Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-06-20
WARRINGTON LETTER.
From Oar Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June ., 1889.

WASHINGTON, June :, 1889.
The ruin of the Hat improvements on the
river front was fortunately overestinated.
IL il doubtful, indeed. whether the work
has been injured Mt all. The pr"pert dam
age done in and about the city by the Hood
is almost limited to the embankments of
the Cl,esapeake X Ohio canal. which are
completely wrecked in many places. The
canal will lie abandoned, as the repairs
would cost several million dollars more
than the company is worth. The old bed
will probably share the late Of the Pennsyl-
vania canalway. which was filed in and
utilized for "A railway. The Baltimore a
Ohio railway will make an attempt to OBJ
tain possession.
The canal has chiefly been used for the
past twenty years in the shipment of coal,
aud it's abandonment is a great blow tn the
business interests Of the sleepy old city Of
Georgetown. The canal was one Of the
oldest In this country. When Washington
WAS president he conceived the scheme VI n
canal following the general direction that
was afterwar,l adopted, and it became
hobby with him. Public interest WAS not
easily excited in favor Vi the project, how
ever, and il was not until John Adams was
president that the first ground was broken.
President Adams went out to Georgetown
through the villainous road VI those days,
with u brass band aud II crowd Of several
thousand people and IL spade. With all
the people locking ON and the band severely
lacrrating the air, Mr.. Adams tried to stick
the spade in the earth. II struck ~ root.
but the presidents blood being up, he flung
aside his coat and struck again and again
until he had successfully landed in IA wheel
barrow n pile of earth. Thereupon the
people cl-ered wildly and the president
went home and wrote the whole story. in
Guiding ~ synopsis of his speech, in hr
diary. The people of Washington wore
sorely disappointed that the canal did not
60 through the city, aud it was predicted
that Washington would forever remain a
puny village, while t'e"rgetown would go Oh
to greater aud greater glories, time without
end. Alexandria was also "A proud com
,ncrcial city at that time. To-day thecom-
n,erce of both towns is IL neagcr farce and
,nlv crazy yh,sts of great store bo,,,e.
stand. gaunt and deserted, along the river
front. i,r old crane, Il, uoiur out and be
v,;l ,be nas,
Tn, local s,,bsc,i,,ious the .Johns,own
sufferers iund pour ia from all CLASSES of
people. Politicians and merchants vie
with .,.b ,,hs, 1, ,;v;,y Amid all this
! graceful and yra,.SnI .x;,lcrce of human
sxmpstbv there are. however. instances oi
net, = m,nun,.. nn.l niyyo rdliu.ss thu, ar,
.urnr;.;ny SAW suh.,riu,iou list YES
terlav th,, had been through the pension
burrau. Their. were two endowment. to.
,c,ber that wore in s,rikipp contrast. the
farmer being for "A contribution of - cents
and tn. latter Sor 81. bappeu to know
both. The man who subscribed 20 cents
has le.u ton ve,,s n, the p,bIic crib. draws
x, soo :, wear SALARY for work that would
disgrace a school boy. and has "A pension of
$50 per month. lie is accredited. curiou,
to record. to the state of Pennsylvania.
The woman who raye 81 4. a bright. cheer
ful little widow who is struggling along on
sGO per month with two children to sup.
NOR, ,,s , cr;,,I,. saw nm ,b. same lis,
dozens ,f o5-ceut subs,rip,iop, from men
wboss salary sbould make TN. sum TIM,
merest ,,;t,, +, them. The most mis.rIy
cI,s. .f ne,nl. I know ore mean cavern.
m.nt clerks. When "A government emplove
begins To he oy,r.ecouomical. he become-
:. tI., ..;,,.;