The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-17

| CdplUOl, d lew scattering NOIelS anu
boarding houses and a motley array
of huts for the 1900 mechanics at work
On the public buildings to live in. Even
| as late as 1904, when Tom Moore, the
| poet, visited Washington-the public
Offices and congress had come hither
| in 1S00-strangers inquired where the city
| was while they were in the very midst OF
\ it. Pennsylvania avenue was full of
| stumps and bushes and browsing COWS.
| Quails and other birds were shot within
100 yards of the Capitol while congress was
in session. Moore's sarcastic verse, aimed
, at the young Washington, was printed and
| laughed at the world over
Yet the people who lived here then were
| crazy on real estate Some of them have
not yet recovered. Thornton, one Of the
commissioners, predicted in fifty years a
city Of 10000 people. Speculation was
rampant. Every one thought Capitol hill
was to be the choice part of the city, and
many lots there were sold at higher prices
than they have ever brought since. The
Capitol was faced toward the tract of level
ground at the top of this hill, but the
spectators put the prices of lots SO high
that the town grew faster in the other di-
rection, and within the past five years con-
gress has spent a million dollars putting a
new terrace on the west front Of the Capt.
toll, in an effort to turn the big building
around, as it were, to face the real city.
That is what real estate craze viii do
when it gets started. 1t IS even said that
Washington came to be called ''The City
of Magnificent Distances" because SO many
real estate spectators, who expected to
grow rich buying lots, appealed to the au-
thorities to place the public buildings far
apart in order that great part of the city
might be brought within the influence of
government Improvements.
Few Of these real estate speculations
turned out luckily. The government made
money. Nearly every one else went bank
rupt. Even the government had hard
times for while. 1t set up lotteries to
raise funds with which to complete the
public buildings. 1t had to borrow money
OF the state of Maryland in order to get the
Capitol ready for congress. For time the
new city grew very slowly. 1t was so
wretched and inaccessible that few people
came here unless under necessity. The
only way of getting into the town was by
stage coach, and the roads were execrable.
George Washington frequently occupied
week in journeying from Georgetown to
Philadelphia, distance which we now
travel in three hours. When the govern
ment came down here in 1900 there was a
population Of only 5000. Ten years later
there was about the same number. In
1920 the population had grown to 1900.
and by 1880 to 10000 Even in 1860, at the
outbreak of the civil war, the population
was only $1,000, and except for the mag
Of of . a ;1yl:
was still a scattering, muddy, woebegone
sort of capital.
Compare the commencement of this eff
fort to create capital with the outcome
Washington the Wretched has given way
to Washington the Magnificent. The first
great step was when Alexander Shepherd
lifted the streets out of the mud and COW
cred them over with hundreds of miles of
asphalt as smooth as a floor and almost as
clean. Their a new era dawned. People
began to build fine houses. Citizens of the
states came here for pleasure, and many of
them to remain as permanent dwellers.
Public and private architecture sought a
higher level. Even now, more rapidly than
ever before, the old fashioned houses, the
ancient gable roofs and unsightly walls are
giving way TO modern structures
To-day Washington has practically filled
the great amphitheater which immortal
George saw from the back of his mare
while riding along the Virginia hills. For
the most part it is composed of modern
dwellings, rich and tasty. Throughout
one large section, the aristocratic north
west, street after street and avenue after
avenue may be seen, all skirted by small
palaces, with here and there greater ones
conspicuous. The streets all run at right
angles, but the avenues, extending across
the city in all directions, intersect at MANY
points in squares and circles, and at every
one of these intersecting points stands a
statue or monument. Washington not
only has some of the finest examples of mod
ern architecture, but throughout the CITY
the wide streets and open spaces give OBJ
portunity for display to best advantage.
Uncle Sam has already expended in build
ings here hundred million dollars, and
in the next century he will spend another
hundred millions.
Not only is the amphitheater full, but
the surrounding hills are ovcrrun. On
their brow stand innumerable chateaux
and villas, with here and there modern
palace. Electric railways run for miles in
two or three directions, piercing delightful !
regions dotted with villas and elegant sub |
urban homes. One of these RAILWAYS ex-
tends TO the new Catholic university, which |
is designed TO be the greatest institution /
Of learning on the continent. Another /
reaches 10 the former home of ex-President |
Cleveland and the site Of the great Method !
list university. y third carries passengers |
to Glen Echo, where vast Chautauquau /
amphitheater, seating 1000 people, is being |
erected. Government is building on Cap /
tol Hill the most magnificent library in /
the world
1t has already the greatest museum, saw |
ing one. in Christendom. In the beautiful |
valley of Rock creek, adjacent to the arts |
,ocratic northwestern section, it is CON
a national park which viii in !
time be without n superior.
1t needs no prophetic eye to see in the |
capital Of hundred years hence not only |
the seat of empire but city of a million |
souls, stately, magnificent, the home of a |
population noted for wealth and culture. a !
center of education, religion, science. liter |
ature and art. ROBERT GRAVES.
English Hospital Statistics.
Taking the quantity of medicine used |
It st. Bartholomew hospital, London,
Is fair criterion Of the medicine used |
lar Dafipnt the nr1aptities of medicine