New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-08-09
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Aug. 2. 1882

WASHINGTON, D. G., Aug: 2, 1882.
There is rejoicing to-day in the
palaces Of the Corcorans, the
Blains, and the Camerons, in the
fashionable West End, and also in
the negro novels on Virginia Ave.
Congress having passed, over the
Presidents veto, the bill for
the reclamation of the Potomac
swamps-the insidious malaria that
penetrates alike the White House
and the howell is to be scotched
The only obstacle in the way of the
absolute perfection of the Capital is
to be dug up and made to smile with
trees and flowers and lakes. It IS
believed that the plan prepared by
the late Major Twining will be sub.
stantially followed. The space
north of the Railroad bridge will
not be completely filled in but will
be arranged in parks with lakelets
and fountains as continuation of
the Smithsonian, Agricultural and
White House grounds. When this
portion of the improvement shall be
completed it will give miles of addi.
tional driving privileges, and will
make that section one Of the most
beautiful parts of the city. Below
the Long Bridge winter basin will
be formed Of the present Washing.
ton channel which will be ample to
accommodate the commerce of this
city, and the point to be filled no
between the extension of the Four
teenth street and the western boun.
dairy of this basin will form PENN.
sula extending from Maryland Az.
enue to opposite the arsenal and
will be laid out for building pnrpos.
es: The money appropriated now
will probably be used in building
the 6ulkliead. A board of engineers
will be convened to exactly estab.
lish the line of the bqlkhead and
when this is done the work will be
commenced. Although for MANY
years the necessity of some action
looking to theimprovement of the ri.
yer front was felt, yet it was not until
1872 that any vigorous movement
by Congress to accomplish this
was made; and the report of the
board of survey, ordered by the act
OF March 5 of that year, set forth in
emphatic terms the necessity for
the work as q sanitary measure.
and its advantages to the city in =
commercial point of view. When
that report was referred to the
House District Committee that DO.
dy entered upon an investigation.
and was at once beset by horde of
those who were opposed to the i'm.
provemsnts OF the District that
were then progressing and the pro.
tests of the number who claimed to
own the flats defeated any approori.
alton save q pitiful sum of $50. 600.
which was Of no earthly use save a,
q recognition that
SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE
Before the matter could be a.ain
presented to Congress the obstruc.
tionists in the District succeeded
in abolishing the board Of public
works, The temporary government
which succeeded was occupied prin,
cipally in unravelIing the taugle
which the sudden; abolition Of the
board necessarily caused,
and so nothing In regard to the riv.
er front improvement was done un.
til the appointment Of Major Twin.
ing as Engineer Commissioner. Il.
a conversation with that officer but
a few days before his death, he said
he had at last the satisfaction Of
knowing that his plan, over which
he had sp8nt over four years of
thought and study, had been adopt.
ed. 70 his energy, his persistence,
and his careful study Of the subject
Is due the present success In the
passage Of 300, odo, wAtoh will be
work. -, : - 80.
With one exception no con gress
since tho war has remained IN con:
tlnuolls session tor 70 long ! time as
the present.. The exception w.s
the fest sessionof the forty fourth
l4s<a1s0sasa4Ac nss, IN 81. 49,