Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-01
WASHINGTON LETTER,
"A. H. Bell Sends the Tribune an In
teresting Letter from the Ma
tional Capital.
He Gives all Account of a Visit to
the Historical Old City of
Alexandria.
Senator Pierce Favorably Mentioned
A Presidential Boom for Gen.
eral Nelson A. Miles.

WASHINGTON, July &c. Especially II
have just returned from a city situated
on the opposite side of the Potomac
river and about seven miles from the seat
CT government. The city of Alexandria
is one of the Oldest municipalities in the
state of Virginia, and is full of historical
interest. It was organized July Is, 1749,
and in 1878 was incorporated as a town.
One of the first places of interest met
with was the old Braddock house, on the
corner of Fairfax and Cameron streets.
It was in this building that Admiral
Keppel of the British navy and General
Braddock planned the campaign against
the French and Indians on the Cumber-
land river in 1855.
! One of our party, feeling somewhat
fatigued, entered the hotel and asked for
something to refresh the inner man, but
was informed by the proprietor that
there was no bar in the Braddock house.
The guide next conveyed our party to
the Marshall house, where the gallant
Colonel Ellsworth of the famous fire
zouaves was killed in 1861. We then
visited old Christ church, which was
erected in 1888 of bricks brought from
England. Before entering the sacred
precincts of this ancient edifice the SUI
p~erintendent informed us that it was
customary for visitors to make a de-
post of not less than 10 cents each. Not
wishing to antagonize so worthy a GUS
tom we made our deposit, and with heads
uncovered and hearts full of reverence
were once occupied by the continental
heroes, are the chief object of interest to
visitors. There are three seats in "Wash-
ington's Pew" two facing each other and
the third against the wall; the latter was
occupied by Washington himself. Across
the aisle, directly opposite Washington's
pew, is the old Lee pew, formerly
occupied by Gen. R.. E. Lee
prior to 1862. The Masonic temple was
our next objective point and proved to
be one of the most interesting places in
the ancient city and possesses al historic
value unequaled by any other similar ed
ifce in the United States. The lodge
was presided over by George Washing
ton who was elected worshipful master
April %, 1888. He was succeeded by DR..
Elisha Cullen Dick, an eminent physi-
clan. The corner stone of this temple
had the honor of being selected as a
standard of measurement for marking
the northeast corner stone of the United
States capitol. On our return to the
steamboat landing we found that the
new and elegant steamer Manchester
had arrived from Washington city o n her
washington is beautifully situated upon
looking the Potomac-which at this
point is nearly two miles wide-about
seventeen miles below the capitol. It is
and always will be the mecca of the thou
sands of visitors to Washington--indeed,
d f16lu ~ UlAo S4oJ 40 AhSoA4HASOo oAo
a pilgrimage to Mount Vernon.
The extremely warm weather has a
strong tendency to deaden congressional
activity. The members of the house are
languidly waiting on the senate, and the
probability is that it will be some weeks
before that body will have disposed of
all the appropriation bills.
Senator Pierce of North Dakota de-
serves both credit and commentator for
his persistent and ~tireless efforts to Sc
cure an Indian training school for North
Dakota. He made IN argument before
the senate committee on Indian affairs
which was potent by reason of its dig
nifty of expression and earnestness Of de-
livery. The entire committee listened to
the argument and after two days deliber-
alton agreed to report favorably upon
the proposition to appropriate $4,000 for
a site and $25,00 for a building which
will be located at the discretion of the
secretary Of the interior. Such appro-
priations are usually made upon the en-
dorsement of the commissioner of Indian
affairs and the recommendation of the
secretary of the interior to congress, but
Senator Pierce achieved the Legislative
triumph without a particle of depart
mental aid. Present Indications are that
the secretary of the interior will locate
this school at Mandan, although it is
well known that parties interested in the
welfare and progress of Bismarck have
made representations to the secretary in
behlaf Of the capital of the state.
San Antonio, Tex, is enjoying the dis
tinctlon Of being the incubator of a
presidential boom. A prominent army
officer says that a tremendous effort is to
be made to nominate Gen. Nelson A.
Miles as the republican candidate for
president. General Miles, who is de-
partment commander of the Pacific, is
unquestionably one Of the most brilliant
soldiers that ever entered the United
States army. During the last two years
of the war he was division commander
OF the Second corps, and particularly
distinguished himself in the battles Of
Charlottesville, Spottsylvania, Ream's
Station and the Wilderness. In subse-
quent years renown came to him from
his invariable success as an Indian.
fighter. In July, 1879, General Miles
left Fort Keogh, Mont, with 700 men.
and IN less than two months cleared the
country to the British line of all hostile
Indians, captuted 1000 half breeds and
broke up the illicit traffic in
~ ~ ,1r;};n ord ,ubioby Hio parfiou-