Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-18
The National Capital.
IT SHOULD BIZ MADE WORTHY THE sArIc


From the Bennington WermontD Banner.
senator Morrill, on the ID ultimo delivered very
able speech before the senate In behalf OF restor-
ing 70 the people those parts OF the public parks
OF Washington which have been granted, with
limitations, TO the Pennsylvania Railroad, and
also those that the road has taken without leave
or license. No member OF Congress In either house
though the Oldest man In that body, IN trying 10
make Washington what all the people OF the coun-
try want IL 10 be, the handSomest capital IN the
world. But all such members have uphill work.
What with greedy railroad aud other corpora
lions on the outside and unthinklng, or worse de-
signing colleagues inside, the congressional beau
timer OF Washington has hard work 20 get his ideas
accepted by his fellow members OF either house.
To save few dollars In the expense OF site, con-
gress erects a hide0us brick building for Pension
Office on one Of the largest and nnest public
squares OF the capital To allow one railroad 70
successfully compete MIN rva II permits ~ n
passenger station on IL, and use the adjacent
streets for sidetracking It's extra cars All this.
too directly In front OF the Capitol and IN plain
sight OF It's western terraces and windows The
rival road at the northern end OF the edifce and
it's magnificent grounds, Is still, allowed 70 main
tain It's station-house and TO occupy street after
street with its cars and locomotives
Against such use OF the streets and parks Of
Washington senator NORTH and Others who would
keep numerous reservations Of that city for
use OF the public, as reservations have protested
In season and out OF seassn Sometimes they are
successful sometimes not The great beauty OF
Washington consists as has often been observed,
in It's wide avenues and streets and lis numerous
public parks some OF them squares some circles
and some triangles and some Of them VITA no reg
ularity Of shape. Its public buildings also. for
the most part, very nne; the Capitol, though not
beyond criticism Is said 20 be the statehest build
ing In the world. That there should De any who
are unwilling TO keep the reservations OF WASH
ington from intrusion either by railroads
or by placing on them public buildings whether
unsightly or otherwise, seems very strange. Yet
senator Morrill, and all those who think Ike him
that the capital OF our country should oe made
and kept beautiful city, are constantly impeded
in their esthetlc labors The senator evidently
understands why this is So apart from any selnsh
Interests that work against him. II is In the In
TO comprehend at the outset the nature
or any great art scheme, like the
beautifying OF a town or city and 70 labor
steadily for its accomplishment He says
Connected foreign cities with compassionate superb
coniings OF making the almighty dollar the gauge Of
every mans eminence Of having no interest IN any
which does not add 20 the bulk VI material pros
perity aud of being wholly destitute OF the instincts
which respond TO letters 70 the arts and ~ tie love Of
beauty"
This charge he would faln consider as he says.
.tgross and unsubstantial," yet In his heart he
knows that Il Is the most serious obstacle 70 his
success In beautIfying Washington. Were all his
fellow members possessed OF his love OF the beau
tful his appreciation Of the fne arts and his In
stinctive response TO letters, no railroad corpOr
ations however greedy or powerful, would shrek
the whistles OF their locomotives into the doors
and windows OF the CAPITOL