The National tribune., 1900-02-15
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.

Here is u StfOilS wave OF puoilc sehli-
ment in favor of improving Pennsylvania
Avenue by taking the land on the south
side for public buildings. This would
make it the finest avenue in the world, as 1t
should be. A beginning was made some
years ago by locating there the Postoff1ce
Building, superb granite structure, cost
ing about $4.OoO,0OO. The next step
proposed is the erection of fine municipal
building for the city OF Washington. This
is greatly needed. The municipal offices
are now located around in various places,
generally in rented buildings, not favorably
arranged for their accommodation. All
the Senators and Representatives seem
very strongly in favor of locating all the
public buildings in future along the south
side of the Avenue.
Col S. n. Hawkins. New Richmond,
Wis, who is now in tn city for a week
trying to get away for awhile from terrible
memories, has had an experience such as
fortunately comes TO few men. He served
through the war as an enlisted man in the
18th and 51st Wis Upon his discharge
he studied law, was admitted to the bar,
married n charming girl, settled at New
Richmond, Wis, and became prominent
and active in building up "A pleasant little
town. He was successful in his profes-
sion. helpful in developing manufacturing
enterprises, and prominent in politics,
church, temperance, and fraternal socie-
ties. He was Commander of his Post,
District Attorney for his County, and
Mayor of his town. He had delightful
home. fine office, and library of which
he was justly proud. Around him grew
up family of educated, capable SONS
and daughters. upon whom he and his
wife leaned as the staffs of their old age.
He took one of his SONS in as partner in
| as stcnographer and typewriter. Up to the
afternoon of June II life seemed as fair
| for him rs it could to any man in the world.
| Then storm came up which at first boded
nothing serious. but in an instant tore
| through the fair little town "a deadly
swath 500 feet wide, leaving appalling
! destruction in its wake In a moments
time his pleasant home was destroyed, his
wife. son, two daughters, a niece. and
| fathcr-n-law and the hired girl were killed
and himself and another son were badly
crushed. All his horses, cows, furniture,
books, papers, and the precious mementoes
and accumulations of a lifetime were swept
away by the storm and the fire which
| followed it. More than 200 other buildings
were destroyed at the same time, and lis
people killed. The loss of property was
about 81 100000. Comrade Hawkins, who
has been appointed an Aid on the staff
of the Commander-in-Chief did not sink
under his terrible blow, but for the sake
is Of the two SONS yet remaining TO hin
is br;ively striving to rebuild his shattered
| fortune.
They don't burn negro assailants OF
white women in the District of Columbia
but they give them sentences which make
the teeth of such criminals chatter. L2si
| week six young negroes who were con.
| victcd of a criminal attack upon a young
white woman last July were each sen
fenced to 80 years in the peniten tilry al
Moundsville, w. Va. The seventh. q
boy under 16, was sentenced to the Reform
School until he passed his majority.
| $Hs
The Commissioners propose a general
demolition and removal of dilapidateG
and unsightly buildings in the city.
The building contractors complain thai
| there is a greedy octopus in the shape
of n sand trust. and are taking steps II
| fight it. A dredge has been launched thai
will suck up 75 cubic yards of sand an houl
out of the bed of the river
Representative Berry, of Kentucky
introduced bill providing for three-cen
fares on the tramways in the District O
| Columbia, but the District Committee re
ported adversely The tramway peopl,
claim that the fares are now as low as posi-
bic. considering the liberal system o
transfers. 1tnow costs 2.6 cents to transport
each passenger.
The police have issued special badges t.
| the drivers of the carriages of the Diplo
matte Corps. This is not, as many hav,
supposed, to give that class Of Jehus al
the privileges of ex-territoriality and allow
them to disregard regulations as to carry
| ing lights, driving on the right side of tn,
street, fast driving, etc. They will be JUS
as subject to the regulations as ever. excep
that the badges will pass them through
police lines on occasions Of great public
| functions.
Gen. r. G. Dyrenforth, Commander-in
Chief of the Union Veterans Union. who
has been dangerously ill. is now recov
ering at Garfield Memorial Hospital Com
rades and friends visit the hospital daily
to inquire about Gen. Dyrenforth. Las
week he received call from Speaker Hen
| derson.