Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-07
THE Los ANGELES HERALD THURSDAY MORNING NAY 4 l89

on the public buildings to live in. Even
as late AS 1904, when Tom Moore, the
noet visited Washington-the public
offices and congress had come hither
in 1sOO-strangers inquired where the city
was while they were in the very midst of
il. Pennsylvania avenue was full of
stumps and bushes and browsing cows
Ouails 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.
tol, in an effort to turn the big building
around, as it were, to face the real city.
That is what real estate craze will 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 speculators, 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 a 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 20,0O0 Even in 1850, at the
outbreak of the civil war, the population
was only 10000, and except for the mag
nifcence of some of the public buildings it
was still a scattering, muddy, woebegone
sort of capital.
Compare the commencement of this eff
fort to create a 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 floor and almost as
clean. Then n new era dawned. People
began to build fine houses. Citizens of the
states came hery for pleasure, and many of
them to remain as permanent dwellers.
Public aud 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 filed
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
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 OPP
portunity for display to best advantage.
Uncle Sam has already expended in build
ings here a 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 overrun. 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
OIL le<tTulUS Ou DllC COAblnCAU HuOUuGT
reaches to the former home of ex-President
Cleveland and the site of the great Method
ist university. A third carries passengers
to Glen Echo, where vast Chautauquan
amphitheater, seating 1000 people, is being
erected Government is building on Cap
itol 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 aris-
tocratic northwestern section, it is con-
structing national park which will in
time be without superior
1t needs no prophetic eye to see in the
capital of hundred years hence not only
the seat of empire but city of 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.