and banged, the pro-
cession marched, and everybody hur-
rahcd, and the thoughtful citizen had
either 70 step into any aloyway or be run over.
For the past two or three years the organic
press, which felt bOand to defend the Ring
and its works, have answered all complaints by
calling attention to the great public benefits
which the Ring wrought. Just as at one time
it was tho fashion to defend the Tweed Ring
in this city by saying "Wcll, whether they
" steal or not, they have done great deal for
"Ncw-YOrk in the way of public improve
" ments," so it was quite common saying
among the easy going followers Of the Admin
istration, that the District Ring, whatever else
il had done, had given them good streets and
first-rate paycmcnts, and that covered multi
tude Of SINS.
The pavements were tho things they pointed
at with pride. One index finger at the record
of the past and tho other at the Washington
pavements was the attitude of the average
admrcr Of the Administration. The Penn
sylvania Avenue pavement was laid under an act
of Congress before the creation of tho Board
Of Public Works. 1t was SO bright and beau
tiful and level that the Board of Public Works
as soon as it came into existence laid about
sixty miles of it, People said there was cheating
and stealing and all sorts of deviltry in con-
noction with the work, but the answer always
was, "I.Ook at The pavement! We are great
"couDtry aud great people, and this is q great
"capital of a great nation. We have something
I" here that will make pOsterity think well of us.
"UnbOrn generations will tread these pavements,
"and bless the memory Of the statesmen who
"devised the work ard carried it out. What's
L" small matter of stealing million or two in
comparison with tho greatness OF this work ~
Well it is too bad. Only four years, and
the people living on Pennsylvania Avenue are
begging that this great national work be
ripped up. removed, carted Off-anything 80
they get rid of it. They say it is dangerous
to persons riding, driving. or walking on it ;
that it is offensive, rotten, filthy, and dis
grace to the city. And there are sixty miles
more of it in the city which will shortly
be as bad if not so already. All made for
pOsterity to admire, and none of it lasting
more than four years The only thing posterity
will know these great public works by will be
the District debt which some time or other
they will have to pay. And 80 tho work of
the Ring turns out to be like the Ring itself,
rotten and nuisance.