Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22

ehe WiStCHSu wharfage ACCOMMODATIONS,
over 4,oOo vessels arrive and depart each
year, not counting local boats, and over
Soo,Ooo tons of freight, mostly coal, ice,
lumber and building material, in sehooners
tons OF freight yearly Note, however. that
while our schooners bring us ice and lum-
per from Maine. they return in ballast. As
sad before, We give the world our money
ana politicians, the world does the rest.
. washington Is a huge sieve in which
the governments gold Is poured; but the
meshes are too big to hold the yellow
eagles, and they drop through into the laps
OF our neighboring cities. So long as this
lasts the community will never be en-
endowed with much permanent wealth.
Pienty of money comes in, but 1t all goes
out Immediately.
exclusive of the reclaimed area of the
arsenal grounds and of all the Eastern
nranch above the Navy Yard bridge, the
District has here miles of shore line, one
mile OF which is occupied in desultory
lngton channel is admirably suited for
steamboat purposes, the Virginia channel
ana Georgetown wharfage for schooner
service. FROM Giesboro' Point to the
southern point of the District, four miles,
stretcnes a shore made by nature for
manufacturing and heavy shipping. 1t is
700 Iar from the city for the smoke to
Mork any permanent injury. The channel
sweeps ciose to the shore with thirty-eight
leet OH the point. The West Virginia coal
ean pe lowed down from the canal to the
dactorles and steamers. The Baltimore and
emo ALREADY has a branch skirting the
2nore TO point opposite Alexandria; the
pennsylvania could easily parallel it. A
steam Terry service from the foot of South
GaplIol street can do the work of a bridge
II VIII De only 500 feet between pier lines
anu me grades below will be good In
iact' ohe situation with reference to Wash
lngton Is similar to that of Williamsport
ana lower Brooklyn to New York.
DevoutIy to BE Wished.
DO you consider me an enthusiast when
say that some day I hope to see those
banks busy with the hum of the factory
ana with steamers from all over the world
loading and unloading? Cities far less IA
Vorabiy placed have today a tremendous
commerce. The finest city. in the world, and
great manufacturing center, is one hun
urea ana thirty miles above the mouth of
the Seine"
w nat Is this unsightly gorge we are
crossing?' asked the stranger
mat Is Rock creek. 1t is proposed to
arch the stream, fill the valley as far as
Msassachusetts avenue and construct park.
Ihere VIII then be a continuous parkway
from pennsylvania avenue along the creek
10 the extreme northern point of the Dis
tTlct; And, by the way, some day our Rock
Creek Park will be the finest park in the
world. but 1t will take money to do it, The
Jay OF the land is grand for park purposes,
out as IL cuts Off the two sides of the Dis
10 be built from Connecticut avenue ex-
tended to 18th street extended, spanning
ROCK creek valley by an immense steel
arch.
Those Unhealthy Marshes.
There is one thing more I want to men
tion before we part. sir. If you leave town
by the pennsylvania, you will see along
the Eastern branch and as far up as the
eye can reach vast marshes. These must
be filled Although the cost will be great,
the benefits will be greater. After ALL the
work Is as nothing compared with that
done at Boston.
We are almost at the union station
You Will see that this, although only for
street cars, is better than our railway ter
m1nals. Up to 1870lWashington advanced
ABOUT one-third asafast as she should have
done. Congressional neglect and a con-
slant threatening to move the capital, in
difference on the part of the public, with a
remarkable lack of public spirit all tended
to keep the city back and to prevent the
realization of Washington's hopes. His
plans to connect the Ohio with the Poto-
mac by means OF canal show that
first President anticipated considerable
commercial Importance for the city, Gov.
shepherd came and wrought a tremendous
change-"aThe people, like Balaam, the son
OF Beor, started to- curse, and ended by
blessing him. Since then there has been a
considerable advance in wealth, beauty and
business, but thatligly miasmatic dumping
ground of Rock creek just crossed as
well as dozens of other things to which |
have called your attention, all go to show
3hat- Washington Isl a diamond but partly
cut. W hen all the facets are polished then
even Paris the beautiful will pale in luster
beside her. JAMES CHALKLEY