Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-18
g EVERYBODY READS THE STAR. r
In FORMER YEARS.
Some Early Opinions as to the Future
OF the City Of Washington.

To the Editor Of TEE EvxxING SrAR:
In a work entitled James Smithson and His
Bequest," by William J. Rhees, chief clerk OF
the Smithsonian Institution. reference is made
to the following notices of the city of Wash
hgton," from works in the library of the foun-
der Of the Smithsonian Institution: lone Of the
books in Smithson's library" saws Mr.. Rhees,
is struggles through life. exemplfed in the
various travels and adventures in Europe, Asia.
Africa and America by Lieut.. John Harriott, -
London. 1908. Lieut.. Harriott writes: Re
speeding this intended city Washington,
Question much whether there ever will be a
sufficient number Of houses built to entitle it to
the name of great city. Reckoning up all the
houses could see or hear of as belonging to
the new city of Washington. they did not
amount to eighty. Having been and examined
everything. and gained all the information
could concerning this so much talked of city,
Sat down between the Presidents house and the
capitol and entered the following in my minute
book as my opinion. viz: should the public
buildings be completed and enterprising indi-
yiduals risk considerably in building houses;
should the union of the states continue undis-
turbed; should Congress assemble for a num-
Der OF years until the national bank and other
public offices necessarily draw the moneyed in
terests to 1t, the city of Washington, in the
course Of a century. NAV form focus of attrac-
TO make beautiful commercial city deserving
the name of It's founder; but apprehend so
many hazards as to be most unwilling to ven
ture any part of my property in the undertake
ing"
ANOTHER DESCRIPTION.
Isaac Weld published his Travels through
North America in 1907, and his remarks as to
the early condition of affairs are not without
interest Here is description of the city as
h. 3 49, ~ l.
built situated III one place. all together. they
would make very respectable appearance;
but scattered about as they are a spectator can
scarcely perceive anything like town. Ex-
cepting the streets and avenues and small
part OF the ground adjoining the public build
ings. the whole place Is covered with trees To
be under the necessity of going through deep
wood, for one or two miles perhaps. in order to
See next-door neighbor. and in the same city
Is curious and. / believe. a novel circum-
stance. The number of inhabitants is 5000
The people who are opposed to the building of
the city of Washington maintain that it can
never become a town of any importance and
that all such think to the contrary have
been led astray by the representations of few
enthusiastic persons. They insist that if the
removal of the seat of government from Phila-
delphia should take place. a separation of the
states viii inevitably follow" Mr.. Weld is
hopeful. however. as to the future. He re-
marks: Considering the vastness of the terri
Tory, which Is opened to tine federal city by
means OF water communication. considering
that it is capable from the fertility of its soil of
maintaining three times the number of inhabi-
tants that are to be found at present in all the
United States. and that it is advancing at the
present time more rapidly in population than
any other part of the whole continent there is
good foundation for thinking that the federal
city as soon as navigation il perfected, will in
crease most rapidly, and that at a future dav
II the affairs of the United States go on as
prosperously they have DONE ii will become
the grand emporium of the west. and rival in
magnitude and splendor the cities of the whole
world II F. NJ