Evening star., 1901-12-14
given Washington the appearance of a city
built in a forest.

given Washington the appearance of a city
built in forest.
Triumph for Americas Haussmann.
Into a space OF less than three years
Shepherd and his lieutenants injected the
delayed activity of three-quarters Of a CEN
tury, creating Washington as 1t Is known
| today. The effect of their labor was at
once seen in rapid increase in population,
and an even more rapid rise in real estate
values, but the American Haussmann
shared the too frequent fate of the inno-
yator. He had done his work roughly and
hastily, though thoroughly, and had cre-
ated the while numerous body of power
full and active enemies, who, keenly alive
to the large Indebtedness 1t created, failed
on the other hand to appreciate the incom-
parably large results it insured. He was
given no credit for his successes, and only
curses for his failures; and, though not a
dishonest dollar was discovered to bear wit
| ness against him, he was driven from Office
in disgrace and virtually ostracised in the
city he had done more than any other to
| make beautiful and prosperous. A few
years later he became financially embar-
rassed, and was forced to exile himself to
Mexico, hoping to repair in it's silver mines
his shattered fortune This hope has been
abundantly realized, and he is now one Of
the wealthieSt men in our sister republic.
Better STILL he has lived long enough to see
his vtndication, to be royalty welcomed
back to Washington, and to hear its citi-
zens discussing the proprfety of erecting a
statue to his honor.
Perhaps Shepherds greatest service to
his native city was an unconscious one.
His own downfall was the downfall also Of
the government of which he was the mas
ter spirit An act passed by Congress in
June, 1874, abolished the form of govern
ment under which the remaking of the city
had been carried forward and with 1t the
elective franchise. To replace the old or
DER Congress temporarily provided gov
ernment by three Commissioners, at the
same time guaranteeing the interest and
principal of the bonds issued for the new
improvements, and making provision for
the preparation Of a permanent form of
government. These pledges were duly re-
deemed in an act passed in June 1878
which lodged the affairs of the District in
the hands of a board of three Commission
ers-two civilians, appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate, and an
engineer officer, detailed from the army.
The Lack of Local Suffrage.
Although many good citizens may regret
that in the national capital taxation with
out representation is the basic principle of
what. in the language of the Supreme
Court of the United States, is the final
judgment Of Congress as to the system Of
government which should obtain it is gen.
erally admitted that for the District of CO.
lumbla the present form of government is
the best possible. Free from scandal Of
every sort, successive boards of Commits
sloners of ability and character have ad-
mlnlStered the affairs of the District dur
ing the past twenty-Seven years more eff
clently and economically than the affairs Of
any other American municipality have been
administered and to such general satisfac-
tlOn that there has been no lasting criti-
clsm Indeed, to quote the words of an ex-
per1enced and acute observer Washington
Is one of the best governed cities in the
world There Is no political party to profit
from the knavery Of contractors or the find
ing of places for henchmen, no boss to
whom universal tribute is paid. Its streets
are clean and well-lighted, its policemen
polite and conscientious, its fire department
prompt and reliable. Its care for the public
health and Of the sick and INDECENT admir-
able, and it's rate of taxation one Of the
lowest In the country. The greatest virtue
OF its government is that it is distinctly a
government of public opinion. The unusu-
ally high intelligence CT its citizens and
their remarkable interest and activity in
the conduct of It's affairs make them its
real rulers under the constitutional author
1ty of the President and Congress-
washington, under it's present form of
government, has doubled in population and
wealth; nor has there been any break in
the work of making it the most beautiful
OF capitals. In this private initiative and
public spirit have gone hand in hand Many
of the later residents of the capital have
been people Of wealth or of fixed incomes
who have become inhabitants because of it's
superior attractions. while it has also grown
TO be the favorite resting place for retired
government officers, especially of the army
and navy, and the most freQuented work
shop for literary men in all branches Of
their professions. Thence has sprung the
erection OF an increasing number of pri-
vate residences which lend to Washington
one OF Its most pervadfng charms. These
houses are of as many designs as their own
ers have minds and tastes. but they carry
domestic architecture to the height of COM
fort and beauty and almost invariably they
stand free and clear amid fenceless lawns
and the welcome loveliness of an embowcr-
ing shade: There Is no space to describe the
palaces of those who seek to make the city
a social capital. One would go far In Eu-
rope or America and not find so delightful
q residential street as Massachusetts ave-
nue.: 1t has not the ostentation of New
York or Chicago. but 1t has more charm
Notable Public improvements.
Meanwhile. there have been noteworthy
and imposing additions to the great public
buildings at Washington. Other new struc-
tures not devoted to the business Of the
national government, but worthy Of men,
ton. are the new Corcoran Art Gallery and
the public library. now in process of erec-
ton, toward which Andrew Carnegie has
given several hundred thousand dollars.
''The work Of beautifying the city prom
and there has been perfected in the cur.
rent year Q9O) most comprehensive
scheme for the development of its present
park system, to be prosecuted during a
long period. and which will involve the
reclamation OF large areas Of swamp land
along the Potomac and several islands in
that stream. Much Of the land fronting the
river has already been reclaimed and con-
verted into park that stretches from the
Capitol west past the White House and
constitutes the mall, in which are situated
the Smithsonian Institution, the National
Museum and the Department Of Agricul-
ture. Broad boulevards are to be cut
through the mail and the Botanical Gar
dens. past the Capitol and sweep around
the terraced bank of the Potomac on the
heights Of Anacostia. from which point the
park system. with its boulevards, will be
extended northward skirting the city to the
Maryland line and then around the semi
circle to Georgetown. Coincident with this
work and under the supervision of the
skilled architects having it in charge It is
pre- posed to carry to completion the present
system OF streets and avenues. to bring
water into the city to supply a projected
group of fountains and to indicate proper
sites Tor additional statues and public
buildings. Other improvements which have
been much discussed and which promise to