The times., 1898-12-05
A FAMoUsnDlsTRIGT.

To the Editor Of The Times:
In The Morning Times of today, under
the title. Col. Dick in Town. one of
your reporters has an interesting article
touching the great men5iwho have repre-
sented the Nineteenth Ohio District, now
honored by the choice ;pf. Col Dick Yes,
the article is interesting. historical, po-
etic, fanciful. Let us take paragraph:
|. In the pioneer days Of the Western Reserve.
when Cleveland was village built of logs, and
when Toledo and Detroit and the other proud
cities that now bare their progressive faces to the
breezes Of Lake Erie were not to be found record
ed-eXcept upon the very latest MAPS Represen-
tatives Giddings and Hutchins were the men who
asked Congress for postoffice appropriations and
other things for the Nineteenth district.
Let us anaiyze this poetic. historic
statement for the benefit of the school
1. Cleveland was laid out in 1796 by
Moses Cleveland. and company of sur
veyors on land bought from Connecticut
in the Western Reserve Owing to its in.
accessibility. Indian troubles and the
ravages of the War of lsl2-15. the develop
ment was so retarded that in 1910 there
were but fifty-seven persons in the ham,
the general assembly of Ohio as a village
on the 23d of December, 1914, and in 1886
as city. The population in 1920 was $50.
and in 1880 1t was only LOIS.
2. Detroit was the site of Indian VII
lagos at a period as remote as authentic
information extends. The French first
visited the place in 1910. and, taking pos
session, held it until 17G2 during the
French and Indian war.
ha fret rs
made in 1Iol, when fort called Ponchar-
train was erected From time to time 1t
was augmented by accessions from
France.
In 1863 the English assumed possession,
and in I77S erected fort. They held the
place until 1857, when, as a part of the
Northwest Territory, 1t came under the
| control of the United States. Gen. Arthur
st. Clair being the first governor. 1t re-
| manned in their possession thereafter
without interruption except from 1872 TO
1873 when the treachery of Hull gave it
again temporarily to the English.
1t was Incorporated as a city in 1924.
twelve years before Cleveland was
deemed worthy of such honor.
3. Joshua Giddings was born at Tioga
| Point. Pa, October g. 1885, and in 1905 re-
| moved with his parents from Ca
nandaigua, n. Y, whittier they
nau meantime gone. 10 ASHldDula
| County, Ohio. Having endured the hard
ships of pioneer life and secured the re-
quisite scholastic and legal training, he
| finally launched upon the stormy sea of
! political life. In 1888 he was elected to
Congress. and served his constituents
| faithfully for twenty-one years, a period
which brought him to the final struggles
| preceding the outbreak of the Civil War.
With these facts before us, we fail TO
| realize the rich poetic imagery portrayed
In your reporters graphic description.
l. AS already stated, Detroit was a
| city twelve years, before Cleveland
reached such dignity. This destroys the
| beautiful picture of bowling their pro-
gressive faces to the breezes of Lake
Erie" In fact. Detroit Is older in every
particular than Cleveland.
q When Joshua Giddings appeared in
Congress as the representative of the
Nineteenth Ohio district. which was from
1899 to 1860 neither Cleveland nor Detroit
was a mere village, but both had attained
some prominence In the commercial
| world. and were able to bare their pro-
gressive faces TO the breezes of Lake
Erie" They. and other places like Tole-
do and Sandusky, could be found upon
maps not the very latest"
The writer has no desire to detract
| from this Just tribute TO Col Dick. On
| the other hand. he congratulates him
| upon his rich irheritance, and as COM
rade and fellow Buckeye, wishes him sue
cess equal to that of his ilIustrious pred
| ecessors.
]. FRAISE RICHARD,
Washington, Dec. /, 1888.