The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24

admiration OF its local position. From
the Capitol you have a distant view of its
fine undulating surface, situated at the
confluence Of the Potomac and it's East
ern Branch, the wlue eXpanse of that ma
jestic river TO the bend at Mount Vernon,
the cities Of Alexandria and Georgetown,
and the cultivated fields and blue hills
Of Maryland and Virginia. on either side
of the river, the whole constituting a
prospect Of sUrpa ssing beauty and grand
eur. The city has also the inestimable
advantage of delightful water, in many
instances from cOpiOuS springs, and al
ways attainable by digging moderate
depth; to which may be added that such
is the due admiNture Of clay and loan
in the soil Of a great portion of the city,
that house may be built OF brick made
Of the earth dug from the cellars; hence
II was not unsual to see the remains Of
a brick kiln near the newly elected dwell
ing house or other ediice.
In short, when we consider not only
these advantages, but what in national
point of view is Of supreme Importance,
the location on a fine naVigable river, ac-
cesslble to the whole maritime frontiers
of the United States. and yet rendered
easily defenSiblc against foreign invasion,
and that by the facilities of Internal navi-
cation it may be approached by the popu-
latiOn of the Western States, and, indeed
of the whole nation, with less inconven-
ience than any conceivable situation, we
must acknowledge that its selection by
Washington as the permanent seat Of the
Federal Government affords striking
exhibition of the discernment, wisdom,
and forecast which characterized that IL
lustrious man.
Under this impression. whenever. dur
! ing the six years of my connection with
I Congress. the question OF removing the
seat of Government to some other place
was agitated-and the proposition was
frequently made stood almost alone as
a Northern man in giving my vote in
the negative
Washington was. indeed. a very primi-
tive place. even in the memory of some OF
the older inhabitants now living. few
of these recall the time when hogs sought
admission into the legislative halls, and
were to be seen making their way along
Pennsylvania Avenue, in assertion OF the
principle of liberty in its broadcast sense.
Indeed, the palings which, but few
years ago, enclosed all parking. was a
necessary measure against the possible
depredations of porcine intruders. Worse
than this, sewerage was unknown. and
mounds of garbage were to be found in
what are now business sections of the
city. J. a. Wineberger. member of the
Oldest Inhabitants Association has the
following to say I'm this connection:
y remember said Mr.. Wineberger,
going with relative from the country
upon cunning expedition over the
ground now constituting one Of the most
thickly populated parts of Washington
\ large mound of refuse matter as high
as small house was encountered in
our ramble. and some birds happening
just then TO alight on the top Of this
noisome heap, NV cousin insisted on hav-
ing shot at them. To this end he pro-
ceeded to climb to the top Of the mound,
/ remaining at the bottom. lie expert
enced no difficulty for perhaps half the
distance to the summit, hard crust hav-
ing formed sufficient to support his
weight. But just when he was about half
way up. and was continuing his progress
with all the ardor of a sportsman, the
superficial crust gave way. and he fell
waist deep into the mound. After some
difficulty he succeeded in extricating him
self from his very unpleasant position.
Near this mound was a stream of consid-
cradle extent, at that time, at what is
now the intersection of Fifth and q
Streets, in which, by the by, a man was
once drowned.