The National tribune., 1893-05-11

of Washington street
now the main retail thoroughfare of the
city. Time has wrought great changes along
the street since the stage coaches of the pioneers
rolled over it and the galopiug riders of tho
pony express hurried the mails from the
Atlantic seaboard to the Mississippi. In all the
length Of Washington street the one link now
remaining TO bind the past with the present il
the old wooden covered bridge across White
River, in the city's western quarter. 1t stands
side by side with a modern structure, but the
old, built IN 1882, is as strong as the new. just
south of il, on the western bank of the river, is
the level ground on which DIR. Richard J. Cat
ling tried his famous Calling gun in its expert
mental stages.
What was a macadamized highway in 1885
is low an asphalted street 100 feet in width,
lined with high Office and shop buildings. Fol-
more than a mile it stretches through the
heart of the city unbrOkeu by bridge or rail-
way crossing. Near the center Ofthis distance,
and separated by but four blocks, are the State
Capitol and the Courthouse. Zach of these
buildings is surrounded by ample grounds ia
which stands and pavilions will be erected
during the 9th National Encampment of the
GAR, the reviewing stand being in the Capt.
tOl grounds.
SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
Half way between these two public buildings,
and one half block north of Washington street,
is the Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Mon
ument, Standing ia park formerly called
THE Circle" This spot was the exact center
OF the city as orig nally laid out. There were
many stirring scenes about it during the war.
and many recollections of later years cluster
about it, In April, 1861, the 11th Ind. stood
with uncovered heads and uplifted hands
where the monument now raises its shaft 260
feet, and swore TO stand by the flag and re-
member Buena Vista"
- RI a -. i
OF Oliver 2. Morton, the war Governor Of In
diana, whose loyalty and energy made him a
conspicuous figure of the war and who is affec-
tionately remembered by all Indiana veterans
because of his care and thoughtfulness for the
soldier in the field. This was the place where
Robert 6. Ingersoll delivered his famous Me-
mortal Day address in 1876.
Indianapolis is fortunate in having been laid
out by one of the engineers who planned the
city of Washington, for many Of the best ideas
there used are reproduced in this Western city.
The same broad streets running east and west
and north and south aud crossing at right
angles, ana the same divergence of avenues
from a central locality 20 the northeast north
west, southeast and southwest are here. The
streets vary in width from 50 to 100 feet. The
pavements are asphalt, brick, wooden block,
cObble stone and macadam. No hills or heavy
grades make transit difficult. Easy slopes
carry the drainage TO the west and southwest.
Electric and borse-csr lines stretch from the
center of the city in ali directions. OF these
lines all but few pass the Union Railway
Station. All pass within four blocks of il. A
transfer system extends TO all car lines.
The Union Railway Station, into which all
passenger trains run. is Illinois street, three
blocks south Of Washington street. The City
Hall lTomliHson). capable of seating 5000 per-
Sons. is one block north of Washington, on Della
ware street, opposite the Courthouse The
Courthouse grounds cover one square block
TIE State Capitol grounds two square blocks
TIE Postofiice is on Pennsylvania street, one
block north Of Washington. All the larger
hotels are within radius Of four blocks from
the Soliiers' Monument, as are also the chief
public buildings.
The payeIneuts Of the downtown streets are
chiefly Of asphalt. The street numbers run