The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-13

lion dollars. given BY Maryland aad Viz
| ginia. or raised by the sale Of lots. and
the outlining of few streets. little had
been done by the Government in the ten
years of preparation, and less. proper
tionately. had been done by private indi-
viduals. The Government had no money
to spare for such work from its scanty
treasure, and there were only a few thou
I.sand people here. There had been good
deal of speculation in the new-made real
estate lots. but there had been compare
lively little building en- them. IL Is not
strange that the members of the Go ern-
ment and Of the Diplomatic Corps looked
back regretfully frem the crude Capital
to the comforts and pleasures OF Phila-
delphia. Il 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 it's founder, as he doubtless int nd I'd
should be done But Congress left al
most all that wcrk to the few thousand
inhabitants. who were also expected to
provide most OF the cost of lice and
fire protection. and other municipal SER
vices. while Congress practically con-
fined it's appropriations TO the corstruc-
ton, repair. and maintenance OF the Gov
Development of Local Government.
ut was impossible for the people of
Washington to sustain this burden, which
was not shared by their neighbors Of
Georgetown and Alexandria. and az the
size of the Government and with it the
population and needs of the city increas-
ed, it's municipal affairs went from bad
to worse. Guided by their admirable
mayors lat first appointed by the FRESH
dent. but afterward elected. first by coun
ellis and later by the people, assisted by
councilsl. 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-quaTters Of CEN
tury. Indeed. it provided no form of gov
eminent for the entire District Of Column
bia until 1871. and no permanent form of
government for it until 1878. although In
1901 it did establish a judicial system for
1t. Washington and Georgetown. and Al
exandrla until. grown tired Of the unre-
ciprCcal arrangement. she induced the
nation in 1916 to let Virginia take back
the territory south of the Potomac). had
each separate municipal government,
while levy court of justices of the peace
in Washington County and county court
of justices Of the peace in Alexandra
County looked after the regions outside of
the towns. The United States, owning
more than half of the real estate of he
District Of Columbia, was for nearly
hree-fourtbs CT the century like a Wis
itor rather than citizen. paying no tax
es, and making but small direct contri-
buttons to meet the expenses of the city
of Washington. or Of the District of Co
lumbia. 1t spent over s90.O00.0O0 in the
District in that time on public buildings
and their surroundings, including occa-
sional contributions to local objects. but
it left the citizens to carry out the rest
of Washington's plans, and to maintain
LEGAL government.
1T was not until after the civil war had
made the National Capital known to the
whole country and endeared to two-thirds
of it as never before; il was not until it
had been contended for by the bravest ar
mics ever arrayed In battle. that the ma
tioral interest in it induced Congress to as
sumo the nations share of its Government
and its burden. The National Govern
ruent ceased to have transient feeling.
and the talk of the removal of the Capital
west of the Mississippi could for the first
time be treated humorously. The hum
ireds of thousands of men whom the de-
mands of war first brought to Washington
came from all the States and Territories.
Many of them want hoIue again to tell tho
people how homely Washington was. yet
low well worth fighting for; many remain
ed as citizens. while others gave their lives
hat it might continue to be the Capital
1f the United States. From these men
;prang its new life.
Era Before the War.
..1rI,o bi,,oru of ba nict-;ct af Cofuu,-
biz falls naturally into two chapters. The
irst covers the seventy-one years in which
It had no real existence. 1t was neither
lead nor alive. although it had name 10
live. For forty-six years the cities Of
Georgetown. and Alexandria
lived Independently. but in more or less
harmony within the limits CT the District
II Columbia.
Then Alexandria withdrew. while
and Georgetown lived on the
same terms Ior twenty-five years more.
put with constantly increasing community
Of interest. Washington. as the actual
seat of government, naturally grew as the
nation grew, and much more rapidly than
is older neighbors. With a selected pop
Ilation, representing from the beginning
he best elements of the whole country.
brought together largely in connection
with the National Government. which at
irst boasted OF long tenure OF Office. Wash
Egton developed a local life unique il
character. 1t shared with Georgetown
peculiarly refined and cultivated society,
md an especially intelligent citizenship. 1t
lad cosmopolitan tone and view before
he days OF constant and general world
travelling. 1t lad the consciousness Of be-
ng distinguished by the presence OF the
National Government. and BIZ events in the
,ountrys history. Members of the Diplo-
matte Corps and European travellers who
wrote about the National Capital in the
irst half Of the century admitted all this.
,ycn when they made sharp criticisms Of
is physical appearance and temporary de-
ects IN comfort and convenience. Vt is
.asy to- see, in the letters and rerninis-
ences of the Washingtonians of that time.
nat life here had favor and interest not
ound in any other American cities. Wash
ngtoniaEs thought nationally more than
he people of other cities, and showed
peculiar public spirit as they endeavored
o meet the obligations which the neglect
II the National Government imposed upon
hem in peace and in war.
ITO meet the local needs considerable
commercial and manufacturing interest
eyeloped with the growth OF the city, and
radually the taxable wealth increased
o that by 1860 it amounted to S54I per
apita. The civil war wrought great
hanges here. For the second time the
'hole District OF Columbia was recogniz-
d in practical legislation by the creat ton
a metropolitan police force. The ext
encies of the war times compelled in 9TH
r ways the recognition of the fact that
here was a District of Columbia. But
Congress- was too busy to take up any gen.
raj scheme for its Improvement until ten
ears later, when by the act OF February
l, 1871. it created a territorial form OF
overnment. with a Governor and : Legis-