The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-15

WASHINGTON, D. T., July II, u

kNtsuidi correspondence
WASHINGTON, d. e., July H. 1882.
A Sunday In Washington is very much like
the same day IN any other wellregulated
American city. When l say "well-regulated
city" of course no reference Is made to Gin
cinnati In Washington man and his wife
90 TO church, be he senator, cabinet officer,
or government clerk. If he does not 60 to
church, he takes his wife, or her who Will be
or ought to be his wife, and goes down the
Potomac river forty or fifty miles, on an ex.
curslon, round trip fifty cents There are
quite number of excursion steamers on the
Potomac, and they do thriving business dur
ing the summer months. went down the
river yesterday, and passing Mount Vernon,
was unable to see more than glimpse Of
George Washington, owing to the denseness
of the trees that surrounded 1t. / asked three
of the boat hands II that was Mount Vernon,
but none of them could tell. These excursions
down the Potomac are frequently of social
character, and tor a benevolent or charitable
purpose. To-day there will be one for the
Garfield Memorial Church. All the money
received for fares will 60 TO the church fund.
Your correspondent went to church yesterday,
as well as down the river. He would have
your readers know that he is no heather. He
attended the church to which Garfield be-
longed, and IN which he occasionally preached
during the earlier days of his congressional
life in Washington. The little wooden ediflce
has been shifted entirely around from the pc,
sitlon 1t occupied when the assassin peered
through the window to shoot the President.
1t formerly fronted on Vermont Avenue--it
now fronts on 14th St., and its removal is for
the purpose of making room for the new
chupch, which is to be built on the same
ground.
An Washington Is rejoicing to-day over the
ransoEcd swamps of the Potomac. Washing
ton is, perhaps little premature IN shouting
before she is out of the swamps, but Senator
Ransom moved an amendment to the River
and Harbor Bill appropriating half million
of dollars for the improvement of the harbor
of Washington, ard the amendment was passed
by vote of twentyslx In its favor and only
six against It. Ii II shall meet the approval
of mojority n the House, as 1t is believed ii
will, the first step will have been taken to re-
lieve the capital city from her environment OF
pestilent swamps Certainly when approprla-
tons are made for the navigation of streams
which, as some member said, had better be
macadamized the Potomac, one mile in width,
with a navy yard at its head of navigation, is
entitled to some consideration in the River
and HarbOr Appropriation.
Congress, | think, will kick the dust of
Washington off its heels next week Until
yesterday the month of July had been cool
and pleasant, but during the last thirty.siX
hours summer has been getting in its business
pretty lively, and the hot weather will, no
doubt, serve to quicken the pulse of legisla-
ton. Super-heated statesmen long for those
cool country resorts where they can sit on
broad verandahs, play poker, and suck ice
water perfumed with mint. 1t must be admit
ted that Congress has hung on heroically this
session. The coming session Will be very
brief, for it closes by Limitation on the fourth
Of March 1888.
The President still remains In the city, and
has No: gone to The Soldiers Home as vas
reported.