The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-05
Especial washington Correspondenccl

topCSldl " aSulllRIOH correspondence
Sleepy old Washington is DEVELOPING
into thriving city of metropolitan
proportions. During all the years be-
tore the civil war the national capita1
was slow-going and slow-growino
village; and, indeed, no innate strength
was discovered until several wears after
the great internecine struggle. The
soldier president, Grant, determined to
make city here, and delegated almost
plenary power to Alexander r. Shep-
herd, the chairman of the board of
public works. Under his aggressive
management streets were opened, ave-
nues paved, public reservations beauti-
fed, old landmarks destroyed, bridges
built, and culverts arched and covered
with concreted pavements. The parks
were cleared of private business houses.
market houses were torn down and cart
ed away before the eyes of the SQUAT
ters who had preempted them, waste
places were reclaimed, trees planted,
and everything done for the compile
ton of the plans of the original foun-
ders of the city. No man was ever
more hated than Alex Shepherd, for the
unenterprising people considered him
a monster, a tyrant, ear, who rode
roughshod over all opposition. Appeals
to the president were diSregarded.
Gen. Grant was firm and inexorable;
his agent as implacable as fate. Tax
es upon individual property were
assessed to pay the cost of improve
ments, and the sleepy old property own
ers believed themselves to have been
bankrupted. But within few wears
the value of real estate was visiblv en-
HANGED. Capital came here to remain.
Beautiful private residences were erect
ed by wealthy men who saw and fore
saw the glories of the city which had
ut last commenced to assume national
proportions. Four years ago, the very
people who had execrated Alexander
Shepherd welcomed him to Washington
with glad acclaim as their best friend,
the author and finisher of their wealth
and permanent prosperity.
The street car lines have been the
last to acknowledge the march of i'm
provement. They have chung to the
dear old horses, and maintained their
bobtail cars as long as possible. But
during the Fifty-first congress a law
was passed requiring the substitution
Of cable or electric motors on all lines
between Washington and Georgetown.
A cable is now running on Seventh
street. An electric line is in operation
between lexington, the home of Kate
Chase, and the treasury department.
Another electric line extends from the
Potomac out over Georgetown heights,
distance of six miles. And now, the
principal line, on Pennsylvania avenue
from the west end of Georgetown to
the navy yard, and its branch out Four.
teenth past the residence of Mrs Gen.
Logan clear out to the soldiers home
road, is being prepared for a cable.
Right in the business center of the
fashionable part of the city, the north
west section, there is a force of work.
men engaged in the destruction of an
historic landmark. An entire block of
buildings has been taken down and the
ground is being broken for the erection
of the power house of this street rail
way system. For many years Wash
Majors stables occupied the principal
corner of the block on Fourteenth and
Pennsylvania avenue.
On the afternoon of the 18th of April,
1865, one of the handsomest and most
popular men in Washington walked
into that old stable and engaged the
fastest and strongest animal under the
roof. He wanted it for twenty-four
hours, and paid fifty dollars cash, with