Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-19

Col A. 4. Brittou on Her Past Growth and
Present Needa.


Col 4 4. Brittou on Her Past Growth and
Present Needs.
From Kaas Fields Washington.
"Halloo, Col. A T. Britton! Can you leave
your many duties and talk about wAshingtonf
You are Moths oldest inhabitant by any means,
but you are one of the most enterprising; and,
having been here ever since the war, are able
to compare the former capital with the new"
Compare? There's no comparison. II IL
the difference between An unkempt slattern
and beautiful woman arrayed in her best
gown"
Every likely. Washington must have been .
poor specimen of an ovcrgrown country village
in 1861. What was the population"
"0nly 60 600, and it was governed by no less
than three different corporations. Washington
city had its mayor, board Of aldermen and
common council; SO also had Georgetown; and
all OF the District outside the corporate limits
OF those two cities was governed by the levy
court whose initials can still be seen upon some
stone posts along the country roads. At that
time Washington had lost the charming SIM
pliclty and rustic features of a village without
having assumed the attractions and improve
ments OF city. 1t had grown somewhat, but
Its trousers were up to its knees and its coat
sleeves were ont at the elbows. By the grace
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad it was fed
and clothed by Baltimore; and in. all its moral,
social and intellectual development it was many
years behind the development of the nation it
should have represented"
THE war of secession, take it, necessarily
revolutionized this state of affairs?''
Yes The immense governmental expendi-
lures here, the necessary incidents flowing from
the continued presence of great armies in this
immediate locality. the influx of intelligence
patriotism and courageous strength from the
best thought of the north. infused new blood
and nerve force into the dormant organization
which had simply existed here. The ice rapidly
broke up before the incoming tide. Every
train of army wagons thai fairly ground the
unpaved streets out of the semblance of creative
form opened the way for the beau tiful carriage
drives that have succeeded them. Everybody
OF strong. young life that settled here necessi-
tated the growth OF municipal improvements,
of homes, of school houses, of everything that
goes to make up the moral. social and intel
iectuai Development Of the capital city Of great
nation"
WAS not the proper expression Of this de-
velopment restrained and hindered for q time
by the non-progressive elements Of the old
moss-grown Washington life?'
"Unquestionably. 1t required Baron Hauss-
man to break those letters, and Alexander r.
Shepherd became the man for the occasion.
Whatever may have then been said of the rude
energy with which he broke through all the
mere forms OF restraining law and moved with
forceful disregard OF individual rights to the
promotion OF the general and ultimate good Of
the community, it would be difficult to find the
old citizen of Washington who will not now
pay glad tribute to the power and intelligence
with which he built up this city of mud. dust
and shanties to be among the most beautiful
cities in the world. Many OF his most bitter
enemies of those days would now gladly con-
tribute to do him honor. 1t is meet that it
should be so. To few men comes the oppor-
tunlty OF saving and recreating the capital city
OF republic of 60,000.000 OF people. Fewer
men would have had the courage and power to
seize upon and improve the opportunity
glad You appreciate long-abused man
SO thoroughly. OF course it has since taken
great power, wise thought and liberal legisla-
tlon to build up the moral, social and intellec-
tual features of the city whose physical aspects
were so boldly reformed by Shepherd. What
do you think of its present government
lin my opinion ashington stands TODAY as
the best governed municipality i'll this couu-
try. Or course much remains to be done.
Progress Is a necessary incident to the life Of
the world The tree that has ceased to grow,
dies. The government. whether national or
municipal, that does not advance, retrogrades.
ward"
What are the present necessities Of our city,
in your judgment?'
1T would be large contract to point out
the necessities OF quarter of a million of peo-
pie, but one point may be hastily indicated.
Much has been done to invite rich people to
Washington, but little has been undertaken to
encourage the incoming of the class of medium
wealth. Yet from the latter class come the
strength and growth Of any community The
board Of trade and other Representative organ
lzations of this District should, by carefully
prepared editorial matter published in the
press Of the entire country, by properly written
correspondence, by well circulated statistics in
the form of pamphlets circulars and other
wise, make known to the great body of Amer
lean citizens in ordinary life and station that
Washington is not only one OF the best gov
erned, most healthful and pleasantest places Of
residence, but that it is also one Of the cheap
est"