Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-21
Washington Correspondence.
The ISArGuRArIoy.-REcES FLOODING OF
TIE Crrr-SESAToR BaISE--AkISE Re-
PUBLICAN CLuBLTRIBrTE OF RESPECT TO
SENATOR HANLIx.
WARRINGTON, ID. c. Feb. IL. 1881

The capital Of all th-.e United States. af-
ter having been thoroughly washed BY wa
ter bath from the ira;c Potomac, il rapidly
DOMINIC her gala attire in honor of the ap-
preaching great event, the inauguration of
Gen Garfield. The decoration committee
are busily engaged in experimenting the
erection of the various triumphai arches-,he
chief one between the Treasury building and
the new Corcoran building. now nearly COM
pleted, being very imposing and beautiful.
Two towers from its sides. one of which
reaches to the height Of the Treasury build
ing. The whole il gothic in architecture and
unique in construction. Flags and streamers
together with other decorations, including
evergreens, will make the structure beautiful
to the most unpractised. in the ways of art
and design. The other arches are much
smaller, yet graceful. and appear on various
large street. close to their entrance on Penn
sylvania avenue. which is the main route of
the expected procession. and which is wide
that it il very expensive 10 span it.
Besides the merchants and jewellers along
the route, will generally decorate freely. max
ing the demonstration, probably one of the
grandest ever witnessed, especially here.
People seem to be coming from all quarters
Of the country. Railroads are pressed for
ear accommodations. and the hotels and
boarding houses here are entirely inadequate
TO the task Of providing for thousands coming.
Quarters in private houses, restaurants, halls,
etc, etc, are being spoken for with alacrity,
and the merchants are laying in vast stores
Of eatable goods in anticipation of the event.
Seats are being erected in al! the reserva-
ton and other available spaces along the ave-
tops of houses, alley WAYS, etc. are being
hired at fabulous prices. One lady has rent
ed her parlors for that day at 500, and an
other gets $50 for two window fronts. A ho-
tel has let one of its balconies at $500. Sin.
gle seats are advertised a: one dollar each,
and places on the tops for fifty cents each.
But woe to many of those out door advan-
tages for money making if the day be stormy
or the avenue is again sheet Of water, As il
was last week.
THE FLoop.
Never within the memory of the oldest
inhabitant did Washington present such a
| waterv appearance As during Friday and Sat
urdav Of last week. The whole lower part
| of the city vas one vast lake. and at the foo,
of the Capitol. right under the noses of the
| Solons (who will not appropriate decent
sum Of money for the abatement of this nui-
sancc), II river flowed along where but YES
| terday they walked dry shod Street ears
| carried their passengers, but said passengers
| travelled with their feet hanging out Of the
| windows instead Of below the seats, or else
| climbed on top Of the vehicle while passing
| through ''the Vastly deep" So rapidly did
the river rise that hundreds of people, among
| them heavy dealers in merchandise. had
hardly time to remove their goods from the
| first floors, much less the Easements.
The Washington Monument (Which now
shows signs of getting "high'). stood oa,
| boldly as if on an island by itself As, indeed
was the case then. In many restaurants
whiskey and water mingled freely without
| the aid of the barkeeper or the purchaser.
| Boats sailed into the front entries of many
| aristocratic houses and took to dry land the
| occupants.
The new style Of cooking in the attic wa.
hare very suddenly introduced, but without
many Of the modern appliances.
In fact for the time being lower Washing
ton rather clumsily initiated the canal city
of Europe-Venice and as the moon came
out clear and full and lighted up the novel
| scene the viewer was entranced with the
picturesqueness and beauty of this strange
| transformation. The ice. too, gorging below
the city broke into innumerable fragments
which. with the debris, piled up into fancifu
and fearful masses and looked for all the
4 xI1. tnt,,
often have seeu-grand, yet as desolate as
anv scene could be. But why describe a
freshet? As il your Maine readers never saw
| one. But nv excuse in part will be. that, first
| il is q novel sight here: and. secondly, the
| Potomac il a magnificent and terrible stream
| when it gets its blood should say. water
up.
NY letter is getting long. otherwise
might say something about Congress. How
ever. there is not much to say. We are pa
tiently waiting to see it draw its last expir'
| ing breath, hoping to have better one in its
place.
SENATOR BLAINE.
Senator Blaine has been confined for some
time at his residence nv an attack of malar-
| ious rheumatism Potomac flats probably
did III, but is slowly convalescing and hopes
, to be out next week. His daughter Alice is
q great favorite in Washington society cir.
! cles.
MAINE RErUBLIcAS CLrB.
The Maine Republican Club. after sort OF
soporc existence during the last four years
owing to an equivocal order known as Civil
Service Order No. l." met this week and re-
organized, with indications that powerful
revival will take place when ''the new min
lister" takes charge Of "this circuit" | be-
lieve Garfield was a preacher The officers
elected were Judge William b. Smell, Pres
ident; Gen. Ellis Spear. Vice President; Il.
T. Hanley. Esq, Secretary; J. W. Babson,
Corresponding Secretary; and Benjamin
Freeman, Treasurer; with an Executive Com
mittce representing each Maine district. The
Association proposes to prepare and present
in a body resolutions of respect and esteem
for Senator Hamlin, upon his retirement
from the Senate. Ex-Governor Common. who
i. now here will probably be invited to pre-
sent them. The occasion promises to be a
memorable and interesting affair. No doubt,
if convenient and applicable, an immense as.
semblage. which would comprise vast num-
bers outside of Maine citizens here. would
participate in the events Of such an occasion
but Senator Hamlin would rather prefer this
less demouetrative affair. E. J. d.
r. -. ~,