The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-31
A VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
Recollections of Half Century Revived
Shaking the Hand Of the President
Newberry at the Capitol.
Written for The Herald and NHws.


Written for The Herald and NHws.
On the 9th; day of May, at p. m.
left the city Of Newberry and on the
night of the next day, at II o'clock p.
M, arrived safely in the city Of Wash
ington. This, the national capital pos
sesses attractions superior to any city on
the American continent. The Capitol
is justly the pride of the country. The
streets and avenues are broad and finely
paved, and there are here more mag
nificent scenery and surroundings
than any other capital city in the
world. The public buildings are large
and fine, in word they are nlagnlfi-
cent. The view is enchanting and
the visitor is lost in wonder. was told
that Washington had 100000 shade
trees, giving refreshing and forest-like
appearance, which is greatly enchanc-
ed by the fine monuments and statuary
and beautiful parks"
The wide streets are all graded and
paved with asphalt, which becomes as
hard as rock. Tracks for street cars
are run through the center Of the streets
over which cars pass every minute and
a half. Those cars will carry about
sixty passengers and cars are all open
on the sides. Besides this there a great
many busses, carriages OF all kinds and
descriptions, also some buggies with
tops the driver sitting in the rear. For
the small sum Of twenty five cents any
person can ride all over the city to the
extent of thirty miles, and enjoy view
of most of the prominent places OF
national and historical interest which
adorn the city. You can see children,
young ladies and young gentlemen on
roller skates and tricyles flying through
the streets like swarms of bees. Wash
ington has an almost infinite number
of hotels, boarding houses, restaurants
and lodging rooms sufficient to accom-
modate as many of the sixty millions
of the inhabitants Oft this great Republic
as may choose to visit the city.
Washington contains more talent,
more profound statesmen than any
! other city in America. The writer was
in Washington in 1888 when the great
debate between Webster, Calhoun and
Clay on the tariff, took place. 1t looked
at that time as if there would he war,
but Clay introduced his compromise
measure and the matter was settled.
What changes have taken place in the
fifty five Years since that date. The
population is said to be about 100000
white and $4,000 negroes.
The capitol is simply an immense
| building, suppose the finest in the
world. Work is still being done on
the front of the building, making it
look yet finer. In the center of the build
ing is a high rotunda, from which you
have splendid view Of the city. The
capitol is situated on the highest ground
in the city. In the capitol, on the
same floor with the Senate and House
of Representatives, there are two tre-
mendously large rooms perfectly round.
One of these rooms contains statues OF
great men of national reputation, all
Standing on marble pedestals and
about twenty in number, representing
Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Hamil-
ton, King, Winthrop, Garfield and
others. These statues are placed here
at the expense of the states they repre-
sented. l found none in the room from
South Carolina. The cost is about
SIC, 1000 each. Our State should make
provision to he represented here.
State pride should cause some of her
great men to be represented here, such
as Calhoun, Hayne, McDuf6e and many
others. In the other room is the like
ness of Washington as he appeared
when inaugurated as first President OF
the United States, also many other
great men.
The Washington monument is about
one mile from the capitol, is the highest
monument in the world, being 555 feet
high. The monument erected at Genoa
to the memory of Christopher Colum-
bus is the next highest, being $50 feet.
The White House, the Presidents
Louise, occupies the next highest point
in the city.
I had the pleasure Of attending one
of the Presidents receptions before leav-
ing the city. There was an immense
crowd passing and shaking his hand.
When I gave him my hand I said to
him From South Carolina, Solid vote
for President Cleveland" He straight
ened up and smiled.
The Senate contains about seventy
FIVE members and South Carolina
should be proud Of her Hampton and
J Butler. Both are very popular in the
Senate and WELD considerable influence
for their State.
The parties occupy different sides OF
their respective chambers. The Demo
Gratis being on one side and the Repub'
licans on the other. Usually there is
great harmony among the Senators
and there are some clever and great
| Republicans as.well as Democrats, III
the Senate.
There are about 325 members in the
House of Representatives, and here
South Carolina should be proud of hel
Cothran, Perry, Hemphill, Dibble
Dargan, Elliott and Tillman, and they
should be reelected without opposition
because it takes a man some time tC
learn the rules and to acquire any great
influence in Congress. Here like in the
Senate each party occupies differen1
side of the house.
On Saturday before leaving Wash
ington heard an able speech, on the
tariff, in favor Of the Mills bill, deliver
ed by speaker Carlisle. He spoke with
out notes, and has good strong voice
While he was speaking my mine
reverted to the time in 1888 when
heard Webster, Calhoun and Clay, ant
I came to the conclusion that I wa:
listening to as great a man as [ die
tifty-five years ago or greater.
l cannot close my sketch of Wash
ington without making some mention
of the intelligent and popular young
clerks from Newberry here in thu
treasury department. The Treasury
building is of huge dimensions, having
some three or four hundred rooms, ant
from five to ten clerks in each room
Fred Werber, James F. Kilgore ant
Williams Welch are in this department
and are very popular with secretary
Fairchild, and Assistant Treasure
Thompson from South Carolina.
visited Mr.. Werber at his home, ant
enjoyed his hospitality. James F Kill
gore has trimmed his beard and nov
looks like one of the elite of the city. ,
also visited Col. James n. Lipscomb
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