Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-18
BEAUTIFYIgIlG)THE CITY
How Washington Has Been
Embsa|llisshed.
IT'S PLAN 4 UNIQUE ONE
A GLORIOUS FUTURE OPENING
BEFORE THE CAPITAL.
Creations In Art Help to Stimulate the
Moral and Economic Life
Of tho People.
IT'S PLAN a UNIQUE ONE

reminiscent MOOD. washington was really
discovered by the people Of the country
during the civil war, and when It was dis
covered 1t was found to be a city whose
buildings, whether for business or resi-
dence, except of course the government
buildings. were constructed after what Is
known as carpenters architecture. They
had straight fronts. fiat roofs and uni
form cornice. There were sameness and
tameness everywhere. and rarely any at
tempt to secure individuality in construc-
ton. The city was then during the six
ties) in the senior year of the course of
studies discovered by the Mock Turtle as
being the regular course Of the school at
the bottom of the sea. described in that
charming study in sociology by Lewis Car
roll entitled "Alice's Adventures in Won
derland." The Mock Turtle, you remember.
having described the school in general
way. said to Alice: II only took the regular
course" What was that % inquired Alice
"Reelng and writhng, of course, to begin
with" the Mock Turtle replied; land then
the different branches of arithmetic-ambi-
ton. distraction. qualification and derision."
One Hundred Years Ago.
A hundred years or more ago, with the
expansive plan of rEnfant. with the cupid
ity Of buyers Of real estate at the east Of
the proposed Capitol. Washington went
L
was elective in the highest degree Specu-
lation. disappointment and many other ele-
ments drove the settlement to the west, and
the new town took It's sophomore course in
distraction. These courses were of short
duration: but when the city entered upon
Its junior course and took up publication It
practiced the plan Of uglfying for more
than half a century. 1t succeeded how
ever, and passed with credit marks into
the senior year of its three-quarters of a
o,I L.
course in derision when 1t was discovered.
1t was graduated, then from the whole
course. having industriously and conscien-
tiously passed its years Of ambition, dis
traction. qualification and derision summa
cum laude
AS a result of the discovery growing out
OF the fact that vast numbers Of our people
visited Washington during the war and the
years Immediately following it, the country
awOke to the fact that the city was the
seat Of the national capital. Congress itself
was hardly aware Of it and had never done
much to improve it. There were quarrels
and discussions. vague and dreamy sug-
gestions. but little or no practical effort on
the part Of the federal legislat ure to i'm
prove and beautify a city that had every
possibility for improvement and for beauti-
flying. The main plans on which 1t was
founded were preserved to be sure, In great
degree. 1t was known as the city Of mag
nificent distances but the distances were
the only magnif1cence to be found here In
all its period up to the early seventies it
was dirty, filthy. uncoath place-ragged
and plain. s- ...'y .s
Animals on the Streets.
Fowls and animals. especially swine were
seen everywhere. 1t was a surprise to Wis
itors passing along the streets and avenues
Of the city to find their way disputed by the
porkers. 1 have seen swine roofing In the
streets within half square of the White
House. Pavements were rare, and those
that existed were abominable The streets
were almost impa SSable for heavy wagons
after a slight rain. and 1 have seen army
wagons passing along New York avenue
between 10th and 18th streets even sink to
the hubs in the mire.
But change came. and the city owes the
change much to the pig as to anything
else. While additionally the cackle of a
goose set Rome free, 1t was the roofing of
a pig that gave Washington its impetus
and prevented the removal Of the capital to
some city where municipal government had
some force and power. Under the old char
tiers the boards of health had little or no
power and hardly any activity. A distin-
guished senator-and this story was related
to me by one of the participants. and while
l have given the story in another place. 1t
Is appropriate here-a distinguished senator
was very much annoyed one morning, after
completing the terrace about his new house,
to find that the pigs had rooted 1t up, and,
although he promptly shot one or two of
them, he was nevertheless very much exer-
duce bill for the removal of the capital,
on the ground that the capital of the United
States ought to be located in a city where
the municipal government had some public
spirit, and force enough to make 1t a place
suitable for a residence for the President
and Congress. Ny informant begged him
to do nothing Of the kind. but, on the con-
trary; to secure the passage Of bill which
would give the board of health proper
power. After considerable remonstrance
the senator agreed to this course, and he
acted upon his conclusion.
An Act Against Pigs.
AS result there is found in the act pro-
viding government for the District Of CO.
lumbia provision for a board of health.
whose duty it is to declare what shall be
deemed nuisances injurious to the health
and providing for the removal thereof, and
to make and enforce regulations to prevent
domestic animals from running In the
streets or the cities of Washington and
Georgetown. This became part Of the or
ganic law OF the new government estab
lished at that time, and the action of the
senator referred to had much influence afd III in
securing that act. This was In 1870 or 1871.
so 1t was pig that led to the removal
OF his kind from the streets and avenues Of
the city of Washington. 1 have seen some
descriptions of the proposed plans for beau
tfying Washington. but I have seen no
suggestion for the erection Of a statue to
the principal mover IN bringing about the
revolution OF the seventies, Wnen WaSnlng-
ton passed from raseIifbr course in deris-
ton. dtsQa
From that period TO- tfieapresent Washing
ton has steadily progressed. Her residential
portions are extensiSsffand beautified by
varied Architectural THE ethical and eco
nomic effects of thIse movement are in evil
dence everywhere. Phetaaty has taken on
new character, and dts. economic prosperity
has advanced In marvellous degree.
Planned for a, Capital.
Washington has had tilaigreat advantage.
so far as my recolleetions serves. of being
the only city founded and planned for the
capital Of great nations1sAll. or nearly all,
other capitals haveTbeeb selected for the
seats OF governmense but washington was
made for this purposa1 Ittshould. therefore,
have had the patriotfn support of the peo-
pie and the active support OF Congress In
making II what Its founders intended 1t
should De-the most beautiful and the most
attractive capital city Of the world. This
was the ambition, an ambition which was
lost through many degrading Influences.
We are now entering upon another am
bilious period. with the design and the earn
est purpose OF carrying out the original
plans In all their perfectness and grandeur.
We have now, In all probability, as beau
tiful a capital city in many respects
as any nation, but with It's surround
Ing territory, its rolling country and
all It's natural advantages. together