Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-30

II
Taylor and Chas. B. Maury; Semken. the jew
eler; Maxwell, fancy goods; NJ. W. Calf d Bro,
jewelers.; VIM. Marshall, auctioneer; Geo. Nor
beck, confectloner; Harper & Mitchell, dry
goods; Richard DAVIS, music store, and Geo. F.
Allen, dry goods. VIM: Marshalrs auction
Dr.. James c. Hall resided there, near the cor
ner Of 9Th street. in the same building he occu-
pied until he died, a few years ago. The firm
Of Harper d Mitchell was composed
Of Walter Harper and John T. Mitchell.
Mr.. William, who kept millinery establish
located on 18th street adjoining Farnham's
stationery store. Davis music store occupied
the site where McKnew's store is now. John
f. Ellis bought out his business, and about 1865
bought from Lewis johnson the site Of the
present Ellis music store. On the west side OF
10th street between the avenue and E street
]. S. Harvey had wood and coal place. Sub
sequently the firm became Harvey, Clark q
Given. On the opposite side Peter Force had
mis- residence in the building occupied until
recently by the Sunday Herald, and a little
further up the street, next to what is now the
gas Office, was the residence Of John Boyle, at
one time mayor of Washington.
Two-sToRY BUILDINGS.
As Mr.. Davis recalls the scene that was pre-
sented to one walking in the neighborhood Of
Lewis johnson 4 Co.'S bank in 1853 most all
the buildings were two-story bricks, although
there were occasional frames. The most prom
inent building in the vicinity was that occupied
by ]. c. Mcclure, at the corner of 10th and D
streets. which is still standing The building
occupied by Robt Farnham, stationer, at the
corner of 18th and Pennsylvania avenue, was a
two-story brick and did not as Mr.. Davis
recalls it, extend all the way to the
rear Of the lot. The stores occupied by
Clement Woodward and his neighbors in the
center of that square were in frame buildings
When the present buildings on the same site
were erected some years afterward they were
regarded as among the handsomest in the
business section of the city.
In course of time the old building occupied
by Lewis johnson & Co.'S bank disappeared
before the march of improvements and was re-
placed by a structure of modern character. Mr..
Davis identification with Pennsylvania avenue
dates further back than the establishment OF
the banking firm Of which he is 4 member. He
was in fact born on that avenue, in a house
owned by his grandfather. Lewis johnson,
between 18th and 18th streets, occupying the
site where the store of H. ID. Barr and Moore
Il Leding are now. This was a handsome
house in its day, but it was crowded out Of ex-
istence by stores.
Business changes making q removal neces-
sary the old firm OF Lewis johnson d Co.
will go into handsome new quarters on street.
The long and honorable career Of the firm has
given it a name and position in the business
community which would attract patrons where
over IL WcHt Uut Ill CuOCeluk new lOCduOu
the firm has selected spot where it will be in
the midst OF the business activities of the city.
GREAT SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. Davis has been most intelligent advo-
cate Of District interests, but lie is so unas-
Stunning and averse to personal notoriety that
the value and extent Of his services in this
direction have never been fully understood. II
is known, however, to the editor Of The STAR
that to Lewis j. Davis is due the credit of sue
cessfully initiating the movement to induce
Congress to come to the relief of the debt-bur-
dened people of the District and to shoulder
half the expenses of the District government.
In the year 1877, Mr.. Davis being then COM
missioner of the sinking fund and the District
finances being in very unsatisfactory condi-
ton owing the large accumulation of debt oc-
casioned by the expenditure of the then District
government for improvements. &C., and the
meager appropriation by Congress in aid Of the
District. he thought it best to approach Congress
by a petition in which all our citizens could
unite asking Congress to assume its proper
proper tionate share of the burden of existing
debt and future expenditure. This memorial
which was a very able presentation Of
the case, he first submitted to Gov
Dennison, then chairman of the board of the
District Of Columbia Commissioners, which
met with his approval, and Mr.. Davis
then consulted hi. friends Crosby s: Noyes,
NJ. W. Beverage, W. G. Metzerott, John A.
Baker, Rob't G. Fox, John T. Given and Others
These gentlemen entered very heartily into the
project. The petition was put in print and
was very numerously signed. preliminary
meeting was next held at the office of Messrs
Fitch 4 Fox. at which there was an attendance
of number of public spirited citizens who
earnestly embarked III the movement and
nominated a committee of one hundred from
which various subcommittee were appointed
to prepare q statement of the existing relations
between the general government and the Dis
trict, including statistics of debt, education,
public health, police. &c., and general history
of the donation to the government by the
with a vast amount Of land given for public
uses, showing that the United States owned
in the District about "a per cent of its area for
which it paid no taxes. These committees
able and exhaustive reports. which
were duly presented to Congress.
Meantime o general meeting was held at
Wizards Hotel, at which Mr.. George w. Riggs
our late eminent fellow citizen, was elected
who during the whole progress of
the movement aided by his counsel and his own
personal efforts to bring to success the attempt
to procure from Congress favorable legislation.
The members Of the various committees were
actuated by great earnestness and by a realiza-
ton OF the condition Of local affairs, which de-
immediate relief, and the effort being
30 general and the justice Of the cause so fully
and etfectuaily set forth Congress was con-
vinced OF the justice of the legislation proposed
and passed the law under which all subsequent
have been made, making the
extent that taxes are collected from the tax
payers OF the District.