The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-09-28
a rrip to the National Capital

The journey was begun at II 40 p. m. city
time Saturday. Sept 17th. via the Pennsylvania
&, r. special train run by Memorial Post G "A
OF Cleveland. Pittsburgh was reached at a.
M, reached Johustown, Pa. the city that re
Gently met with such fearful inundation,
causing an enormous loss of life and property,
at "a a.. m. Plenty of remains of buildings not
yet cleared away. CO.. Id be seen from the car
window, though the town is fast building up
again The iron works were in operation
though their surroundings plainly show the |
marks OF the terrible destruction by ithe food. |
Passed around the famous Horseshoe bend on |
the summit ef the Aleghenies at about 8 m |
This is probably one OF the most romantic and
beautiful pieces of scenery to be met with on
any line et travel in our country On one side
of the track. for long distance. rises an insur
mountable barrier of rock and earth, on the
other side is a valley of great depth. where
broken rail or car wheel m ght send hundreds
II human beings into eternity in ment
rhere is a signal station at the summit, sur
oubded by sm all grassy plat. containing beds
oI beautiful flowers grand model lor the pen
Gil of the artist just beyond is Altoona, where
We sto ped for breakfast This is probab the
best place on the whole route to pay big price
Or poor vicJuals, Passed Tyrone at a. m
dere we left the main chain of the Al1eghenys,
though for mile and miles in uninterrupted
aontInuousness. might be seen on both SIDES of
spurs OF both these and the Blue Mountains
making beautiful scerery until the eye almost
becomes weary of the sameness and longs for
change. We followed tor long distance
fountain stream which wapders on and on like
d fairy dressed in blue Fittingly has the poet
called it the g. blue Junietta,'' The Blue Mts
are also rightly named. for the SUBMITS are con
rInually veiled in blue haze. at huntington
NAV be seen on the right the State Reform
,tory an d on the lett the m jestic rulpit Rocks
Using gaunt and tall in the shade of Autumn's
iovelineSs.
All along the route through Pennsylvania
little villages were frequently seen nestled at
the foot of the mountains. Though none of
the houses were beautiful only in their location.
AS we passed the famous old mountain, Round
Top still the home of the ''antlered m march :"
we wero told that it was occupied by but one
family, who rented most of the land to hunters
The corn crop was very poor until we reached
| the eastern part of the State but from there to
| "ear Baltimore, Md, we saw some splendid
| FARMS bearing large crops Of corn buckwheat
| tobacco and sweet potatoes, Here the ground
| is gently rolling area of wonderful fertility.
We strueh the Susquehanna 10 miles west of
rk.
bridge 80 feet above the water and three fourths
| of a mile long In the suburbs of Harrisburg.
| in vacant lot we saw the following sign =
25 acres free, for Manufacturing purposes.
exempt from taxes for 10 years.
Left Baltimore about 4:15 and arrived in
Washington a t 9:55. having made the journey
| in 616 hours. without any accident whatever or
any weary delays. We went INN ,diately to
the boarding place assigned US where we re-
ceived as kindly welcome as strangers could
expect. 1t did not seem much like the Sabbath
| however. for mingled with the chimes of the
| Church bells. bands were heard playing in
every part of the city, escorting the delegations
| of veterans to their quarters
Before starting out on our tour of sight seeio g
pardon us while we stop to give a short des-
cription of the Capital of our country. The
| student of history will remember that the City
of Washington has not always been the Capital
of our nation, but that Philadelphia. Baltimore
Annapolis. Princeton. Trenton. and New York
have each been the place of meeting of the
Continental Congress. bill passed the House
Sept. W, I7s9. selecting Pennsylvania as the To-
cation of permanent Capitol. This led to
bitter opposition on the part of southern imem
bers led by Mr., Madison. who was supposed tc
express the views of President Washington
The bill, however. was defeated in the Senate
by having its consideration postponed. At thu
next session of Congress the fl ht became hotter
| thsn ever. and mnny thought the existence o.
| he Union depended on the decision of this sub
ject settlem mt was brought about in thi
| way; The government was engaged in effor
| 10 iund its debt The North was anxious thai
he general government should assume the
debts incurred by the several States in carrying
IN the Revolutionary war. amounting to $40
100000. As the North had furnished the create
amount of men and means they urged tn,
measure. as the expenditure had been for tht
benefit of the country as whole. The Soutl
opposed it. as it would increase their propor
| tion Hamilton found that to carry the meas
ure would equire st me Southern votes so h,
persuaded Jefferson. who was greatly interest
| ed in having the capital located as near Vir
| ginia as possible. to induce the Virginia dele
cation to vote for the assumption while Ham
| ilton was to induce the New York delegation t,
i've up their preference Tor the location OF tn
Capitol at the North The result was that tn
bill locating the Capital on the Potomac passe,
oD the 18th OF July and that for the assumption
of the debts on the 4th of August. 1890 Th,
plan of the city was drawn by L'Enfaat.
| Frel Gilman. who became acquainted will
Wa hington and was selected by him to do tn
| work.
The streets are very wide and so we'll pave
| that they are smooth as house floor Tn
streets running north and south are numbered
those rum ing east and west are lettered com
mencing at the Capitol building. Thus ther
are A. B. c. &C. North and A. B. C. &c South
1st, and, 3rd. &C West. and 1st, 2nd 3rd. &c
East. There are a large number of parks il
the city ornamented with sta a'uary. shrubber
and flowers. There are Avenues extending
diagonally through the city the famous Penn
sylvania Avenue which leads up to the Capito
being the finest. and one of the nest in tn
world. This street was graded while Jefferson
was President, at cost of $14 900. The street
) are lit with gas. and both electric and hors
cars are used. Herdics are also used on som
streets. The streets are kept very clean Their
are great many magnificent hotels an
churches. The railroad depots are magnifcen
and commodious structures but entirely mad
equate to accommodate the immense throng c
people assembled on this occasion Steamer
and soil vessels are constantly running betwee
, the city and Richmond and intermediate point
Monday dawned bright and clear, and sigh
, seeing for me began in earnest. But sue
throngs of people hey all seemed to be goin
/ the same way. This day had set apart o
5 which to visit Mt. Vernon. and taking tn
! steamer was soon on the way down the histori
Potomac While we are all gathered on th
upper deck and the steamer floating gentl
S down the stream. let me tell you something
, the place 1t is the old home of Washington
and is situated the river. about 16 miles frol
the city The estate originally contained 8Ot
acres. but the heirs have sold tracts oft at di
ferent times. SO all that now remains is the pre-
ent farm of about 200 acres 1t is now owne
e by the Mt. Vernoon Ladies Association of Il
Union," incorporated in 1856 for the purpose
securing the mansion and grounds which the
now own and control. But here we are at tt
wharf and all hands must disembark Passin
i mp from the landing to the mansion we pa
the tomb where rest the remains of both Geors
a and Martha Washington. 1t is built of brio
! and looks like all the pictures / have ever see
of it. about the size of our town ship vaul
though of a. much older style of architectur
At the front is double grated iron door. sc
h curey locked Looking through. one cs