Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-12-05

WclA dS LII ouT LIIuCS, anu IciIS ious
declaration was necessary to the proper
performance of public duty. Nobody
to-day seems to know whether George
Washington made this form of oath a
prerequisite to office holding, or wheth-
er it was required by congressional
enactment. But the original oath is on
file here ia the office of the surveyor OF
the District of Columbia.
The original custom house over which
the bewigged and powdered aristocratic
Lingan presided still stands on Con-
gress street, and looks very much as
it used to look, but for the fact that
time has placed upon it the marks of
decay, and neglect has permitted the
unrestrained ravishmentS of the wealth
er. Just a little bit of oil and paint
would make the quaint and curious lit
tie frame building look quite preten-
tious again.
During these latter years we hear con-
siderable of the eNtravagant river and
harbor appropriation bills. One of the
first appropriations of that character
was made in 1888, when congress set
aside the sum of $15O.oOO for the pur-
pose of clearing the channel of the
Potomac. Brigs and other large ves-
sells could not reach Georgetown on ac-
count of the gradual filling of the
stream. The appropriation was neces-
sary. Since then many millions have
been expended on the Potomac. If the
government had not cleared the channel
of the Potomac a grand canal would
have been built fro n Washington to the
Ohio river.
The grand canal was practically set
tied favorably in public opinion, and on
July 4, 1925, President John Quincy
Adams, the members of his cabinet,
members of the diplomatic corps and
heads of the corporations of the three
cities of the District of Columbia,
namely, Georgetown. Washington and
Alexandria, assembled in Georgetown
and formed a procession which
marched to the custom house wharf,
and there embarked on the Surprise. a
revenue boat, and went down the river
to the place where the new canal was to
be started. There President Adams
with a spade turned the first sod in the
proposed canal, reverently saying:
BE fruitful, replenish the earth and
subdue it," But the canal project was
finally abandoned. 1t is we'll Very
soon thereafter the locomotive began
the career which rendered canals un-
necessary, and which have almost
driven traffic from our internal streams,
In 1884 the supervising officer of the
coasting trade Mt Georgetown made
record of the fact that 1000 vessels
anchored at the wharves and there WINS
an annual tonnage of 200. 900. For that
day and age of the new world that was
an immense business. and it is not to
be wondered that the government lib
orally provided for keeping open the
channel of the river.
But all that is pas and gone. The
port of Georgetown has languished,
and will soon be a thing of the record
and memory only. Very few large
ships now come to Georgetown. More
over there is soon to be built grand
memorial bridge over the Potomac and
it will not be marred by a span for com
merce. The ships which come thus
fnr up the Potomac must land Mt Wash
ington. and the collector of customs for
this city will transact all federal bu<i-
ness with such ships. Poor old George
town. ~ SMITH D. FRY.