Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-12-31
AT WASHINGTON.
Places of Interest Il and About the
National Capital.
Changes-The Fine Paving General Grant
and Fast Driving-The C1ty's
Interesting Environs
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. %. 1891.


WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. %, 1891.
There has been great change, in som,
respects, and improvement in some di
rections in the Capitol City since we Wis
tied it some twenty years ago. 1t is now
more compactly built, and the "waste
places" better occupied-the streets ex
tended. Then it was dubbed "the city OF
magnificent distances" because of the
fact of the great distance separating the
public buildings, with comparatively
few other important buildings and i'm
proyements intervening. There is no de-
nying the fact, think, that the great
distance between the location of the va
riOus buildings, wherein government
business is conducted, operates against
the transaction of affairs, inasmuch as it
is inconvenient to both the department
and to the general public. Mr. Wana-
maker advocates, il his recent report, a
plan for grouping the government build
ings, and suggests that the south side of
Pennsylvania Avenue might be taken for
the new buildings of the future. This
plan, doubtless, if carried out, would be
the means of restoring Pennsylvania av-
enue to the position of the principal street
of the city, a prestige which it has of
late been losing, and assist to make
Washington, what it is rapidly becom-
| M fin c,,l
America.
One of the first things that attracts the
attention of the stranger, is the fine as
phalt paving with which nearly every
avenue and street in the entire city is
laid. 1t makes smooth and solid road
way, is kept clean by huge revolving
sweepers, propelled by horse power, and
is, therefore, splendid track on which
to drive-horses even faster than Nelly
This reminds me of little incident told
us in connection with General Grant, by
a young gentleman sitting opposite us at
table, who is clerk in the executive
mansion. He said when General Grant
was President it was his custom to fire.
quently drive out unattended, and on
these occasions he would sometimes
drive, Jehu-like, at more rapid speed |
than the ordinance allowed. On one of |
these occasions police officer, who did |
not know Grant, arrested him for fast |
driving. General Grant said, "An right,
officer, hop in, and will drive you to the
station" There is nothing, in my judg-
ment of the same cost, that adds more
to the beauty, general style and get up of
a town, and to the comfort and pleasure
of its people, than nicely paved streets,
either with asphalt or with brick. l have
long desired to see or have such pave
ment in st. Clairsville. Now, as it has
taken on city style enough to go into the
project of having an electric light plant,
would it not be well to go step farther
ana have the streets paved, and thereby
do away with the mud, dust and narrow,
crossings.
Visitors to Washington, of course nev-
er fail to visit some at least, of the many
places of interest i'll the city. The Capt.
tol, White House, National Museum, ,Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing, State,
War and Navy Departments, Art Gal
lery, Patent Office, &c, &c But there
were no places visited by us in the city,
in which 1 took more interest, and that
gave greater satisfaction and pleasure,
than going about the enyirons of Wash
ington. The immediate vicinity presents
a number of places of interest. The re- ;
gion along the northern boundary pre-
sents many objects of interest in nature
and art. The country, particularly in a ,
direction, is exceedingly !
The spurs of the outlying
foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains
infringe upon the very confines of the :
Capitol. A drive of three or four miles
through region beautifully diversified
by hills and dales, copse and meadow,
brings you to "Oak View, Grover Cleve-
and's former summer residence. He
'old it for $4,000.
On almost every commanding eleva- B
ion may be seen some trace of the cor C
lon of forts which formed the defenses $
If Washington during the war of the re- I
,ellion. We extended our trip i'll this di-
ection several miles farther-out to C
within short distance of '
Hen Echo, the site of the Chautauqua
Assembly grounds, inauguratedlasts sum-
ner. Out to the Soldiers Home, is an
,ther pleasant drive-a fashionable one, b
# about four miles in northerly direc-
on the route near the How v
Ird University, for the education of \
'outh irrespective of color or sex. Also S
,assing Glenwood Cemetery-90 acres, 1
beautifully laid out, with many fine mon
lments. The Soldiers Home is for reg
liars or volunteers who served in the
dexican war, and privates in the Regular 7
Army. 1t was founded by an appropri- :!
tion of the pillage money levied by Gen. D
'cott on the City of Mexico. On the j,
comprising 500 acres, may be !
cen near the buildings, the statue of
ieneral Scott. Near the Home is the
National Military Cemetery, containing
,424 graves, and the granite Memorial :,
Jhapel, containing the remains of Gener y
i John A. Logan. The sarcophagus, n
When we viewed it, was tastefully deco :
ated with tributes of fresh cut flowers :
We passed by the residence of Mrs. John :
\. Logan on our way out.
Still another delightful trip, and one
njoyed very mnch, was over the Iron
Bridge in Georgetown, at the Aqueduet, n
aking the military road up the hill and e
following the army telegraph line to t
Fort Meyers, on the Heights, turning to
he left, and passing through the fort, Q
the road leading to the rear