Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-03-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL coRREspoNDENcE OF THE MONITOR.

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MONITOR
Washington, March -.
Besides being the most beautiful
city on the American continent,
Washington is also the cleanest city
in the world. Notwithstanding this
fact, the citizens are making much
complaint just now about the indiffer-
ent performance of the contract for
street sweeping. The standard of
perfection is probably higher here
than anywhere else on account of
the superior facilities for cleanliness
that have been so long enjoyed by
the people of Washington. For this
city not only has the best of side
walks of any in the land, but the
broad streets and avenues are also
paved with concrete, so that mud is
entirely prevented. Still the citizens
are grumbling because the street
sweepers do not comply strictly with
the stipulations of the contract, not
only in failing to sweep well, but also
by sweeping in broad daylight, while
the contract specifies that work must
be performed after ten o'clock P. NJ.
The contractors apology for this is
that he has been losing money, hav-
ing taken the work at too low a figure.
But now, since Congress has allowed
an additional $4,000 for this pur-
pose. making the whole appropriation
$4,000, Washington may be expect
ed to even surpass itself for neatness
and hereafter be immaculate, as to
the streets.
The Forty-seventh Congress was
unusually liberal with the District.
Every appropriation asked for by the
Commissioners was granted at the
recent session, and for one year at
least the administration of affairs
will not be hampered because of a
scarcity of funds.
Architects and builders are now
busy preparing for the spring work.
Bricks and mortar will soon be in
livelier motion than anything else,
for it is predicted the extent of build
ing will be greater this year than for
many previous seasons. A drive
through Washington cannot fail to
impress one with the promise of
Washington's architectural future.
In almost every block and square in
ferior buildings are being torn down
and replaced by elegant residences,
stately churches, or imposing public
edifces. The vacant lots are being
filled in the same way, and these
| improvements are of the substantial
materials of iron, brick, granite, anG
marble. 1t would be tedious to emu
merate the many handsome structures
that are to be erected during The
coming season. The larger CONNER
cial cities have long been pleased t.
emphasize the diminutiveness o
Washington. But the time has Ions
since passed for valuing things b,
mere size and expansion. And
city SO extensively planned, wit
200,0O inhabitants, and the many
sided advantages of the Nations
Capital can easily sustain the taunt
Fifty years ago Washington contain
ed but II 900 people. Pennsylvani
Avenue was then partly paved wit
cobble stones. The city comprise
. a patch of houses around the Nav
Yard, a block on New Jersey Ave
nue., and another on East Capitt
, Street, and few struggling house
t in the "west end" The greater pa
{ of the present city was then occupie
: by market gardens, brick-kilps. pon6
E and marshes. Young people bel
: picnics in the groves around IL
springs on X street at Fifth an
! Tenth Streets. The Capitol was