The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
HE MADE WASHINGTON
STORY OF A. II. SHEPHERD, WHO
MODERNIZED THE CAPITAL.
How the "EsOss" Transformed "a City
Prettiest Places i'm the World.

here in this city. Twenty years ago he was
called Boss Shepherd and he deserved
the title, because he was real boss" Of
everything and everybody in the District OF
Columbia, of which he was the Governor.
His ambition was to make The city of Wash
ington worthy its name and worthy being
called the capital city of the greatest ma
ton upon the earth. To do this he had to
have money, and to get the money he had
to tax the people of the District and he
almost taxed them out of their boots
No man in all Washington was so thor
oughly detested as was the enterprising
Governor. He spent money right and left in
making Washington a place to be proud of.
and he was cursed for his patriotism and
his pride. Yet in the light of later days the
wisdom Of the policy he pursued is made
manifest and time has done much to softeng
asperity, leaving the best there is and was
in Boss" Shepherd clearly revealed in the
background of the years. Mr.. Shepherd left
Washington twenty years ago, broken in
health and spirit, and went to the Mexican
state of Chihuahua to live. AT the same
time he desired to recover the fortune he
had lost and indeed he recovered both
health and fortune and in a very few years
he became rich man. When Mr.. Shepherd
left Washington he was execrated by all of
its citizens. They were glad he was gone.
Like Caesar he found Rome of clay and
left one of marble, but the people groaned
under the weight. Time passed by and the
debt was all paid up and real estate values
went up, and then people began to think
better of Boss Shepherd. Two years ago
Mr.. Shepherd returned to washington for
visit. He had been to Europe and stopped
in the capital on his way home. He was fe-1i
ceVpd like q VicforonS Ger he Hol1t
infantry turned out to clear the way, and
Mr.. Shepherd was followed by line of carr
riages containing the biggest and best men
in town to Willard Hotel which was decked
out to receive him. The Marine Band played
sweet music and speeches were made in his
praise, the president of the Board of Trade
leading. His hand was grasped by seven
thousand men who felt CAD of the oppor-
tunity to do it.
In Mr.. Shepherds career is found lesson
which the people of all times and places
have always failed TO learn. 1t SHOWS mat
the masses of the people are wise enough
veniences are sometimes better sacrificed in
order that the future may be assured and
that future pleasures may be greater. 1t
emphasizes the fact that men, as a rule,
do not care enough for posterity and for
get that humanity lives on though indi-
viduals die. Had the founders of this Re-
public not cared for their children and
grandchildren there had been no United
States and no American citizens to-day:
just the kind of boss he was, Wash
ington would to-day be a city of mud and
stubborn, unyielding foEce to drive the un-
willing citizens of the capital into making
their home place in which the President
to live. ~ ''e' ''0o- ''O' - ''i''eD
In his young days Mr.. Shepherd was a
plumber-a fact which might tempt a wag
to say that 1t was in that calling that the
beautifier of Washington got his imperious
and domineering disposition. When very
mo- Gt,av1I rr1 -Af D.,
business in the plumbing line, and did very
we'll with 1t. Out OF plumbing he was grad
uated into politics, and hardly before people
were aware of it he was the Governor Of
the territory and held the place during the
time the District was territorial govern
ment. AS soon as he found himself in
power he began series of gigantic aforms
which aStounded the people. When Shop
herd undertook to do something he general
~ accomplished his purpose, whether the
law allowed it or not.
A notable instance Of what one determined
man can do when he makes up his mind was
seen in the case of the old Liberty market,
which stood at the corner of Seventh and
X streets. me building was old and deca-
dent and unsightly and disgrace to the
city. Shepherd, besides, picked out its site
for a public park He tried every method
in his power to have the old building Cemol-
ished according to law and order, but he
was blocked at every turn. The law said to
him: Thou shalt not cut down the market
house!" His appeals were strains in a
March wind. People generally wanted the
old building removed, but their own laws
One morning Washingtonians awoke and
10! when they looked for their familiar mar
ket it was gone! 1t had vanished in the
night and not a stone of it remained on a
stone. Shepherd had gone there in the dark
of the night, when the people slept, and
with a crowd of congenial spirits he bat
tered down the old structure which the law
had chung to so tenaciously. To do this
Roman-ike thing Shepherd got up a ban-
those who were known to be opposed TO his
park scheme were invited, and while they
and his friends played havoc with the old
market. A bill has been introduced into ev-
cry Congress since then to indemnify the
owners of the stalls in the market but those
of them that are yet alive have never
received penny for their trouble.
Another monument to Mr. Shepherds in
dustry, genius and peculiar methods is a
hillock on the south side of the Baltimore
q Ohio Railway tracks. His purpose was
city in which. by law, it was allowed to
come into Washington. OF course, he could
not do this legally, so he tried to do 1t II,
legally. He hired an army OF men, ana
they went to work digging and piling up
the earth on the tracks. This bold plan of
bold spirit failed because the railroad peo-
pie learning what was going forward, kept
a couple of engines stOrming up and down
the track In word, there was nothing that
he wanted done that he did not have done
or try to have done by fair means or foul.
Mr.. Shepherd in a verify made Washington
This Nero of America saw mudhoie OF q
town and left il with 100 miles of the finest
streets in the world. shaded by 10000 beau-
tiful trees 1t cost $25 600 600 TO do it, but
it was DONE and Americans can thank
one man and him only If they feel that their
seat of government is all that ii should be.
Mr. Shepherd did not get rich while he
was Governor. He had at one time during
the seven years he spent in pubic life about
$3.50 00O When he got out of office ne was
more than S,O0OO0O in debt; The motive
power that made Shepherd do what he did
for washington came about in this way
IL L. Reavis was a st. Louis man with a
hobby twenty-five years ago. He wrote a
book showing how much better II would be
to have the country's capital In the big town
on the Mississippi than on the Potomac.
He was a man of .tireless energy, and there
was a time when his hobby came pretty
nearly being carried into cold fact.
Now, Shepherd was "A native Washing
tonian and did not want the capital TO so
to St Louis. He got himself made Cover
nor and then opposed his will To that OF
Reavis the capital mover" He forever
settled the Reavis agitation by making
Washington infinitely more beautiful than
While he was making Washington pretty
his business went 10 ruin and he lost ali he
had saved up. He then determined to leave
America and make a new start in life. lie
went to Mexico. negotiated mines. worked
them and soon became a millionaire. His
imperiousness and positiveness of character
made themselves felt in everything he un-
dertook He even coined his Own money
and raiened like baron Of old over his
willing and faithful subjects.
A glance at Mr.. Shepherds face tells the
story OF his character. He has a mouth
and q chin Cor enterprise-for cOnquering
the uncomfortable. He has an eye Tor en-
pire and jaw that means a LOT II there IS
anything at all In physiognomy. SelI-edu-