Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-10-29
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WASHINGTON LETTER,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. %, s


To THE SOUTH KENTUcKIAN:
1t will be remembered that early
in the spring the President bought
tract of land just outside of the
District and proceeded at once 10 re,
model the old stone house that stood
upon il, so as to make the same habi-
table for himself. The road leading
from the city to the new purchase
was very good one, but very dusty
in summer and little rough in win
ter. When the improvements con-
templated by the District Commits
sioners, however, are completed, the
drive to the new home will be one OF
the most beautiful in the world. II
is the purpose to extend Massachu-
sets Avenue the distance of mile
and half in a straight line, which
will bring it within 400 yards of the
southern boundary of the Presidents
property, and to pave 1t with asphalt
TO conform with the other portion OF
the avenue. This avenue now runs
from one side TO the other of the CITY
in straight line in northwesternly
direction, and is 160 feet wide
throughout its length. On it, and
especially along the western portion,
are some of the palatial residences oil
Washington, including Senator Cam.
eron's and ex-Secretary Blaine's, and
many others owned by public men Of
the same note. In making the ex-
tension it becomes necessary to span
the romantic Rock Greek with an
arch at an elevation of 95 feet. A
few years ago syndicate purchased
II very large tract of land lying along
the course of the improvements, will
the expectation that the avenue would
be extended. The story that the
President and Secretary Whitney are
members of the syndicate, and thai
the improvements have been project
ed with the view of making easier
access to their purchases and enhanc
ing the value of the same has not al
iota Of truth in it. The improve
ments were planned long before eth
er the President or Secretary had an!
idea of buying suburban homes
Secretary Whitney purchased hi
land because of the beauty of til,
scenery about it, and his desire t,
have cool and quiet home to whicl
he could retire after the fatigue o
his days labors during the warn
summer months. The Presiden
made his purchase with the same oh
ject in view, and because his agen
found that he could purchase thu
land adjoining the Secretary's to bet
ter advantage than any other land
near there. The improvement would
have been made whether these dis
tinguised personages had bought the
land or not, and is only part of the
scheme to extend other streets in the
city for which Congress has already
made an appropriation.
Last session Congress made a lib
eral appropriation to demonstrate by
practical tests whether raw silk can
be produced in this country. To car.
ny out the will of Congress the Agri-
cultural Department has had put up
In one of its anneXes machine de-
signed to do the work. The silk
thread is unreeled from the cocoons,
which float in six basins in the ma
chine, aud is carried by series OF
drums and wheels to the reels. The
tension of the thread and degree of
fineness is regulated automatically
by an ingenious device operated by
electricity. If the experiments prove
successful it is expected that a num-
Der of the machines will be put 10
work, and the manufacture of raw
silk will be added to our many other
industries.
A cordially welcomed visitort to the
city and at the War Department the
past week was Bugler MARITIME, the
sole survivor, with the exception of
one Indian scout, of the Custer mass
acre. He wss by the side of Custer
when the latter spied the camp of the
hostile Sioux, and Custer without
leaving the spot tore a leaf from his
diary and wrote upon it his order for
Major Reno to hurry up with his
command, and gave it TO MARITIME TO
deliver. That order saved the life of
MARITIME, for when he got back to the
scene there was not another member
of the command of 266 men alive.
MARITIME is here to secure a messen-
gership in the War Department, as
he is tired of soldiers border life,
and says that he has had his share of
soldiers hardships. General Sher-
idan is espousing the survivors, cause,
and he will doubtless hereafter be
comfortably lodged in the palatial
building of the War Department in
stead of exposed 10 the seventies of
winter in the western wilds. Ii.