Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-29


From st Nicholas for June
When the war was over ii was found that il
had left its scars on Washington, as on so many
other places The city had been girdIed by
chain OF forts and ear.hwocks which had laid
low the woods in many places on both sides OF
the river. Armies had eucanpad abou. il,
and Its buildings had been used for hospital
and storebouses. while in the outlying quar-
tiers mule cOrrals and cavalry Gepots had been
established The streets mad been torn and
furrowed by the passage OF countless trains of
artillery, baggage wagons and ambulances. In
the tumalt o. the time the city had been for
gotten. although II. the midst of 1t all Congress
had sill -e.-e Iasered to continue the building
OF the wings Of the Capitol, as "a sure sign to
friend and foe that the government, at least,
had no doubt as TO Its future
Atter the wsr was over however. public at
tention was again drawn to the capital CT the
country, and there was more or less discussion
as to its removal to the west, SO that it might
be nearer the center of population 1t was at
this period, while General Grant was Presi-
dent that movement made and carried
into effect for the development and improve
ment of the city. This was done under the
leadership of Alexander r. shepherd who be-
District was then. and (as it proved) only for
time. converted. New streets and avenues were
laid out the old ones were extended. and all
We're paved with asphalt and brought TO an easy
grade throughout the city. while squares
and parks were made and planted at the
points of intersection of the great
avenues. The old canal was filled or
covered up the Tiber river was turned
to the Eastern branch. and the water and gas
systems of the city were recognized and I'M
proved The work was a very large and ex-
pensive one grea. deal of money was spent,
and there was much criticism and some scan-
daI in regard 10 it, 1t is not worth while here
to inquire into the truth or falsehood of these
scandals or whether there was much or little
extravaganza One thing is certain. the work
was done aud done thoroughly. From being
a struggling. overgrown village. Washington
was changed into a handsome city. with broad.
well-paved avenues and streets, well lighted
and well drained. and all talk about the
moval OF the capital died away. The improve
ments of shepherd were not only the salvation
OF the city. but they fixed it finally in the place
originally chosen BY its founders. The changes
which had been made brought with them also
improvements in the construction of private
houses. and drew population to the city. The
national government too. having abolished the
old CITY government took charge of the city
ITSELF ana added largely to the public build
ings. Congress completed the Washington
Monument and extended from it to the White
House on the north and to the Capitol toward
the east a system of parks. which included the
grounds of the Smithsonian Institution and of
the Botanical Gardens.
Thus, from being an ill-built, ill-paved town,
striking only from the painful contrast between
the great public buildings and their surround
inys Washington has been changed into a SIN
gularly attractive city. with peculiar charac-
ter of its own, and giving great promise of the
future. 1t is a government city and nothing
else I. has practically no manufactures and
no commerce. and its population is made up of
persons engaged in the government service,
and of those who supply their wants. together
with constantly increasing class of people
who came to dwell there because il is a pleas
ant place in which to live. The result is that
the business quarters of Washington are COM
Daratiyely small and the residence quarters
large. while both are constantly growing and
improving. The city has followed in its K
tension the plan of L'Enfant the French ell
Cineer. and thus has q character all its own,
producing by its systems of avenues a grateful
irregularity Of design, and many open spaces
which. like the streets, are planted with trees
and shrubs.
The marcn of improvement. quickened by
the growth o. the city. has not stopped within
the city limits. The immediate neighborhood
OF Washington. although not desirable from a
farmers point of view, has a great deal of
natural Beauty, u fact which was first remarked
DIV Mr.. Merry, the British minister to the
United states, IN Jehersons time. The valley
of the Potomac. especially above Georgetown.
Is very beautiful. rising abruptly into low hills
broEen by the ravlnes or watercourses which
come down to the great river on all sides. A
large branch. known as Rock creek. runs from
point north of the city down to the Potomac,
dividing Washington from Georgetown. This
stream. miscalied a creek" forces its way
through the Lodges and hills until 1t reaches
the river. and its narrow valley is as wild and
beautiful as u 1t were hidden In some distant
mountains. The Frtleth Congress took no
acres OF this valley on The borders of the city
for a geological park. and the Fifty-frst. with
great good sense. continued the work by tax
ing 2.o0o acres more. extending TO the head of
the stream, for a public park Thus this
beautiful region. with Its rocks and woods and
ravlres- has been preserved from the destroy
ing hand of the land Spectator. Ii is not too
much to say that it will make park OF greater
nat i beauty than Is to be found in the
neighborhood of any great city in the world