National Republican., 1880-07-23

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. S02ll2,39j 81
OF this sum, less than 500, 100000, which
embraces to the uttermost larhing every penny
spent through congressional appropriations
upon the District Of Columbia, except for
clerical services aud the like, more than
equivalent is Furnished to-day in the value of
the government property. No better invest.
mont, considered us q commercial speruatiUn,
has ever been made by the government.
Some of these items In detail tend to create
smile to-day. On the 81 of March, 1903, an
appropriation WAS mado 20 enable the presi-
dent to keep in repair "the highway between
the capitol aud other public buildings" In
1910 the roof If the north wing Of
| tho capitol was so lcaky that an
appropriation had to be made TO stop up
the chinks. The tympanum of the capitol,
whatever that is, got cut of order In 1874, and
an appropriation was made 70 repair The
| figures therein. And it seems funny to-
day to read that in 1874 and for years
later annual appropriations were made
to purchase oil and wicks for lamps to light
the public buildings aud grounds, aud for fix
| ing the lantern on the dome of the capitol
Gas-pipes were laid and lamp.posts erected on
| Pennsylvania avenue as late us 1913, and con-
| grcSs paid for the work. The first appropria-
| tion for the purchase Of books for the library
Of congress was $4,000, made April "a, 1900
On the Sth Of December 1915, the president
was authorized to lease from Daniel Carroll of
Duddington and others building in square
729 on Capitol hill for tho use of congress
until the new capitol should be flushed az an
annual rent of 1850 payable semi-annually.
This building was used by congress until 1919.
An appropriation was made in 1867 for defray-
ing the expenses Of a survey of tract OF
land for a park aud site for a presidential
mansion, Tho amount appropriated was
fZ'oOO' Dld Tho engineer directing the sur
Vey run ms lincs to the tomb OF tho Capulets
aud leave them thero2
Works of a-t -vore an early consideration
with the fathers Of the republic, despite the
coutcmptuous hostility of President John
Adams to sculpture, et id Cmns genHs
Greenoughs statue of Washington was con.
tracted in 1882 and brought TO Washington in
1871 and placed in the rotunda OF the capitol
whence it was directed to be removed in lsls
All the expenses Of this statue up to 1916 were
covered by appropriations in all of $40 100
Tho actual sums paid were Si217074. IL
lS17 Colonel John Trumbull was authorized
to execute his historical paintings for tho CAPT
tol. The last installmcnt Of $4,000 was paid
him in 1923, making $4,000 in all.
In 1902 congress made IN appropriation fol
building q Jail in Wa-hington The total an.
propriation was Sl6,057. The new Jail was
: built in 1882 and still another in 1915 the to-
tai appropriations for the three being $79l .227
80, with net expenditure for u penlentiary
commenced in 1926 of S6O1 ,G56.30, about 81 :.
$4,000 in all. Not until 1866 did congress
appropriate anything for tho support and en-
coumgement of public schools in the District
The total appropriations for public schools moi
pnid back again by the District has beer
$29,0S30l. Against the total appropriation
for oighty-slx years for the District of $92,
000,0O0 must DO set S12, ,597 656.02 of receipt
from tho District, leaving net expenditnr,
by congress on this place of only $4,000,
600, from the location of the scat of govern
ment here to the 31st of July, 1876.