Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-10-05
ATRIp TO WASHINGTON.
What There is to be Seen at the Capt.
tai Of the United states.
WAuKEsHA, Wis, Sept. "a, 1880.

What There is to be seen at the Capt.
tai Of the United states.
WAUKEsHA, Wis, Sept. "a, 1889.
ED. TIMEs:-The day after the Encamp
ment at Milwaukee l left for Washington
with my brother. We left Waukesha at IL
o'clock A. M and reached Washington at 4
P. M. the next day. l would like to say
something about the character of the country
we passed through on our trip, but with the
train flying along at the rate Of forty miles
an hour it is next to impossible to get more
than glimpse of what we were passing. |
could see, though, that the crops, the farms
and the houses were not in as thrifty con
dilon as expected to see them for such old
States as Indiana and Ohio, and were not to
be compared with what saw in Kansas and
Nebraska. But the poorest region l ever
had the misfortune 10 look upon was thai
between Baltimore and Washington, in the
State of Maryland. Not only were the
crops miserably poor. but the houses, out
buildings and fences had such forsaken,
shiftless, dilapidated appearance, that l
could hardly believe that we were passing
through one of the oldest States in the
Union. think that in all the distance be-
tween Reno and Chicago did not pass a
wilder or more unattractive stretch OF count
ry. l was told that this region was the
worst part Of the State, and l hope for the
sake of Maryland that it is true. But once
in Washington and the picture is changed.
What magnificent, beautiful city it is! ]
can easily believe now that it is the Queen
City Of America, and probably of the world.
The first Thing that person notices is the
wide and we'll paved streets and avenues,
nearly all Of them being paved with asphalt,
making them nearly as smooth AID hard as
marble floor. And then, the shade trees!
There is not street IN the city that is not
lined with beautiful trees, the more common
ones being maple, bass and tulip. Besides
that there are such large number OF parks.
Every few blocks you come to one OF them;
"squares" and 'circles" most of them are
called, and all are filled with the prettiest
kind of flower beds and tropical plants. l
noticed, too, that almost every one OF them
had its statute. The two largest and pref
test parks are the Franklin and Lafayette,
both Of them called "squares." They are
both about the same size, covering about
two ordinary blocks. Lafayette Square is
just north Of the White House, and about in
its center stands the equestrian statue of
Jackson. Both horse and man are made of
the brass guns and mortars captured by
General Jackson in the war. The horse is
in rearing position, standing on his hind
feet, and it is claimed that the position OF
the horse and his rider is the only one of the
kind in the world. 1t is certainly wonderful
how the horse keeps his position as his feet
do not seem to be fastened or have any sup.
port whatever. Then, again, Washington
has so many beautiful public buildings.
which add greatly 10 the beauty OF the city.
All these things put together explain how 1t
is that Washington is such pretty place.
1t has population am told OF about 200,
900, but fully one third of this number are
negroes. The negroes in Washington are a
sight to see. They take the place of John
Chinaman in San Francisco, only the darkey
has many more rights than John. You can
60 nowhere without seeing some of them,
and they are all engaged in some kind OF
work. saw but few skilled laborers among
them. the majority being engaged as day
laborers on the streets. 1t is a common
thing to see whole gang of ''niggers" at
work repairing street.car tracks. grading
new streets or laying sewer pipes, etc.
believe l saw but one colored man who was
a blacksmith, and one l saw who kept a
second hand book store. OF course there is
a good supply Of BARRIERS, boot blacks and
walters, as in other cities; then, good
many have positions as janitors or door
keepers in the departments. Twas told, too,
that colored man was appointed chief Of a
bureau in the Treasury Department, with
white clerks, Of course, under him. don't
mind seeing them at work on the streets or
in hotels as walters, but do think there are
many deserving old white veterans of the
war who ought to have some OF those soft
places that many negro who never smell
powder now holds.
But have not yet told you anything about
the ''sights" of Washington, and what | saw
OF interest in the different departments.
Before do so, however, l want to make
clear :he location Of the public buildings.
Before l came to Washington was under
the impression that all the departments were
in the Capitol building, and if any of the
TIMES readers have had the same idea de.
sire to say such is not the case. The Capt.
tol is building by itself. About FIVE blocks
west Of i; is the Treasury building. and a
little further on, on 18th street, are the War
and Navy departments, while between them
and the Treasury is the White House. fully
sixteen blocks west Of the Capitol. The P.
o. Department is on 9TH street, and oppo site
is the Paten, Office, while ON 4th street is
that large, barn-like building, called the
Pension office. The Smithsonian Institute
and National Museum are in one building,
but away off on the south side of the city.
l will speak Of the things of interest to be
found in each Of these departments in my
next letter, and now only want to point out
how much travelling a person has to do in
Washington to see all these public institu
tons. Any one. after visiting them, will
agree that Washington is sthe city of mag
nihcent distances"
HERMAN SHIRLEY.