Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-25

ionable residence street Of the CITY, and the v0or
OF his assaults justies the suspicion that he was
sent on some wlld-goose chase, ami found the mud
OF that street particularly disagreeable. "Massa-
chusetts avenue runs the whole length OF the city
and Is inserted on the maps as q fUii-blown street
about four miles In length. Go there and you win
s nd yourself III, not only out Of town away among
1eids in an uncultivated, UNFRAMED wilderness
Tucking your trousers up to your Knees you win
among socEs VIII BE- out o tie
during Congress and very empty during
stood that those streets which are blessed with
houses are full when Congress meets. do not
s that makes much
himself in the position of being sent across the
country knee-deep in mud. wading through snipe
fsta" he adds, in respect to the city: "Desirous
design IS grand The thing done, however. falls 50
appointment is felt And fear that there rel is no
lookout into the future which can Justify the
hope that the design will be fulnlled
at 0e0n Ryen II 1 Ma,.T up wSsn
congress is sitting, Washington is melancholy;
spos ON s%G surely 30 the
simultaneously with Mr.. TrolIope one can reply
only feebly TO his structures. Unpretudiced de-
condition OF Washing ION at that time. George
Alfred Townsend, in magazine article, says:
when the rebellion began the following was the
for any great consecutive distance; there was not
a street car in the city; the Capitol was
MED with 0V Woskmsn No @ spss
worthy OF the name was to be seen and q mere
constabulary comprised the police, which had to
the latter fired upon mob and killed and wounded
large number OF people. The water supply was
BY and spring. Gas had
was was hghted except Pennsylvania avenue and the
hs Gu 81 r fhs BY an
mall and park was patrOled by outlaws and out
casts with only bridge here and there for outlet.
pierced by two streets, and scarcely attanabe for
mtre and distractions. Georgetown commun1-
Gated with the Capitol by an omnibus line. and
bered as such except in the sensitive traditions Of
the Oldest residents. In short the city
was relatively in emoryo as much as when Moore,
Weld, JansOn and Basil Hall described IL early in
the century"
wAsHINGToNs LEAP INTO PROSPERITY.
But Mr. Tronope's disgust at the Washington Of
the present was equalled only by his hopelessness
In respect to Its future; and rs a prophet ne
proves complete failure. From the time when
the capital was camp and hospital, its streets
filled with soldiers and resembling with martial
music, its churches saddened by the moan Of
wounded and dying, its development as a city has
been continuous The greater part OF this magical
transformation has been wrought within the last
eighteen years. In place OF a struggling country
village, with zig-zag grades, no sewerage, unim-
proved reservations, second-rate dwellings, streets
of mud and mire, and wretched sidewalks, the
modern washington has arisen a political.
scientific and literary center, with a population
trebied since 1860; city sustained, improved and
adorned by an annual expenditure OF more than
four million dollars; with surface remodelled; with
elaborate Of pyvprQ ND
water mains; with about $50 miles CT improved
streets, nearly one-haf Of which are paved with
concrete; with convenient transportation by 80
miles or street-railway; with numerous churches
and schools, as well as Government buildings, OF
shaded for a distance OF $50 miles by more than
10000 trees, destined TO m axe Washington a
forest city; with attractive suburban drives with
beauty by shrubbery and rich FOLIAGE statuary,
founl aims and flowers, and with costly private
dwellings, r1valling palaces in size and spendor OF
interior adornment springfng up IN rapid
succession where TrOlope sank knee-deep in mud.
This wonderful change for the better, effected by
certain wise and energetic agents OF the General
Government whom the District delights to honor,
Is the result, in part, of reversal OF the condi-
lions which hampered the city's growth. Con-
gress no longer hostile or Indifferent concerning
the pecuniary needs OF the District, has spent
large SUMS not only upon public buildings, but
also in the improvement OF the city, at frst spas
medically, since 1873 Systematically. The people
OF the District, encouraged by the general aban-
donment OF the idea OF q removal OF the seat of
Government. have also made extensive OUTLAWS.
But the main public expense Of the work OF recre-
ating the city Is represented by present debt OF
more than S2OOOO,O0O, nearly all OF which has
been incurred by officials placed over the affairs Of
the District by the General Government in carry
ing out those magnificent Intentions concerning
the capital which, by the original plan, the nation
and not the District was TO execute. II, by any
reasoning, the citizens Of Washington can be held
legally or morally responsible for this debt, il must
fhQ iTatl nf hof hay haav,s fp,,
led into expenditures which do not properly belong
to them" T. W. MOVES.