The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-09-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Old Horse Cars at Last Sup
planted by Cable Trains.
1ncidents Connected with Changing the
Anticipated Lines Into Modern, Well
Equipped Plants-Cabling Around
the Capitol-The Had boy.
Especial Washington Letter


the Capitol-The Had hoy.
Especial Washington letter.
People who complain live in our
neighborhood and also in your ncighbor-
hood. Why they complain and why
nothing suits them | cannot imagine
nor can you tell. We simply know that
they are here, there and everywhere.
Pennsylvania avenue, the most beau
tiful street in the world, for its width,
grade. pavement and approaches, either
from the capital or white house, the
handsomest parade ground for militia
~ and civil displays, is all torn up and
decorated with . systematized mass Of
debris. Numerous citizens have entered
complaint, verbally and by letter, some
OF them declaring that they will bring
suit for damages against the district
government for permitting the streets
70 be in such condition.
Congress passed Law requiring the
street car lines between the navy yard
and Georgetown to dispense with the
services Of their horses by January L,
1892, and to substitute either cable or
electric power. The avenue line is en-
gagged in putting down q cable track,
and that is what has developed our pco-
pie with the torpid livers, who com.
plain Of the condition Of the street.
They see before themoa thousand work
men, each of them earning S1.25 per
day, but they are not gratified with the
prosperity Of a city which can afford to
employ SO much labor in one enterprise.
They do not understand that those la
borers are earning money which will
give food to nearly five thousand people
every morning, noon and night. They
see nothing Of the contentment In the
faces OF the wives, mothers and chill
dren Of those laborers while the hus-
band and father has something to do.
They have little, If any, appreciation Of
the improvement Of the city which is
going on. They live in the present,
from day to day, and have no care for
the future OF the city, nor for the we'll
being Of posterity. They are relics Of
the days Of Boss Shepherd, when every
old fossil in Washington declared that
Shepherd would ruin them with his ex-
pensive improvements; but he made
them all rich.
It has been many years since this city
has witnessed such q transformation,
such change Of dress, such brighten
ing up. Business is always brisk where
there is work to do by working people.
Three weeks ago the picks and spades
of the worl1men were commencing to
tickle the streets Of Georgetown, re-
moving the stone pavements and dig
cling up the earth. Within a week Rock
creek was spanned by the cable people,
and then several gangs of workmen
were employed at intervals Of three
squares. They worked night and day,
and have already covered nearly two
miles Of their line. completing their
work a. they have gone along. The
tracks are completed clear down past
the white house, treasury, department
OF justice, and the state, war and navy
department buildings. They are now
at work between the treasury and the
capitol, along the business part of the
avenue, and here it is that the most ag-
grieved compliments reside and do
business. They have discovered that
trenches cannot be made, tracks laid,
concrete filled in and traffic continued
at the same time, without more or less
noise and considerable dust and dirt
With temporary tracks laid alongside
the curbstones, the horses trudge along
close to the doors Of the houses, tram
PIE sand and gravel into powder, and
the fine dust penetrates every crevice.
It would not be complained of any
where else than In this city; for this
place is an exception to all other aggre-
CATIONS Of people, in that we never have
either dust or mud to trouble us. Con-
sequently, when improvements are
made which bring those Objectionable
things, which are of the earth, earthly,
It is SO disagreeablc. because unusual,
that it is unwelcome. Nevertheless, the
work goes right on, and rapidly, too.
It is interesting at night to stand at
the Peace monument, at the foot OF
Capitol hill and look up the avenue. to-