The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-08-10
Our Washington Letter.

II as,i, WAsHINGToN, ID. e., Aug. 1, IS78.l
EDITOR CHiEF: a'ih h5'IR 80 j. Ha.
s. Washington is pluming herself with
vast satisfaction Washington feels
highly respectable.b We have lIad a
strike; not exactly a strike either,
hut u riot-=a laborer's " row." A man
having contracted to make an exca-
vati0n for the foundation of the new
building for the Bureauof Engraving
and Printing, hired workmen at rs
cents and 81 per day. This was OBJ
jected to by a throng of INDECENT per-
sons who think they represent the
workingmen here, but many of whom,
in reality, make a business of loafng,
and would not work if they had ever
so good an opportunity. They posted
notices ON the grounds where the
work was to commence to the effect
that any one working for less than
ST. so would be /. stoned or shot to
death, and when q dozen men COM
menced work a crowd gathered and
began stoning them and taking shoyeIs
and picks from their hands. To make
long story short, d hundred mounted
police had to stand guard all day and
protect the men at their work, aud
were actually obliged to charge into
the crowd, fire v0lley to scatter tile
communists and use their clubs pretty
freely. No one was killed though sew
eral were disabled for the time, two
policemen included. The city author
tiles prohibited the holding of the
usual street -cOrnef meeting by the
Communists that evening, but it con-
vened notwithstanding; and the Lead
er, one Isaac C,1llen. was arrested. A
grand meeting had been appointed
for last evening at which Dennis
kearney, tue California leader of the
whole party, WAS to preside, but that
meeting was also forbidden by the
city authorities, and this mornings
returns not having appeared at this
writing, We are unable to say how the
matter came out. The force at the
Treasury is thought to be training for
the; purpose of being ready. to resist
any raid that may possibly be made
against it, though there is no serious
apprehension of any disturbance fur.
tlier than has occurred. = hi
We think Washington u fine town, 4
beautiful, roOmy, healthfnl, and as a
large town it doubtless is all that.
But it is nevertheless a great city,
full of g poverty, hunger and dit"
The smooth, concrete payings are
soft and OdorOus this warm weather,
hearing the heavy air above them, to
q visible degree; while the pave
ments of we0d reek land steam
throughout the morning hours till the
heavy, malarial dews of the previous
night have risen from the eartli's sur
face only to descend again at night
fall loaded with additional filth. Rich
people, all but the officials who must
remain at their posts, are out of town
out of, the reach of this miasmatic
influence which willis down and
makes lifeless those who are obliged
to endure it. But the city teens with
poor people, to whom anything like |
recreation is unknown. For these u
recently arranged charity is doing |
wonderful things in the way of giving
free excursions down the Potomac |
for their especial benefit. Owners of
excursion boats, barges and tugs,
give the use of their boats grocers
eatables, d ice, lemons,
Fl uits and all, are donated by the |
various dealers; and who can estim-
ate the good done by theee small eff
forts and sacrifices I Worn aud
weary mothers take their sick babies
off for a day on the cool water and
green banks, leaving behind their |
cares and anxieties for the day and |
come back to their poor homes and
meagre fare with renewed strength !
and courage. 3
1t is no wonder people here grow |
enthusiastic over their beautiful
It is their only refuge |
during the two or three months of |
intense heat in summer. Every eve
ming thousands of persons go down
the river, sailing all night without
merely for the luxury of
cool atmosphere. SENTINEL.
For I,nnoralfalrsl cheek and unaeuI- |