The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-06-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINGToS, D. c. June I'd.
Correspondence Of the SOMERSET PRESS

w AsH1NGTOS, u. Z. June "a.
Correspondence of the SOMERSET PRESS.
Washington is a vastly different City, !
now from what il was before the war.
Then its streets were narrow and poor
there were no public grounds to beautify
it, and very few fine buildings except those
used for Government business The streets
were narrow and paved mostly with cob
blestones and the most slightly and conven-
lent squares occupied by novels and shant-
les which were used as market places.
Now there is no 6ner City in the country
The streets are broad and clean, well shad-
ed and well kept. Five years ago S3,0O0,
900 were expended for street paving. The
mistake of constructing wood pavements
was made and they have so decayed as to
be already in almost an impossible state
in some localities, and now contracts for
concrete paving, have been given out re-
Gently. The action of the District Com
missioners in awarding the contracts has
caused a good deal of dissatisfaction,
charges being made that certain contrac-
tors were improperly favored TO the exclu-
sion of others as responsible; but whatever
wrangling there may be over that all citi-
zens Of Washington are sincerely glad that
S150000 are to be Immediately laid out for
new concrete pavements. These are pre-
ferable to anything else that have been tri-
ed here, they are as smooth as a floor, and
get out Of repair less easily than other ma
terials.
The Presidents family will remove to
the house at Soldiers Home, where they
purpose spending the summer, this week
unless the weather remains as cool as it
has been for the fortnight past. Mrs. Hayes
does not feel in haste to exchange the
roomy quarters of the White House for
the smaller and inferior enc Of the cot
tage that has been set apart for the Presi.
Dental house hold at the Home" This
is known as "The Old Riggs Mansion"
and is the oldest house on the place, hav-
ing been built before the property was
purchased for the purpose for which it is
now used II is two story brick, and is
literally enbowerd in trees and shrubbery
Some repairs have been in progress recent
/
house quite ready for occupation, SO that
an hours notice would be sufficient for the
family's removal. The heat is not the
only annoyance President Hayes and his
wife escape by their absence from the
White House They will be much less
accessible to visitors, many of whom are
persistent in their efforts to gain an inter
| view outside of business hours. 1t is rare
ly the case now that they have any portion
Of the day to themselves, as not only their
early morning hours, but quite frequently
their evenings, are encroached upon. The
present guests at the Executive Mansion
are Mr., Richard Anderson, and his daugh-
tiers, of Dayton Ohio. The young ladies
have been with Mrs. Hayes for several
weeks and will probably accompany be,
into the country.
Post office appointments are receiving
much public attention of late, Miss Van
Laws case has been disposed of but not
satisfactorily to all parties it seems. The
little woman fought hard but was obliged
to give up at last, and her friends are very
bitter about it. Mrs. Thompson, widow OF
an eminent Louisville Lawyer, and daugh
ter of the late Alexander Campbell, is said
to be about to secure the appointment as
Postmistress at Louisville. Her husband
once wealthy, left his family is destitute
circumstances, and in compliance with the
wishes Of her friends, rather than from he,
own hope of success, Mrs. Thompson de-
spondently set out for Washington to ap.
peal for the Office. On her way hither, she
met, seemingly by pure accident, with an
old friend and former schoolmate whom
she had not seen for twenty years and who
proved to be President Hayes family ply
!. sician. He wrote to the President in hel
, behalf, and. although there were many ap
plicants Of both sexes for the position it is
now stated on good authority that she is tc
receive the appointment at once.
! have seen many articles in various
newspapers, stating in regard to State ant
Public Dinners given at the White Hous'
that they are always provided at the Gov
ernment expense This is not the case
The food and wines used at these feasts ar
. paid for out of the Presidents salary
The Presidents horses and harness ar
also his own private property, and hi
servants are paid from his own income.
M. NJ. w.