The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-10-06
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, SEPT. %, 1SS6.-(Special
Correspondent "A refreshing GOODNESS
in the air; increased activity about the
hotels and on the streets; the reappea-
rance of familiar but long absent faces in
churches and in theatres are indications
that the season at Saratoga, the White
Sulphur, and Newport is over, and that
the season at Washington is about to
begin.
When the Capital of the United States
was village, and the government a
loose jointed federation, the season at
Washington was synchronous with
the Congressional session. But not the
United States has risen to the place of
primacy among nations, not as military
power, but in population and in wealth.
The capital has grown to be great and
beautiful city. and each year the res
gestae and res dictae at Washington,
whether social or political. grows in i'm
portance and are read with increased in
terest by and increased population, the
most intelligent IN the world. What will
the combined increment, population,
wealth intelligence be in another humid
red years? The thought is staggering,
like the fathomless and the infinite. One
hundred years ago we were an amorph-
GUS string of weak sea coast colonies
roughly estimated at 100000. Now we
have 10000, 900 with wealth and resources
incalculable, great empire whose east
ern and western boundaries are oceans
Is it too much to predict that in another
hundred years our northern and south
ern boundaries win be the Arctic Ocean
and the DeLesseps canal? or shall we
cay Terra del Fuego for the southern
boundary, with an electric railway run
ming from Hudson bay to Cape Horn.
This prospect does not seem more ex-
travagant than the retrospect for the last
hundred years is wonderful.
There is to be centennial, constitu-
tional, and presidential celebration in
Washington in a few years and the es-
adjustment Of permanent exposition
of the products and resources of the var
ious states and territories. Other cities.
of course, are contending for the honor,
and insisting that their corporation limits
shall be the locus of the National Ex-
position. But it is not intended to have
any more Philadelphia provlncialism in
Jour National celebration. The Capital of
the United States is Washington. French
national celebrations are not held at
Cherbourg, nor British national exposi.
tons at Birmingham We have no rea.
son to be ashamed of the national capt.
al, for, aside from its being the cleanest
and most beautiful city in the world, it
Is especially adapted for pageantry, and
entertainment. More people have sisters
cousins, aunts, and otner relatives in
Washington than in any other city ofthe
union. They are here in the public SER
vice from every state and territory. The
visitors to the EXPOSITION will be in d.
rect Communication with g relative or
friend who will entertain him or direct
him 10 place of entertainment. Half
the houses Of Washington are boarding
houses, and half Of the population have
been boarding house keepers. In short,
here Is a bureau Of information and a
city Of expansible boarding houses ready
70 hand. Washington to-day can and
does entertain larger transient popula-
ton than Philadelphia. There is much
more that is historic and worth seeing in
washington than in Philadelphia. Be-
Eides the building in which the continent.
al Congress- was held, and the Liberty
Bell, LIDO not remember ANYTHING that
patriotic visitor would care to see in
Philadelphia. Here are monuments and
colossal statues commemorative of the
''iiiustrions dead and of every epoch in
our eventful history Here are public
buildings, museums, the Corcoran art
gallery, the White House, and the Capt.
tol, the National Botanical gardens. and
the agricultural department, comprising
before dollar had been expended, such
an Exposition as no other city in this
hemisphere could produce, even at an
expense Of s2O,oOO,OOO. But perhaps the
stronerest claims Of Washington is the
fact that here, right in the midst Of the
city, in sight Of all these commemorative
and architectural monuments, and in
easy walking distance is a great un-
occupied plain Of three hundred acres
lOf the temporary or permanent build
angs o. the international Exposition.
Inns PLAIN - on the banks Of the Poto-
mac and no exposition in the history of
the world has had site 81 perfect and
% accessible.