The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-12
The Capital Centennial.

eastern horizon brings to us the centen-
NAL anniversary of something or other.
This has always been So but the fact was
hardly realized until 1876. when the fact
that It was hundred years before that
the Declaration Of Independence had been
signed, sealed, and delivered burst with
the force Of tnunderbolt upon the coun-
try. and We duly celebrated the occasion.
Tina, opened up vast and ever widen
ing vista of centeRniais Everything that
ever happened after toe Declaration had
TO be remembered as iittingly and az ex-
pensiveiy as circumstances would permit.
A century record thereafter has been made
for any and every event susceptible Of the
application. The Centennials of the Bat
lie Of Long Island. of Valley Forge. Sara
toge, ArTold's treason, Andres execution,
Burr's Irritation with Margaret Mcncrieff
The Battle OF Trenton. our recognition as
4 nation by France. the surrender at York
town. tic Treaty OF Peace with Great
Britain, Washing toms resignation as gen.
eral of the Continental Army. the orgs-
nization OF the Confederation. the adop-
lion of the Constitution. Washinston's first
inauguration as President. his retirement
q: the end OF two terms and his Farewell
ADDRESS. his appointment to the command
Of the army again. Shays' rebellion. and
the death Of the Father of His Country, all
.hege historical events have been apprc-
priately concentrated with hsgs. fairs.
professions, eating. drinking. and speeches.
The pregnant womb Of time is still loaded
md ready TO deliver at least one centen-
pisl ard often several per diem, and prom
ises ability TO 90 so, at may be for years
and it may be forever"
One hundred years ago the Federal Gov
ernment was installed in Washington. Great
changes have occurred since. Except that
the south side OF the Avenue does not looiI
as well as it did en- December IL. A. ID.
$780, it may be said that improvement has
been general. Sneeringly, the able critics
Of century ago called this g "city of
magnificent distances wherein the be-
sinnings Of n parliament house were con-
rectcd with few scattered boarding
places and frame residences and with the
City Of Georgetown by muddy road or
two full Of bog holes, dangerous alike to
man and beast. But that state of things
was not TO last forever. Though long de-
ferred, the day came at last when the mud
Of the island no longer could be detected
on boots in the court end of town. and
when the idea OF pavement dawned upon
the mind Of the Government. Not much
in this line, however, was done until after
the civil war.
In 1912 Charles Dickens visited the Cap
jtal and was much impressed by the beau
~ of the now old Postofiice Department
building then lately completed. He was
good enough TO laugh at us for putting UP
a structure which would make the bust
ness and people inside of it look and feel
lonesome for fifteen decades or more. Mr..
Dickens was mistaken. it is pity he
could not have lived 10 see that uselessly
great building oyercrowded and finally
abandoned for the larger but horrible Gro
yer Cleveland affair in Pennsylvania Ave-
nue.. No one hundred years ago prob
ably dared to dream of such city within
p century as Washington has become. The |
one man who was satisfied of its destiny. !
The man who conceived, planned. and made
it the Capital OF the nation. had died a !
little while before. He knew. and if he |
were back here, on the Whole he would be |
pleased. He would be pleased TO see the |
White House much as he Intended ii |
should be. The imitation of the Hotel de |
VILE of Paris on ono side of IL might Jar |
his architectural taste: but the Treasury |
building would undoubtedly meet his clas-
steal views, while the Department Of JUS |
,ice, on the other side, with the noble !
legend over the door, Dedicated TO Art"
might make him enquire into the present |
organization and purposes oil Mr.. Griggs'
office. He would look in vain for the will
icrness of his time in the valuable and
fashionable Northwest, and grow incredu-
ous when told that shovelful of dirt
rom some of the most favored corner lots
8 exchangeablc for suit of clothes or a
gold watch and chain down town.
But Washington, were he here would
,e delighted with the spirit of enterprise
Everywhere apparent. He projected a
.ity Of ultimately hundred thousand in
habitants. 1t has already come TO be
more than two and half times that
oHu INT " commence
If our real estate magnates in combina
ion with circumiacent farmers has sub
divided and laid out a metropolis war
-anted to accommodate a million souls or
more without the absorption of additional
erritory.
All these and other glories mus. flash
ipon our mental vision, as the church
,eiis toll today, and we see the modest
title procession marching to the snspir-
ng strain OF Yankee Doodle" and Hail
from the Executive Mansion TO
,spitol Hill, and back, and witness the
ielight of our amiable Chief Magistrate,
milling like his centennial predecessor.
ohn Adams, on the multitude and glad
'nce more TO be in the hands of a dis
inguished local committee on patriotic
Measuring intent
II is memorable occasion. Let the
'eople rejoice that We have as beautiful
nd prosperous city as we have, and let
he bands play and the soldiers present
rms After that We must devote cur !
nergies 10 getting ready for the Inaugu- I
alton. and. that being out of the way.
here will be much TO do in preparation I
ar St Patrick's Lay. Decoration Day, the q