The Daily Tombstone., 1886-07-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, July 5, 1886.

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 with destruction. Probably no other city in the world can boast the numb. CT and variety of trees that may be found within the city limits of Wash ington. Many of these trees were procured at gteat expense from for-s eign countries, aad in their number, variety and arrangement, reflect cred 1t alike upon the gpverntnent, whose generosity has rendeFed their pos session possible, ard upon the officers in charge of the public parks Al d grounds, the excellence of whose | judgment is shown in their classiica- ton and arrangement. A strange species of caterpillar has appeared upon the trees throughout the city :, and although they Were first noticed but few days since, their numbers have increased to such an extent as to infest all sections, and many of the trees which a week ago were in full foliage are now as barren as in mid winter, willie the pavemeAts in their vicinity are literally covered with an army of the invaders in search of "pastures new" So sudden and un- expected was the appearance of these insects, and so rapidly have the com mitted their deprcdations, that it has been impossible to check their ad- vance, and unless from some natural cause they should depart as suddenly and mysteriously as they appeared, the broad avenues will be denuded of their grateful shade, and the parks will have lost their chief attraction.
 The fears entertained by govern ment clerks in the various depart ments of wholesale discharges upon the 1st of July were not fully realized, but this is generally looked upon as merely delay, and tends but little to give feeling of security to those who remain at their posts. There were fifty-two dismissals in the Treasury, and few minor discharges were made in the other departments.
 A bill was introduced in the House on Tuesday last by Representative Wilkins, and in the Senate by MT. Collum, incorporating the Windsor Hotel Company of the District of Columbia. The company is to have capital stock of $2,000,00o. and if incorporated will at once commence the construction of notel, which in grandeur and thorough equipment will compare favorably with any upon the American continent. The build4 1 ing will be six stories in height, and will contain 500 rooms. The fronts will be of white marble. It is pro posed to construct building rectan. gular in form, surrounding Q court, which will be laid out in the form of a park for the enjoyment of the guests. The building will be thoroughly fire. proof, and finished in the mostly costly and tasteful manner. Num- erots private diningyrooms will be provided, and suits of apartments which can be used without connec- tion with other parts of the house. MT. Q. G. Staples, the proprietor Of Willard's Hotel, is among the most active of those named in the list of incorpoEators.
 Until recently it Was thought that the law upon the statute books pro hibited the selling of pools within the District of Columbia. A defect in the law having been discovered, 8 test case was made up and carried into the courts. The law was declared 
 invalid, and the National Capital has become the home of the pool seller. There are a score of places where gambling upon horse races. base ball gal es and other sports are carried on openly and unblushingly. The proprietor of one of the rooms boasts that he has cleared upward ot one thousand dollars day since the rac- ing season opened. An effort has been made to break up this form of gambling, and bill is now pending in Congress which if passed will effectNally prohibit the business un- der penalties, but it is thought that IL will not receive further r0,,.;dor,