Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-07-06
st. Louis Republic.

| tai defeated candidate for reelection,
and his short stay Of four months was
em5ittered by the thought of his early
leaving. Society, what there was of it,
was formal and ceremonious, a marked
difference from the lack of etiquette
which ushered in the reign of Jeffer-
sonian simplicity. Thomas jefferson
succeeded President Adams as host of
the executive mansion, and the story
of his inaugura-the first inaugural
which the new capital had Witnessed
Is scantily prophetic of the pomp and
beauty Of the pageant of the present
4th of March.
During the eight years of Thomas
Jefferson's Presidency the White House
was truly the house of the people. He
was\a widower when he came to the
office, so the duties of receiving lady"
had devolved upon the wife of Madi-
son, then Secretary of State-the lovely
Dolly of song and story, who was par
excellence the beauty" in the DAYS
when Madison was President.
The city grew but slowly during
Jeferson's term of office. At it's close
it contained only 5000 inhabitants n
result largely due to the continued agi-
tation for the removal of Congress. Tie
Inauguration of President Madison y,as
scene of somewhat more ceremony
than the lack of it displayed in 1900.
Society began to fiutter about the capl-
tai. Mrs. Madison started return to
the ceremonious regime of President
Adams. She held levees and gave court
dinners and balls, and assemblies were
everywhere the rule of the hour
In the midst of the sounds of gayety
the clash of arms soon intermingled
Its alarum, and before the President
could realize its approach war with
England had been declared, the strug-
gle known to history as the "war of
1872" Two years later Washington it.
self suffered the shock of an invasion.
The city was in state of almost in
credible unreadiness, and when the
British general and his soldiers march
ed up the streets of the newly built
town they met with little opposition
worthy of anything like the name. One
after another the public buildings fell
victims to the fireman's torch. The
uncompleted Capitol fell first tile
White House soon shared the same
fate.
The British occupancy of the capital
lasted only single day, but the dam
age effected was incalculable. A
wooden building was hastily erected
for Congress, which afterward became
known to fame as the "Old Capitol
Prison" Madison rented the Octagon.
celebrated dwelling standing on New
York avenue and Eighteenth street, in
which he signed the treaty Of peace
with England which terminated the
war. The wings of the Capitol were
rebuilt in 1917. The following year the
central portion was started and the
original building was completed in
1927. This early erection still forms
the central division Of the present i'm
posing Capitol. The corner stone of the
extensions was laid In 1851, and the
whole was finished in 1867, the dome
being added and completed in 1868.
The modern city of Washington dates
its activity, It's life and its beauty from
the presidency Of Gen. Grant. Up to
1871 the capital was dirty, unkempt
and provincial, but from that time on
Congress repented of its niggardly pro-
vision for the care of the city and mon
ey was provided for much-needcd i'm
provements. The surface of the town
was leveled and drained, trees were
planted in profusion along the avenues
and streets, parks were laid out AMI
beautified, homes and official buildings
were made attractive and comcly and
the present era Of Washington's pros
perity began.
If recent plans contemplating addi-
tions to the capitol are carried out tliir.
ty-nine rooms will be added to the ac-
commodations for House and Senate.
The change involved in the plans, how.
ever, will be in the nature Of a compile
tion rather than a mere alteration of
the structure as 1t now stands, inas.