Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-24

1t Is difficult for the ordinary mind to con-
ceive what purpose in the direction OF either
utility or beauty can be served by passing the
bill, introduced in the House by Representa-
tive Springer on the 18th instant, which pro-
poses to open a wide straight street "from the
center Of the Capitol building to the center OF
tire Washington Monument" through the at
tractive PARK which now happily separates
those structures Such a roadway cannot be
intended to accommodate travel, for there is
little travel to be accommodated. and what there
is can be more ftly served by the more appro-
pirate serpentine drives now laid out through
the grounds; and so far appearances are
10 be taken into aceount,-and they should by
no means be left out of view.-the proposed
avenue would be q distinct blemish, instead of
an added attraction.
The theory upon which broad straight road
ways are laid out and constructed is to facii-
tate communication between two popu,ous or
strategetically important points, or to accom-
modate the population living along Its line.
Neither of these conditions exist In the present
case. The proposed street, If authorized and
completed, would simply connect two splendid
architectural structures, neither of which
houses any Inhabitants, and it would accom-
modate no population living along its line, for
there is none. The proposition must therefore
be considered purely in its ornamental aspects.
Upon this point argument is of course useless.
III there be those who think that a straight road
way wide as Pennsylvania avenue cut
through the present beautiful grounds would be
any Improvement, they are entitled to their
opinion, and may well be regarded as beyond the
influence Of any reasons which might be advan-
ced against their view. 1t may be urged against
the measure, however, that it would devastate
the artistically designed plan of the grounds
prepared and carried out with so much care and
success by Mr.. A. j. Downing, the eminent
struction of many rare and beautiful trees, now
nearly third of a century old. These things
are among the chief glores of the national cap
ital, and should be jealousy preserved. The
money necessary to carry out any so-called i'm
provement that would result in their injury
even in the slightest degree had better be
thrown into the Potomac, where, If 1t could do
no good. it would at least do no harm.
Those members of the two houses of Congress
who regard themselves as looking after the in
terests of the people of Washington In the mat
ter Of the city gas supply should not content
themselves with legislating upon the price of
that article only. The quality of the so-called
Illuminating agency should also be taken into
account This is a point that needs regulating
even more than the matter of cost to con-
sumers, much as that feature demands atten-
ton. If the price be reduced without q pro-
tecting clause as to quality, such is sug-
gested. the gas company will furnish still
worse article of gas than the miserable stuff
now supplied, and go on making as much
money as ever. while the public will be the
losers instead OF gamers by Congressional in
terposition- What Congress ought to do in the
premises Is to pass as stringent a law as can be
framed prohibiting the gas company fro
using naphtha, or any other substance than a
drst-class article of coal, in the manufacture of
gas, thus compelling il to supply purer and
better article than its present dsgraceful out
put. Then, when that is secured, require the
price tc be reduced so as to pay fair interest
on the actual-not watered-stock-of the COM
pany, and there will be no need of chartering
q new concern, nomnally to compete with the
present monopoly, but really to be bought off
by or consolidated with the existing CORPORA
ton, as may be most to its profit. This is the
simplest and surest solution Of the whole prob
lem. Congress has full power to make these
requirements whenever 1t wants to, and it
owes IL alike to the people of Washington and
To the general government, which is also a
large consumer of gas, to take action to these
ends without delay. Talk about new COM
panies Is all very well, for buncombe but a
brlef law of a single section requiring the
present company to furnish better and cheaper
gas viii be In the nature OF business.
No one will find fault with the District Com