The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-12


the President 5 House b his family. IheFe
were similar criticisms Of the Gniiais he'd
Capitol, while Senators and Represents
tiyes complained OF the places where they
had to board, and all agreed il denOgnc-
ing the wretched roads which we're called
streets. Besides the construction OF
few public buildings. at a cost Of mil
lion dollars, given by Maryland aid Viz
GINA or raised by the sale Of lots. aud
the outlining OF q few streets, little mad
been done by the Government in the ten
years Of preparation and less, proper
tionately. had been done by private indi-
Fiduais The Government had no money
to spare for such work from its scanIy
treasure; and there were only few thou
sand people here. There had been good
deal OF speculation in the new made real
estate lets, but there had been compare
lively little building on them. It is not
strange that the members of the Govern
ment and OF the Diplomatic Corps looked
back reSretfuliy IRON. the crude Capital
to the comforts and pleasures OF Phila-
delphia II Congress- had then begun TO
provide for the gradual Improvement of
the streets and parks reserved by Wash
ington as the property Of the nation,
which owned more than half of the new
city, it would have carried out the plan
of its founder, as he doubtless intended
should be done But Congress left al
most all that work to the few thousand
Inhabitants, who were also expected 10
provide most of the cost of police and
fire protection, and other municipal SER
vices, while Congress practically con-
fined its appropriations to the coDstTuc-
ton, repair, and maintenance Of the Gov
eminent buildings and their surroundings
Development of Local Government.
at was impossible for the people Of
Washington to sustain this burden, which
was not shared by their neighbors of
Georgetown and Alexandria, and as the
size OF the Government and with it the
population and needs of the city inereas-
ed, its municipal affairs went from had
to worse. Guided by their admirable
MAYORS lat first appointed by the PTeSi-
dent, but afterward elected, first by coun-
els and later by the people. assisted by
eouncllS) the Washingtonians doubtless
did their best to perform what was impos-
sible but, of course, failed Even when
Congress recognized this failure and pro-
vided for some of its indebtedness, 1t
made no material change IN the arrange
ment for nearly three-quarters of CEN
fury Indeed. II provided no form of gov
eminent for the entire District of ColuEa-
bia until 1871, and no permanent form OF
government for it until 1873, although in
1901 ii did establish 9 judicial system Tor
it Washington and Georgetown. and Al
exandriz Cuntn, grown tired of the unre-
ciprocai arrangement, she induced the
nation IN 1875 to let Virginia take back
the territory south of the Fotomacl, had
each separate municipal government,
while a levy cert of justices of the peace
in Washington county and a county court
of justices of the peace in Alexandria
county looked after the regions outside Of
the towns. The United States, owning
more than half of the real estate Of the
District of Columbia, was Tor nearly
three fourths of the century like q Yis-
cit m
es, and making but small direct eontri-
buttons to meet the expenses of the city
of Washington, or OF the District of Co
fumbia It spent over 500, e00, GOO in the
District IN that time On public buildings
and their surroundings, Including ocea-
sionaI contributions to local objects, but
1t left the citizens to carry out the rest
of Washington's plans. and TO maintain
local government.
1T was not until after the civil war had
made tho National Capital known 10 the
whole country and eRdeared to tWo-thiT6s
Of 1t as never before; it was not until it
had been commended FOR by the bravest ar
mics ever aTFaysd in battle. that the na-
tionai interest in il induced Congress to as
sumo the nations share of its Government
and its burden. The National Govern
meat, ceased to have a transient feeling
and the talk of the removal or the Capital
vest Of the Mississippi could for the first
time be treated humorously- The hun
dreds Of thousands Of men whom the de-
Eands OF war first brought TO Washington
came from ali the States and Territories.
Many Of them went home again to tell the
people how homely Washington was yet
how well worth fighting for: many remain
sd as citizens. while others gave their lives
that it might continue to be the Capital
Of the United States. From these men
sprang its new lie
Era Before the War.
'sThe history OF the District Of Column
bia falls naturally into two chapters The
first covers the seventy-one years in which
it had no real existence. It was neither
dead nor alive. although It had name to
live For forty-six years the cities of
Washington, Georgetown. and Alexandria
lived independently. but in more or less
harmony within the limits Of the District
OF Columbia
Then - Alexandria withdrew. while
washington and Georgetown lived on the
same terms for twenty-five years more.
but with constantly increasing community
of interest. Washington. as the actual
seat CT Government. naturally grew as the
nation grew, and much more rapidly than
Gts older neighbors- With selected pop
ulatIon, representing from the beginning
tbs best elements Of the whole country,
brought together largely in connection
with the National Government which at
first boasted Of long tenure % Office. Wash
fngton developed g local life unique In
character II shared with GEORGETOWN q
peculiarly refined and cultivated society,
and an especially intelligent citizenship. II
had cosmopolitan tone and view before
the days Of constant and general world
travelling. It had the consciousness Of be-
ing distinguished by the presence Of the
National Government, and By events IN the
eountry's history Members Of the Dfplo-
matte Corps ana European travellers who
wrote about the National Capital in tie
aTst half OF the century admitted all this.
even when they made sharp criticisms of
ITS physical appearance and temporary de-
feets II comfort end convenience. It is
EASY to see, in the letters and reIainfs-
cenees Of the Washingtonians Of that tine
that life here had favor and interest rot
found IL any other American cities Wash
ingtoEians thought nationally more than
the people OF othsr cities and showed a
pecuaisT public spirit as they ensIsavored
HOW TO BREAK UP A COLD.
'sIn the winter OF 1888 and 1883 was taken
down with severe Ettack Of Ia zripee,' sayx
, I. hewitt. the Eelt-knoSn druggist OF
Eia1eid. SIC. The only En4iicinc I sFsad vas