Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-17


Nov.
As long as washington Is compelled to diver,
iroin the FUNDS for It's maintenance and develop
nlcnt as the capital OF the nation be
tween one and two million dollars paid
each year in interest and to sinking
iuno, and the heavy debt thus Indicated rests
upon IL, Draining It's resources the growth Of the
city VIII be delayed, and the nation retarded by
us inpecunious partner, will need to move slowly
IN the grand designs OF capital making. But with
tne iuu adoption by Congress OF the original and
true Idea OF its duty toward the District in re.
spect 10 the capitals financial concerns and In the
matter OF general legislation for its benefit and In
trustees protection OF all its interests, whether
INVADED oy persons or corporations, the city Will
flourish In far greater measure than during even
the last decade. Thus favored the Washington
OF not remote future will be still more dis
tnctively city of magnificent distances than at
present. Though limited only by the boun-
darfes OF the District, 1t will be compactly
knit together by a uniform system OF streets and
avenues, and by cable or electric railways,
which shall utilize additional bridges across inter-
gening waterways, such as Eastern Branch and
Rock Creek, and bring the most distant parts OF
the new capital in close proximity TO the business
center. OF, as an alternative TO the bridging OF
Rock Creek in the city, that stream may be d.
verted through tunnel to hide Its urban ugliness
ISOLATION
SURFACE IMPROVEMENT OF THE DEVELOPED CAPITAL.
The surface OF the city will retain AMI develop
present charms, and be freed from present de-
fects. Overhead-pOles will go, and overhead wires
VIII be buried A comprehensive sy stem OF under
ground condu:ts will accommodate all pipes which
need TO be conducted below the surface, and will
conf1ne not only telegraph and telephone wires
but also an adequate supply OF eectric-lght wires
for Washingtons broad streets to be brilliantly
~ nj MI ho of " w uOfn p
tirely content even with the better and cheaper
gas TO De secured for 1t by senator Spooner. The
underground lshlngton, like the surface city WIFI
be planned and constructed with wise forethougbt,
80 that continual and extensive excavation Of
the streets may be avoided. Warning will
be taken from the experience OF New York
city, In respect TO which Mayor Hewitt,
in a recent message, said: During the year
1887 80 miles Of gas mains were laid, %. IS
4.91 linea feet OF steam pipes laid, 190 feet OF
saltwater pipes laid, 1878 excavations made for
ZIG miles OF sewer built and many miles Of exca-
vatiOn5 made for repairs OF water pipes and
sewers, making sum total 50 appalling as to fur
nish no analogy except In the results OF vast
In this Washington Of the future the periodical
battle over appropriations for street Improvements
Will lose much OF It's customary desperation, for
Congress by liberal lump appropriations for the
benefit OF It's exclusive property, the city streets
needed for such improvements In the present city;
and the neglected sections will, In great meas
ure, cease from troubling, and the weary appor-
comparatively speaking, be at rest The city OF
asphalt payements will be the paradise OF
bieyclistS carriage users, and eQuestrians, and
to man that concrete pavements show TO beast,
Will replace the present mud-beSpattering aggre-
cations Of loose bricks. The STRENGTHENING sys-
Thousands OF additional trees will contribute to
the city's health and beauty. Attractive resi-
dences, with the same pleasing variety Of archi-
lecture that distinguishes those which now adOrn
Washington will ornament every eligible site in
the expanded capital. New public buildings will
delight the eye at every turn. They will not be
30 constructed as 10 display to all the world Pc
nuriOus builder with contempt for architectural
attractiveness and will not be planted upon the
reservations 70 clog the eitys lungs with brick
and TO torture the spirit Of poor LEsfant already
too much veXed Among them will be a District
prudent Difference to the deep-roOted but contra
dctory convictions Of the owners Of eligible sites,
the exact location OF these buildings will not be
here specified, but 1t may be stated that the local
post-ofice will not then be housed with the Post
ONCE Department Of the General Government, to
which 1t seems likely to be fastened In the near
future.
washingtons beauty as
THE CITY OF PARKS
will ripen to perfection. There will be the same
profusiOn OF small, multiform reservations sprin-
Killed. over the enlarged city at the intersection OF
streets and avenues, displaying all the adorn-
ments that nature and the gardeners and sculp-
tors art can supply. Larger parks win not be
wanting. In the southern part OF the city the
Mall, cleared OF railroad tracks, and enlarged by
the addition OF several hundred acres Of reclaimed
fats, Will make magnificent park, and furnish a
famous driveway by which the visitor, having
swiftly traversed historic Pennsylvania avenue
no Tr.sS IN 4 no A.
turn TO his starting point by way OF the Botanical
Gardens, Arrnory Lot, Smithsonian Grounds, Agri-
cultural Grounds, Monument Lot and White House
Grounds, winding through trees, flowers and we'll
kept turf, and passing buildings of great public
interest, historic monuments and statues. To the
other end OF the city Rock Creek Park will furnish
breathing place with its thousand acres OF sur
face, its beautiful, winding stream, and its wild
and diversified scenery.
In the future Washington the Potomac River
will be utilized to its full capacity for the benet
OF the trade health ana pleasure OF the city. The
present impeachment to easy access TO the river
railroad tracks illegally occupied by standing cars
will be sent TO Join the obstacles Of the pasta
pestiferous canal, criminal-infested Mail, and
high bluns which needed TO be pierced. The local
rapid transit system will bring the Potomac
within easy reach. The good harbOr TO be secured
when the nats are filled will meet the demands OF
arious marshes the quickened river will cut large
slices from the Districts death rate. The upper
Potomac, with It's narrow, rocky channel and
above the city the broadening stream, with the
landings and houses OF local boat clubs perched
pctureSquely upon the wooded banks will allure
In eyer-fncreasiny numbers the 0arsmen and their
friends, and on the lower Potomac the fifteen or
twenty excursion steamers Of the present will be
vastly multiplied to furnish fresh air cheaply In
the heat OF summer and 10 bring Joy to children
and the poor, and despair 10 the doctors
druggists, and undertakers. Public float
ing baths Will further contribute to the
cftys health Handsome and substantial bridges
perhaps memorial bridge connecting with
broad avenue leading to Mount vernon-will fur
nish communication with Virginia, and the Long
bridge, that shabby, Notwithstanding nuisance
Of the present. will be only disagreeable remnis-
cence.
District Will he bestowed upon District citizens In
faithful funlInent OF the promises OF party plat
forms The people OF the District will be no longer
stunted citizens OF the ntted States but will en-
their legislature, and voice in the selection Of
their executive, the President. The Governments
clerks viii not be veXed with deceptive examina-
tons for promotion. intended 10 discharge rather
than 10 promote, but with the victory or true civil
service reform and the abolition OF the apportion-
ment SYSTEM which distributes Ofiices, as bandits
plumber, among the states In proportion 10 their
strength, the efficient clerks Will be freed from
the haunting terror OF unreasonable dismissal
and Will become q desirable anu reasonably per.
manent element OF the ctty's house building and
voting population
LINES rP0S WHICH THE CITY WILL EXPAND
Washington will be the recognized and ONLY
meeting place OF the American people In conven-
ton assembled In 1897 II drew to itself gather
ings IKE the International Medical Congress the
National Drill Of the militia, and innumerable
other conventions, including the representatives
OF such varied activities as the shippers OF the
country, the woman su1ragists the laundrymen,