Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-24
Washington Correspondence
THE MONUMENT CELEBRATION.-TH Con-
ING INAUGURATION. TIMES IN Pros
PECT -CoNGREss.-MR. MILLIKEN AND
TIE AUGUSTA PUBLIC BUILDING.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb 20, 1885.
Editor Kennebee Journal:
The next two weeks will be eventful ones
for Washington. The two important hap
peDing.-the Washington Monument celebra-
ton and the Inauguration of the President
will bring larger crowds than have been seen
here since the great army parade of 1865.
The great shaft, now that the staging is
taken down looms up grandly in the air and
shows its wonderful height and solidity.
Growing out Of its completion quite bust
ness has sprung up in the painting of bits of
broken marble of all shapes and sizes with
pictures of the monument and its surround
ings, Mount Vernon, etc. also, Autographs.
photographs, marble trinkets, etc. In all
prominent shop windows and on corners of
the streets these articles are offered for sale
and are already quite rapidly disposed of to
strangers and others who wish relic.
But this celebration is overreached by the
greater one of March 4th. The great ball
room Of the new pension office is very rapidly
growing into condition of completeness,
while temporary roof is being put on to
shield it from the weather The room is of
immense size, and probably never in the his
tory of this country has there been so grand a
ball as this will be. The tickets are S. apiece,
and the number already taken insures a mon
etary success.
The site of the pension office is almost ex-
actly the spot where was erected the great
wooden building in which the ball of the sec
ond term Grant inaugural was held, and
where SO many caught their last cold, and
danced for the last time. No one who was
here at that time will ever forget what =
wretchedly cold day it was, and what horri-
BILE mockery of pleasure that ball room pre-
scented that night. If our forefathers only
had known how capricious is our weather
here about this time, perhaps they would
have postponed the first occasion for this duty
until later in the season. But it is too late
now to remedy this defect.
These last two weeks will be busy ones,
too. for Congress. What little they will do
has to be done quickly and carelessly because
so much time has been useessly and improv-
identity wasted.
How our representative, Mr.. Milliken, man.
aged to get the Augusta public building ap.
preparation through almost passes my compre-
hension. He must have watched the House as
closely as a cat does mouse Both he and Sen
ator Frye are entitled to great credit for their
untiring efforts in behalf of this matter, and
Augusta is to be congratulated upon having so
splendid an acquisition to her already fine
buildings.
We Maine fellows abroad were in great
hopes that the legislature would see its way
clear to provide means for the enlargement OF
the State capitol which is so much needed,
and which would add much to its attractive
appearance, and to the interests of the State
capital
The public buildings here are gradually
growing in number. The new pension build
ing-an immense brick structure-will be
completed in the course of year, and Con
gress has just ordered the erection of build
ing for the medical library and museum.
Probably at the next session an act will be
passed for the completion of congressional
library building and city post-offce. 1t i,
possible that the latter building may be or.
dered to b. Quilt the coming ession ii the tw G
| Houses can agree on the wording of the bill
| These new improvements keep large num-
Der of laborers employed fill gaps in govern.
ment necessities and add to the beauty of the
national capital.
The weather for February has been unusu.
ally severe for this climate, bringing out the
remarks of 'the oldest inhabitant," etc.
Notwithstanding this fact, ex-senator
HamlIn of our State, is walking around here
without an overcoat. II makes one shiver tc
look at him. But he is certainly old enough
to know what he wants, and he saws he dom
need one.
The Potomac river is frozen over solidly
and the ice is five or six inches thick. Thi,
is not entertaining reading to our Kennebet
ice men, but it is we'll enough to tell tn,
truth because it is so near Washingtonl
| birthday. EJ r