Evening star., 1894-04-07

| had one chance out Of three to win a rrizs
| The capital prize was ''one superb hotel
with baths, out houses, &c, TO the cost Of
| $50 O00." The second prize was s25 OOo in
cash, and from that prizes descended TO
| $40.
| Washington Bought Tickets
| The tickets were sold all over the country.
Washington bought several and sent one TO
! his little favorite, Lincoln Lear, son of his
private secretary, Col. Tobias Lear, to whom
he writes: "As testimony of my affection
for him 1 send him a ticket in the lottery
| that is now drawing in the federal city
and II it should be his fortune to draw the
hotel 1t will add to the pleasure / have In
giving II. The youngster was of course
delighted, and declared that il he did draw
the hotel he would go to WASHINGTON to
live. The ticket drew $40, and Washington
thereupon writes, He did not foresee, poor
little fellow, that some Of the prizes would
hardly build him a baby house nor that
one OF these was TO fall to his lot" 1t took
six months to complete the drawing and
this caused a good deal of dissatisfaction.
Ine Columbia Centnel of April o. 1874
says: The drawing of the hotel lottery is
nnlshed Fortune, in the distribution of her
capital favors, has been as tickle as ever
The highest boon falls to the lot of four
weil-to-liVe citizens Of Philadelphia; the
next TO a Virginia hair dresser; the third TO
rich merchants lady OF Baltimore: the
fourth to Governor Lee of Maryland in
company with others; the fifth some say
to a company of Maryland and Virginia
gentlemen, and others to Mr.. James Leach
of this town; the sixth has fallen in South
Carolina, and the seventh in this town"
The hotel was never finished. From the
most reliable data / can obtain 1t stood on
the square now occupied by the general
post office building. The hotel was finally
purchased by the government and either
remodelled or pulled down and replaced by
the building that now covers that square.
Severe Criticism Resulted.
The manner in which this lottery was
conducted gave rise to severe criticism, and
Mr.. Blodgett was savagely attacked by
some Of the newspapers. but in spite of this
he set on foot second lottery. The COM
missioners, who had been very much an
noyed by the scandal arising from the first,
refused to have anything to do with the sec
ond, and when they found that Blodgett
had advertised the scheme they came out
/ in a notice disclaiming ANY connection
with any lottery concerning the city of
washington under the description of No. =,
/ or any other denomination whatever" They
say I'VE have not even given 4 naked con-
sent that any should be raised. and warn
the public that adventurers are not to ex-
pect that the commissioners will have at
tention to IL" Gen. johnson, the chair
man Of the board, wrote Washington: Mr.
Blodgett has involved US in unpleasant cir
cumstances. DIR. Stuart and l cannot quit
| our post (they had previously intimated
their intention to resiGn) to our satisfaction
till We see the present lottery in a way
of being settled, and we had all determined
that another should not be offered in the
present temper of the public, or at all with
out a further security than mere honor. i will
deal frankly with you, sir, tho L dare say
You own observation renders mine unneces-
sary. Mr.. Blodgett will not be useful in
the affairs of the city; he wants judgment
and steadiness. / cannot think of leaving
him to a successor We all wish to part
from him and that quietly" In reply Wash
in rara
gett l have not hesitated on former oc-
casions TO declare, and / think to the com
missioners themselves, from the moment
his conduct began to unfold itself. that his
appointment did not, in my judgment, an
swer the end which had been contemplated
1t appears evidently enough now that Spec
ulation has been his primary object from
| the beginning" Blodgett was soon after
discharged and Dr. Stuart writes Washing
ton: I'VE are now quit of him, and / think
1t unfortunate that We ever had any con-
nection with him.
The First Census of the City.
In the second year of the new city a cen
sus was taken and the result published, as
follows:
by census Of the inhabitants of the
city Of Washington. taken on the 18th in
slant, 1t appears that the number exceeds
$50, and that for the last six months there
has not the death OF either man or woman
taken place in the city. 1t is TO be observ-
ed that of the above number great pro-
portion are artists in the different branches
OF building and from different parts Of
America and Europe. The climate agrees
with their constitution, and they enjoy in
this city equal If not superior health to
what they have experienced in any part of
the continent.
! Signed on behalf of the inhabitants of
the city of Washington and at their request
August II, 1893.
JAMES HOBAN.
| "COLLEN WILLIAMSON
| ELISHA o. WILLIAMS"
| This was a very satisfactory health Ger
tifcate, as well as census report, but in the
following fan there seems to have been
some malaria, owing doubtless TO the
amount of soil upturned in the course of
the improvements going on in all parts of
the city; and we find that in December of
that year the commissioners made proyi-
sion for temporary hospital" to be located
near good spring" where invalid labor
/ ers might be cared for. In April following
they ordered this hospital to be erected on
judiciary Square and employed DR. John
Crocker as attending physician at a salary
| of f2o per annum. At this time Dr. Grad
dock and DR.. Samuel Brown were the only
physicians resident in the city limits.
| Buildings Making Some show.
The work on the public and private build
ings was now beginning to make some
| show. A correspondent OF the Columbia
Centinel writes, under date of September
IA, 1898: The buildings in the new federal
city are rapidly advancing. The Presidents
house is built one story high; the Capitol
and hctel are in a considerable state of for
wardness and there are upward Of fifty
houses finished, among which are a number
Of capital brick buildings"
| The First school House,
| There was no public school system in the
District in those days. but the inhabitants
were not willing that their children should
grow up in ignorance, and on October o.
1873, the commissioners granted permission
Ito certain petitioners" to erect a Temporal
ry school house on one of the public lots 5,
This was probably the first school house in
Washington, but l have been unable to To-
cate its site.
The First Retail Liquor License.
1t does not appear TO have been at that
time as much OF a labor as it is now to OBJ
tain retail liquor license William Vena-
Bile. according TO the records, was the first
man to ask for one.and he obtained il with
out anV difficulty Ncapca NO..