Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-10

ton is also making large expenditure for
the same purpose
II IS app2re,.l that valuable improvements
nave peen made outside of the limits of
sie old city o., Washington during the past
summer, and in the midst of the general
aePresslonn great improvements have been
made In all the suburbs about Washing
roh. ana "a especially upon Columbia Heights,
where long rows of valuable buildings have
oeen erected, adding largely to the taxable
property of the District
ASIDE from general considerations tending
10 tAis Improvement. there may be men
tIohed the TACT that prior to the adoption by
congress of the territorial form of govern
ment In 1871 the total debt of Washing
ton and Georgetown was S5,0S4, 770.16. while
tne oept or that part of the District outside
OF the cities of Washington and George
town. known as the county of Washing
ton, was but $S4.S51.12: and, while the ter
ritorlai act provided that county property
should not be taxed for the Improvement
OF puDilc spaces within the said cities yet
the whole debt then existing together with
that which was thereafter incurred,
amounting, in all to about $4,000 900, was
FUNDED INTO the District of Columbia bonds,
SO that the county of Washington became
obligated for its pro rata share of the en-
tire municipal debt of the said cities, and
this debt Is today a charge upon all the
properly IN the county, although that part
OF the District receives but a small share of
the benefits arising from the said indebted
ness.
| 900 The Whole District.
It is fact worthy of further considera-
ton in this connection, that the seat of
government of the United States is not
SIMPLY Washington, but the District Of Co.
lurnbia, as appears from the act of July
IT, 1879 (u.. S. Stat at L., vol 1, p. 1900. sec
tion u And be it further enacted, that
on the first Monday in December, in the
year iSu, the seat of government of the
ha1 I,,, trf,, ~
De transferred to the District and place
aforesaid"
Besides, the suburbs and the city SO far
constitute but one community, that the
health and well being of the suburbs can
not be ignored without injury to that part
OF the District known as the old cities of
Washington and Georgetown.
1t would seem. therefore, that the street
extension plan and the system of sewage
disposal are necessary and essential parts
OF one and the same great system and
should go hand in hand.
In all ages the glory and power Of a ma
tion have been exemplified to the world by
the beauty Of architecture, the grandeur
OF the buildings, the magnificence of the
temples of its chief city, the capital.
Inc beauty OF form and architecture and
the art and glory of adornment of the lat
est addition to our great public buildings.
attest the wisdom of the men in both
houses of Congress who supervised its
plans and erection, and are evidence of
OF the United States 2 building which shall
be at once an education and an inspiration
for all time.
Is 1t too much to hope that, ere long we
may see 1t con1plemented by another tenn
pie, which shall in Its majesty and perfec-
ton fifty represent the dignity and respect
which every loyal citizen must feel for the
highest tribunal of justice, which 1t will be
designed to hold?
AS humble citizens of our gracious re-
public. fortunately resident in this, its
beautiful capital city, let us go forward in
every movement looking toward the health
and prosperity of its citizens, the beauty
and adornment of Its parks and avenues.
the protection of its public buildings, with
such unselfish' purpose and evident interest
In the public welfare that we shall so COM
mend ourselves and our undertakings to the
peoples representatives in Congress. as to
find favor with them. and thus united in
our efforts, we shall succeed in making
Washington in every sense typical and
worthy of the highest citizenship of the
worlds foremost nation.