National Republican., 1877-08-09
THE FUTURE OF WASHINGTON.

THE FUTURE OF WASHINGTON
Il may now be taken for granted that the
system Of public policy favored by the ad-
vocates of civil service reform has been per-
mancntly adopted by the Government The
effect which this measure will have upon
the prosperity of Washington and the
character Of it's population cannot but be
most favorable. Permanency in the tenure
OF Office will make situations in the public
service much more desirable and respectable
than they were under the old system.
One of the best results Of the adoption OF
the principle Of permanency in the tenure
Of Office will be that the Government EN-
ployees will henceforth consider themselves
permanent citizens Of Washington, and will
Of course take greater interest in meas
ures calculated 10 promote the prosperity
Of the city than they could while they re-
garded their stay here as merely temporary.
Great numbers Of them will now take
measures to acquire homes for themselves
and thereby increase the demand for COM
Portable homesteads. Nothing improves
the character Of city 30 much rs to have
. large portion of the citizens own their
own homes.
One of the most important results of this
addition to the permanent population Of
this city will be great increase in public
spirit. There are great many things
which might be done to promote the pros
perity of Washington which have not been
done, because so large portion Of the pop
ulation Of the city was transient that the
burden of pushing forward new enterprises
fell upon very few persons.
There are many ways of practically aid
ing in the work Of promoting the prosperity
Of the National Capital. There are Repre-
sentatives here from every State and Terri
tory in the Union, and they should CORE
spond with such capitalists as they may
know, and call their attention TO the fine
manufacturing and commercial advantages
which this place enjoys The water power
afforded by the falls of the Potomac, our
fine harbor, our railroad connections, our
proximity to the South will undoubtedly at
tract hither vast amounts of capital as soon as
.these facts are made known. The subject
II already beginning to be discussed abroad,
and every citizen who is acquainted with
capitalists should call their attention to fine
opportunities for investment which this
city now offers, especially while SO much
distrust exists as to making investments in
localities subject to mob violence.
Attention should also be directed to the
fhct that this city is now one of the most
desirable places Of residence in the world
Ior persons Of wealth or cultivated tastes,
It's society, already refined and cultured, is
constantly receiving accessions as the city
increases in wealth and population, and
There is every prospect that the intellectual
attractions of Washington will soon equal
those Of the great capitals Oi Europe.
very patriotic citizen should endeayor
10 break up that absenteeism which every
year drains such large sums of money from
this country to be spent in Europe. The
best method of counteracting this evil
would be to render the attractions of oui
own National Capital so great that wealthy
men would spend q large portion Of that
money here which they now spend abroad
because our country has no Capital which
n what London, for example, is to the
English. Every wealthy Englishman ha
bis London house, and SO every wealth,
american should spend portion Of tn,
ycar, at least, in the Capital Of his country
'T'he establishment of great nationa
university ia one Of the most importan
measures needed for rendering this Capita
What II should be. This would bring
..arge body Of learned men here, who's
knowledge would exert . good inhuenc
mon the legislation of Congress and upo
society Of the Capital.
u short, there is much work for ever
.,.iuiotic citizen to do. Every citizen shoul
AXE deep interest in the establishment q
the city by works Of art and the establish
tment Of institutions calculated to add
It's intellectual and social attractions. Bu
t will not do to expect all these things I
,e done without any effort on our par
We must put our own shoulder to til
Wheel and we can then ask Congress wit
.prcpriety to assist rs in the work.