National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-22
NEVER! NEVER!
PLOTS ABOUT THE POTOMAC.
The Lobby After Kidmell Bottoms - Companies
Want TO Accomplish What 1t Is the Plain
Duty of the United States Gov
eminent to Promptly Do.

most dastardly plot against the good people of
the District has just recently been revealed, and
| from an unexpected quarter.
1t appears that for a considerable period of time
certain persons, whose names it is unnecessary to
| mention, have been importuning Congress for a
law authorizing the General Government, under
the direction and supervision of its officers, to
reclaim the waste lands extending along the river
front from Ti;enty-sixth street to the arsenal,
thereby destroying of the chief attractions for
which the National Capital is famous.
The matter had progressed far that it was con-
fidently expected by those having it in charge
that an appropriation of 81 80 go would be made
during the present session. thus providing for the
commencement and immediate carrying out Of the
outrageous undertaking.
Everything, it was supposed, had been satisfac
torily arranged for the conSummation of the pro-
posed measure, when the discOverer of the Guy
Fawkian project stepped upon the stage i'll the per
son of one of the worlds noble hearted bene
factors. Glowing like brazen image, he appeared
before the astoniShed legislators.
What said he; twill you taSe-are you ready
to assume-the awful responsibility of carrying on
such stupendous system of public Improvements
unaided by private enterprise?
Are you prepared to squander the peoples
money i'll the advancement of a scheme i'll which
every American citizen is deeply intereSted-the
and this without putting one dollar of the amount
you appropriated into the pockets of the lobby?
"Are you willing to waste millions in improving
the noble Potomac, that grandly sweeps by within
sight of where you now sit, and thereby deprive
thousands ofpurling rivulets that mcander, dropby
drop, down the grassy slopes of your fair mountain
districts or wander unseen through your dusty
meadows of the needed appropriations that might
enable them to bear upon muddy bosoms after
heavy rains the chips falling from the wOodmen's
axes in the depths of your solitudinOus forests?
xviii you compel the American eagle to fly on
wearisome pinions from the unlbrascous shadows
that screen from view the sacred Kiskimnita5,
because there is not water between is visionary
banks wherein he may wet n feather or dip his
thirsty beak?
"Will you deprive the .Lobby'-that representa-
tive body of Americas free and enlightened sys-
TEN OF legiSlatiOn-Of its due proportion of the
profits which might be made to rcsIIi. through
proper management from such all enterprise as
the proposed reclamation of the Potomac flats?
Would you deprive this city OF the revered
Father of his Country of that broadening prospect
of green, waving grasses and grsener, Sinner
mOrasses, and of its rich, odOrouS eXhaiationS by
still more odious excavations?
81 trust not. believe not. In your innermOSt
hearts there is deep-seated love and yeneration
for the paSt-an enduring regard for everything
old-fashiOned. Old sights, old smells dear.
You will not discard them readily. Kidwelrs Bot
toms are dear to you. You have seen them exposed
to the amorOuS, burning gaze of JulyS Sultry sun
you have seen them melt, as it were, beneath his
ardent glances, as he sought for them amid fetid
weeds and shattered wrecks of sewage; and you
have breathed the sweet malariouS Zephyrs waited
above them when low tide barred them to the over
arching sky revealing to public gaze those varied
riches which lie within the gift of great city.
You have seen them arrayed in emerald gar
ments, and watched with purest pleasure the Won
derful offspring of stagnant creation wandering
at their own sweet will amid the labyrin hian
avenues of waving scdge; you have Toasted your
eyes upon them when the chilling frOSts of winter
have begun to yieldtO the dulcet melody of Come,
gentle, gentle spring All. gentlemen of the
American Congress, you cannot find it in your
hearts to destroy such pleasant memories As are
associated in your minds with 'Kidwell's Bot
TOMS
You cannot bring yourselves to permit cold,
cruel, calculating business spirit TO lead you to
such an icOnDclasm.
'Think of it! Reflect upon ii! Imagine, sirs il
you can. the children of the present Or even of the
next generation, wandering along pleasant path
ways and through shady groves by clca:, rippiing
waters, Sayo:ing of sweet, healthful, invigOratmg
smells, and yet mourning over. pining and dying
'See them they stand by the lofty column
reared to the memory of him who gave his glori-
name to the city in which you are assembled.
Behold how their eyes fill with tears : they
search for the scenes that are no more; and how
their nOStrilS expand the of smell reaches
out in vain for those nevcr-to-bef forgotten Odors
which checrcd them or their fathers before the de-
Stroyer IN the disguise of bcneiiccnt appropria-
ton by your honorable body had banished mud
and malaria forever more
- Is it not pitiful.
Imagine yourselves. sirS, returning to this spot
after this shall have been carried into full
effect. You will feel like those who long absent
from home, return with hearts throbbing with joy
and fond anticipatiOnS only to find their house
hold gods destroyed, their hearthstOnes broken,
their dear ones dead.
But there is sadder picture than this even.
Behold those who stand upon PotOmac'S rescued
wastes with downcaSt heads and empty pockets.
" Behold the lobby Listen to them as they cry
aloud, Woe! wOeI sorrow hath indeed made us
captive. The harvest is past, the summer ended,
and we have not saved one single nickel ont of
such IL magnificent appropriation Are your
hearts, sirs, made of adamant, that they do not
melt at such sorrow full lamentngS?"
When the orator ceased there was an adjourn
ment tomcct forthwith at Sanderson'S. and very
shortly not dry lip could be found i'll The whole
vast as>CmDlagc which had listened to his impas-
stoned rhetoric. The entire audience had been
completely carried away across the street. b. his
persuasive elOqUencc.
As YET. no one can determine what the final
action will be; bUt ii is assured fact that if the
original plot succeed (and all good citizens pray
that it may the National Capital will be vastly the
better for it. Our citizens will be healthier and
happier but, best of all, malaria will thea he bar
ished, returning to dim the iutelects of our law
makers no more forever.
4 verbatiE, Report