The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-11-06
WASHINGTON, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
CITY IN THE UNION, GROWING
MORE BEAUTIFUL.
A Breezy Letter Touching What is
Current in the Nations
Capitol.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. %, 1890.

mon, "there is no new thing under the
sum-" do not apply to this beautiful
city of magnificent distances, for old
residents constantly mark both change
and growth. Compared with itself in
the beginning of the sixties, it is a
new city, with its miles upon miles o.
broad avenues lined with shade trees
of handsomest variety, its beautiful
parks filled with choicest floral speci
mems and inpumerable palatial resi-
dences in every conceivable style o.
architecture. 1t is this variety in
design which forms one of the attract
i've features and catches the eye al
every turn. Individual taste in exte-
rior as we'll as interior decoration, as
serts itself here in marked degree.
A residence unique and striking il
now being erected on the site of the
Tracy mansion, where less than veal
ago such tragedy occurred as filled
the whole nation with horror and
touched chord of sympathy for the
smitten ones in every heart that lis
tened to the tale of anguish. Capt
A. G. Tyler, who has recently pur-
chased the property, has had the rem.
nants of the burnt mansion entirely
removed, and the new dwelling, with a
frontage of 46 feet and depth of 81
feet, will be in old colonial style, yet
containing all the comforts and con-
veniences that modern thought can
suggest. Only few blocks away is a
house in Venetian style, the property
of Mr.. A. G. Barney. Here the finish
OF the interior will lie in oak, with
staircase of stone columns, and
oak beams in Venetian gothic
design. Another turn brings one to
the home of Gen. Anderson, which
is the fac smile of feudal castle.
So in sauntering along from one
point to another the sight seer will
constantly discover new specimens
of architectural genius. "All the
world comes to Washington" and
the foreign verdict is that it is one OF
the most beautiful cities in the world.
1t will not be very long before that
old landmark known as the National
Observatory will be abandoned for the
new building being erected by the
government, situate on a ridge north
of West Washington, and command
superb view of all the outlying
country for miles in every direction.
Electric Gals run within a stones
throw of the grounds, which contain
about 81 acres, and Massachusetts,
avenue extended will furnish grand
roadway.
The influx of wealthy men from
our own and foreign lands, who with
telescope vision have looked into the
future of the city and seen It's advan-
tages and grand possibilities, has
given an impetus to real estate trans
actions heretofore unknown, and now
prices are fabulous, in some parts 500
per foot being paid for inside ground
while corner lots yield higher sums.
One transaction worthy of mention
was the sale Of the old Chase mansion
corner Sixth and E streets, for $4,000
and before three hours it was re-
purchased by syndicate for $4,000
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
Our city is teeming with distin-
guished visitors from over the water,
over 600 members of the British Iron
and Steel Institute, and the Verein
De fischer Eisenhnettenlente having
paused in their tour of inspection
through the country to view the CAPT.
tal and its surroundings.
Sir James Kitson, baronet, presi-
dent of the British Institute, is &C
companied by his two daughters, and
Sir John Alleyne, one of the vice-pres-
idents, has his wife and daughter with
him. Mr.. George James Snelns is an,
other vi e-president whose name is
widely known, having been awarded
the Bessemer gold medal for being
"the first to make pure steel from i'm
pure iron in a Bessemer converter
lined with basic materials" Mr..
Frederick Siemens is brilliant light
in the metallurgical world. Associated
for time with his brother, DR.. Wer-
ner Siemens, whose telegraph works
at Berlin we're then newly established,
he afterwards went to England to push
the invention to successful point
and while there experimental consid
erably in steel furnaces. His discov
cries revolutionized the manufacture
OF steel and gas, aud several of the
best gas burners known to science are
his inventions. Three thousand five
hundred employees in seven factorie,
are on his pay rolls. What colossal
brain to manage such a number!
This visit of the distinguished
scientists to our country is in response
to an invitation from the American
Institute of Civil Mining and Mechan
icsl Engineers, who attended tn,
worlds fair, and were so royalty treated
in their travels, and judging from th,
expressions of satisfaction heard on al
| sides orr Epplisb onJ Gorp,o,, f.;o,> 4