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

One Hundred, a voluntary ASSOCIATION OF proni-
nent citizens, whose representations to Congress
gave the city its new government in 1879 say in
their memorial to that body: '~rhe msrshes which
skirt the entire front OF our city the growth Of
years Of neglect of the commercial and sanitary
interests Of the Aations capital The remedy Is TO
be found only in Q Judicious plan OF harbor i'm
provements BY which the health and commerce. OF
the city win be alike promoted. Congress has
lavshed millions on the rivers and harbors OF the
country, in localities, too whose claims to ma
tional consideration are Insignificant as compared
has been done tor the harbor Of its capital OF fof
the navigation OF great river which has capacity
TO noat IT'S navy and TO sustain vast marine
commerce. The improvement suggested by
500 acres nave been partially reclaimed
has Been 1 eve
as e ssx
tine Just with the unjust. There should be no
dilly dallyfng or halfway measures In the recla-
nation OF the Potomac bottoms. The land that
Withstand a rise In the water, and there is con-
slant danger that hoods, freshets. and ice-gorges
may destroy ali that has been accomplished.
There has been, Of course, an improvement In the
city's health with the filing of marshy MATS COW
cred with coarse grasses, which, besmeared with
els, and exposed at IOw-tide to the neat Of the
sun, gave 70 each wind the seeds OF disease and
death. But rank vegetation ON the half-re-
the health Of the capital Congress should make
prompt and adequate provision TOR the vigorous
prosecution OF the work: The proposed imp. owe.
health, but 1t will acd TO the Government reserva-
tons, fully reiInburIng the expense OF reclama-
ton eyeral hundred acres OF valuable land, which
can be converted into an attractive park.
The heathfulness Of Washington 10 q subject
that has been much discussed, and the city from
As a. sa Ssy snss s ss me
chosen 1t was charged and denied that the climate
was destructive to Northern constitutions Mr..
the District, says that the prevailing opinion thar
Washington is unhealthy Is based On prejudice.
Mr. J. Eliot Qs3O), In the work TO which reference
general health Of this District have Seen Gss
pated by the monthly publication OF meteorolog-
ical observations and the nterments In the public
But even the figures OF the board OF health do not
seem TO have panished the prejudice entirely,
since Dickens, in 1872, pronounced the city to be
tanned by many up to recent time The site
would not seem, however, to have been originally
who was captured In 1921 BY the Indians living
here says: 'Tnls place, without all question, IS
the most pleasant and nealthful place In all this
country, and most convenient for habitation; the
air temperate In summer and not violent in win
ter The charge OF unnealthfulness was doubt
less FIRST made by those who wished the seat OF
Government to be located elsewhere Than upon the
Potomac II any reliance can be placed upon sta
tistics, the citys average health has been excel
lent, and tn death-rate OF the white population
Is now reduced to about the minimum reached In
large cities In spite OF the suggested drawbacks;
and such OF these as now remain may De readily
removed. Malarial diseases which have prevailed
10 considerable extent will, IL Is thought, be
almost entirely prevented by the reclamation OF
the fats In the absence OF IT'S disease breeding
anc o n WIN waI as y, % With a6nnd
nensive system Of supply now approaching COM
pieuon, with ITS broad, airy streets and its thou
odors OF manufacturing city, It should be one OF
me heaithiest as 1t Is one Of the handsomest
cities In the world.
TIE REIGN OF THE RAILROADS
An urgent grievance Of the present, which grows
more unbearable year after year with the attempts
at growth OF the sections Of the city specially
ured Is that which arises from the conduct OF the
railroads entering Washington. Their illegal oc-
cupation OF streets and Reservations, and the
damage and Disagreement which they unneces-
sarfy inhict, are known to every reader OF TIE
STAB, however recent the date Of his subscription
and little additional comment Is necessary. These
evils have been exposed In vain for years to the
Congress OF the United States The Senate Dis
trfct committee has recently decided to ignore
them altogether. It Is not at all concerned to dis
cover that with surface tracks, in part Illegal the
Baltimore and OHIO Railroad dlstgures, OBJ
structs and endangers one whole section
tomac road another. 1t reads with Indifference
the long list Of persons killed Or wounded at the
single piece OF illegal track known a. the Balti-
more and Ohio" 1t hears only with amuse-
ment that, In the long strip OF land over which
the Baltimore and Potomac road is permitted by
grace OF Congress to rule with absolute power, the
people of South Washington ind for most Of the
time An impossible obstruction to travel and
traffic, and, II entrance may be secured, q dan.
fRav II frv~
that In no city OF the world, except In that one
whose interests are in part connded TO its vigi-
liant protection. would the present condition OF
Affairs be endured for day. Yet the regulation
Of the railroads u matter to be postponei ndef-
nitely! Almost simultaneously with this an.
nouncement 10 the railroads OF an unlimited
license to sponge upon public prop
erty and to vex and in1ure the
people Of the city, comes the novel and start
Of the Districts rights In the Senate that Wash
1ngtOnians, like the occupants Of forts or arsenals
70 which the Government has title, reside in the
city and hold thelr property by sufferance, and
may be evicted at any time at the pleasure or the
Government: combination Of these two propo-
sitons develops me pleasing doctrine that the
in part and sold In part to the Government the
portion OF the District which II owns may be
the ground which was expressly retained. and
which has been improved as private properly:
While great CORPORATIONS 10 htch Government
property has been gratuitOusly loaned, and which,
without permission, have appropriated other pub,
lie property, and use all TO the injury OF the city
and IT'S people, may not be evicted pr disturbed
The property owners are Oklahoma trespassers;
the law-breaktng railroads are not. Undoubtedly
both branches OF the doctrine are unsound In point
OF law, but waving all questions OF legality the
Two announcements might naturally suggest to
Congress the elective scheme, beautiful In its
simplicity, OF QuietinG Complaints against the
railroads, and settling the whole complicated
problem, by evicting the restless and dissatisfied
citizens, and turning over their property to the
When, II that contingency may be imagined. the
sincere Efforts OF alleged Champions OF the public
against corporations stall no longer be confined to
a ileld OF exercise In localities where the dear
people TO be tenderly guarded have the right To
vote, and when the legislature Of the District shall
pay more regard 10 The Interests Entrusted to its
guardianship than to the wishes OF wealthy poll
tician-maktng corporations, Q wise and statesman.
like plan Of regulating the steam railroads OF the
city will be devised and enforced, which shall clear
away surface tracks, check tine Illegal acts of
these squatters upon Government property free
the public reservations, and relieve two sections
OF the city from burden which thrOttIes ike the
Old man OF the sea upon the shoulders OF Sindbad
Ia connection with the broad plan OF remedying
adjacent stations at the nearest point to the bus
ness center OF the city that can be reached by
tunnellng or with small injury TO public and pri-
vate interests comprehensive system OF local
rapid transit by electric or cab railways Will be
provided, which shall give all parts OF the
District quick and easy access to such station or
stations II is evident that In the improved street
railways OF the future horses must give way to
more rapid and lass Questionable MOTORS, that
grooyed rails must take the place OF the present
abomlnationA and that the franchises to these
pHaSc essn
from them through Just taxation of their tangible
property. The obstacle viii be met here as in
ton arsates nnl3"ns sos az .nEs uscsimina-