The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. G., March 20, 1886.

WASHINGTON, ~. ", na[cu w, 1ooo.
Washington is noted the world over
for its magnificent avenues, the number
of its public parks and the vast stretch
of improved ground extending from the
Capitol to the White House, distance
of mile. This strip of land is about an
eighth of mile in width and in the line
of the Botanical Garden, the Armory
Building, the Smithsonian Institute and
National Museum, and of the Monument
towering 555 feet into the air in all the
purity of its marble whiteness. The
wonder has been that the general govern
ment which has absolute control of this
land has never taken steps to improve it.
After lethargy of seventy-five years it
has occurred that this expause of ground
can be improved so as to make it one of
the most beautiful driving parks in the
world. A bill has accordingly been in
troduced in Congress providing for the
improvements on a most comprehensive
scale. The estimated cost is half mill
ion of dollars, and when the work is
completed the park will rival as drive
the famous Champs Elysees, of Paris.
In keeping with this improvement
Senator Morrill, has introduced bill in
the Senate appropriating 100000 for
the erection on the South side of the
Executive Mansion of building similar
in character and exterior 10 the present
mansion. The old portion will be used
exclusively for business purposes. The
new part will be used as the residence
and will face the grand park contemplat.
ed in the other measure before Congress,
and will overlook the redeemed portion
of the Potomac River which will also
constitute park dotted with lakes and
having avenues of shaded drives. When
these improvements are finished the
the people of this country will indeed
have cause to feel proud of their Ma
tional Capital. There will not be city
in the old or new world to equal it in
the beauty of its public parks and the
magni6ccnce of its private and public
buildings.
The President enjoys the society of
the Representatives Of the people in
Congress, aud whenever opportunity
offers, has them assemble at the Execu-
tive Mansion to partake of his hospitality.
1t is an erroneous idea that many have
that the President and his political op-
ponents in Congress are at logger heads
and scarcely pass the courtesies of the
day. They may say sharp and bitter
things about each other in political and
official matters, but that is all laid aside
and forgotten in their social intercourse
with each other.
The President gave Lenten dinner
to some of the Senators the past week,
and with the view OF promoting erother-
ly love and kindly feelings between his
guests had them seated around the festive
board alternately Republican and Demo
crat. Senator Logan sat on the left and
Senator Salisbury on the right of the
President. There were forty.ole covers,
and the State dining room was ablaze
with sparkling crystals, but the absence
of all music served as reminder that
the holy season of lent was respected.
Miss Cleveland during Lent receives
callers only by card for one hour, from
12to1 on Tuesdays and Fridays.
{ The General Post Office Building is 10
be enlarged. It is white marble struc'
turo frontino on four streets. and the