The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.

nitrous tA Nu4iolo tHeI Looo sup
herd is said to have expended in the
improvements at the capital, but the
ract is patent to every stranger that
Washington is The finest city in the
world. Think of ~forty-eight miles Of
smooth concreted streets, shaded Oh
either side 10y magnificent trees of the
best varieties! The problem of muni-
cipal cleanliness, TOO, is solved by tie
excellence Of the streets and the thor
oughuess with which they can beswept
by the modern sweeping wagons. In
the last ten years, then, We nave seen
that Washington has improved more
than it had from tie time of its four
dation at the beginning Of the century,
and in the next decade, when the
whole city shall have undergone the re.
~inyemating processes that Shepherd ap-
pliedt to the favored portions of it, the
Amelica citizen will possess a CAPT
tai that he may well be proud Of. As
to its sanitary condition, Washington
has long been regarded as an unheal-
thy spot because Of its malar.al inGu-
eLcgs, but Congress has taken hold OF
the work Of removing the aust OF
this complaint, in fllii g mp the Poto-
mac Fats, the dredging Of the river,
and widening the channel 50 as to Sc.
cure an uninterrupted flew Of the Po-
tolaaC waters on the occasions oispring
and summer floods. Beside stlis, the
city is building the largest ever IN tine
world, a conduit more than four miles
mics III length, and t~WeHty-siX feet III
diameter, stretching across the north-
ern end Of tAe cigy-largc enough a.
you may well suppose for the most stu
pcndoUs future that may be predicted
for the capital.
1t i~sauuounced that Mr.. Cox, Chair
man Of the House Committee on Naval
Affairs, has already malured a bill
looking to the relabiljta ion Of the
American navy by the immediate con.
s!ruction Of twelve line Of b4ttle ships,
as a commencement, t. be followed
yearly by Tie addition Of smaller but
equally effective vessels, France with
not adollar Of surplus in .he treasury,
is building fourteen hrst-class war-ves
sells of the most powerful description,
with eight iron-clads exclusively for
coast defense. while England in addi-
ton to her already powerful fleet is
building seven large War-yes8els, and
five iron-clad cruisers. The twelve
ships that Nj, CoX's bill provides for,
are to be each equal in strength and
armature to that Of the French slips.
which of course will be of the best
lighting power. With The French ships
completed, England will no longer
hold her position Of superiority on the
seas either IN the number OF strt myth
Of her maritime armament, though in
the matter Of iron-clads she Will long
remain at the head. Germany will be
the third in point Of naval strength.
Italy with Ter American built vessels
viii he fourth, Russia fifth and Aus
tria sixth. Russia is now building
three battle-shlps and three iron-clad
cruisers. Germany is nearly ready to
launch a powerful non-clad cruiser
ana two iron clad gUn,5oats. Austria
one bottle-ship of six thousand tons
burthen. Denmark one iron clad for
coast defense, and the United States
four steel cruisers Besides the "Miau-
tonomal'' and the ''5lonadnock," The
former of which has been the subject
of a good deal Of sporting criticism,
end the latter humorously alluded to
as the second edition Of Noah's Ark.
1t would be indeed a cruel disap.
po.upmeut if it We're discovered that
the relies Of Gen. Washington aad
other notables Of a by-gone period,
which had been so long on exhibition
at the Patent Office, were not genuine
al all. Bus tie recent developments
relative to Die fraudulent character OF
Santa Anna's uniform, a dirty, tam
colored suit that the Mexican hero
would have ylhorTed, has shaken our
faith mlhe uadiUona.y character Of
all these supposed relies. Washing
tons Jear-sGiu Lreeches which he is
said tolaye worn upon his surveying
expeditions when a Young naD, show
him either tohaye been amau Of most
awkward makeup, Of as having eX-
eoelingly poor taste in his choice Of
aiulor. Fortbc credit Of Washing
ton AVID Lafayette, and the rest of
tttm, We thiuk it woUld be well
cguu.a e. t1l-ilerthc eatlre outut of
as entirely bogus, ana goltun up