National Republican., 1888-02-09
To the citizens OF Washington,

To the citizens of Washington.
The citizens Of Washington should unite
IN the advocacy Of broad policy for pub
lie improvements. OF course no mere
Jobs In the interest Of spectators should
be indorsed. Nor should there be any en-
couragement given to plans which violate
private rights without just compensation.
But the mere fact that needed improve
ment will benefit private parties and in
crease the value of personal investments
should not arouse antagonism from Others
Every improvement enures more to the
benefit OF some individuals than II does to
that of others, but when anything pro-
posed is clearly for the good OF the com
munity, all good citizens should advocate
It, even If 1t does specially help indi.
viduals.
Washington is beautiful aud growing
city. Its future is assured. Its prosperity
rests upon no uncertain contingencies, but
upon the fact that 1t is the political capital
of the nation, and is rapidly becoming its
social and literary center. The wealth aud
culture of the nation is recognizing this
condition and is gravitating to the city.
With these facts clearly impressed upon
the minds Of the people, there should be
unity OF desire and action 10 favor of all
proposed improvement that would tend to
build up the city and draw It's beautiful
suburbs into the line of improvement aud
the march Of prcgress.
Our broad avenues should be extended In
every direction, taking the place OF the mar
row, unsightly, and crooked country road
ways. The magnificent plan under which the
original limits Of the city were laid out
should not be marred by butting up on addI-
tons laid out on different plans for lndivid-
ual benefit, but the whole of the surrounding
grounds should be made part of one har-
moniOus whole.
Street railways, extending into the coun-
try and giving facilities for reaching the
business cepters OF the city, should be en-
couraged and plans for them supported, of
course protecting certain driveway3 from
eucroachment. The persons who ride in
street cars largely outnumber those WHO
ride In carriages, and ours is a government
founded upon the axiom "of the greatest
good to the greatest number" 60 that the
methods OF transportation for the poor and
those Of moderGte means should be con
sidered, even at the Inconvenience Of the
carriage riders.
What the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN insists
upon is the consideration Of all questions
affecting Washington from the broad stand.
point Of the general welfare. Every i'm
provement proposed that looks to the In
crease Of the facilities for adding to the
population and providing properly for the
comfort aud convenience, not only of the
added population, but of the present In
habitants.
1t should be remembered In this connec-
tton that none Of the money spent by tne
authorities in improvements is carried away
from the city. 1t goes to our own people,
and is by them spent or invested here.
Let all the citizens unite upon the ideas
suggested In this article, and Washington
will soon be not only the pride OF the na-
tion, but the most magnificent city Of the
world.
To accomplish this our citizens should
approach the consideration Of every project
OF Improvement that may he presented to
Congress with a spirit of fairness. II our
legislators do not always agree with us
they ought not 10 be charged with i'm
proper motives. II the owners of realty
in the suburbs cxpend large sums
of money to beautlfy and make
them attractive enough to invlte
ard promote the erection Of beautiful
homes, certainly such men must be classed
as ehterprlsing and sagacious citizens
worthy Of commentator. Wherever puS.
lie improvements will tend to increase the
value Of such inve stments of capital, which
alike increases cur taxable wealth, by the
construction Of proper avenues and bri lges,
1t is unwise and unfair to denounce such
Improvements as ''private jobs"
The proposed bridge recommended by the
District commissioners on Wooiley lane
would vastly improve the grade Of that
street, save long distances Of travel to
loaded teams, accommodate large section
OF country, aud would be beautiful struc-
ture, giving employment in its erection to
many workmen both In skilled and common
labor. We say let them have the bridge
and as many more as Congress will join
with the people In constructing. All give
employment TO labor and add TO the wealth
Of the District OF Columbia.