The Washington times., 1902-09-13

1
sewers worthy of the name Tiber Creek
ran through the center Ct the city, the
old canal had become a cesspool in the
vicinity of the Center Market and from
| it arose miasInic gases. which, with other
surrounding conditions. made Washing
ton the home of malaria and disease.
Only those who lived in old Washington
! thirty-odd years ago, ant who have sur
vived to see the beautiful city of today
are able TO fully appreciate the trans
formation which was accomplished by
Alexander R. Shepherd
The First Change of Government.
About 1870 Congress abolished the
municipal government and established
a territorial form. with a board of pub
| lie works. Henry d. Cooke, then presi-
dent of the First National Bank, was
appointed governor by President Grant,
and Alexander r. Shepherd was made
president of The board of public works.
Mr.. Shepherd was a man of force,
energy. and determination, and he re-
solved to begin work at once TO improve
the city. Governor Cooke was little
more than governor in name, for. Mr..
Shepherd ran things" and because he
did so he was soon dubbed Boss
Shepherd. This did not deter him.
He induced the Territorial Legisla
ture, which he dominated to q large eX
tent, to authorize the issuance OF bonds
in a large sum for the purpose of max
ing improvements President Grant ap
proved Shepherds course, and with the
aid of influential friends in Congress,
including James G. Blaine he was able
to begin his big undertaking. He sue
Ial In, int inc toll frf in
York, and thus obtained the money by
the sale of the bonds for the purposes
he had outlined.
Building the New Capital.
Soon he had an army of men at work,
literally turning Washington upside
down Hills were leveled and hollow
places filled up. Streets in some places
for a time looked like huge tunnels and
deep cuts; avenues and highways were
opened up In accordance with the gen
eral plan of the city as contemplated
and laid out by L'Enfant.
Mr.. Shepherd had not more than got
ten his work under way when there came
the failure OF Jay Cooke. Jay Cooke was
a brother of Governor Cooke, and with
his crash followed the failure of the
Cooke was president This led Governor
Cooke to resign. and the President
thereupon appointed Mr. Shepherd, then
president of the board of public works,
as governor of the District This office
he held for two years, during which time
he carried his plans TO a successful is
sue. Sewers were built. sidewalks con
structed, water pipes laid. parks,
squares. and circles were developed, the
old canal in the vicinity of the market
was filled. Tiber Creek was turned into
a huge sewer, and dozen and one
other improvements. necessary to the
city's material progress and healthful
ness were inaugurated.
During his administration the old |
slovenly city of Washington disappeared |
and in its place arose the "City of Mag |
nificent Distances" with modern i'm
provements, to which were soon added. |
when the public spirit OF the citizens |
was aroused, fine residences. churches. |
schools, hotels markets, and public |
Expenditures Frightened Residents.
But the vast expenditure of money |
which all these vast undertakings de-
manded frightened the people, many Of
whom roundly denounced the man who.
with remarkable foresight, prudence. and
determination, was building for the flu
ture. Every possible effort was made
to interfere with his work and to stay
him, but the greater the obstacle placed
in his way the greater energy he aroused
TO overcome It. Many instances of this
are now cited by older residents of
The case of the old North Liberty
Market is well remembered. 1t was
oil sheds and tumble down
buildings, used as a market. They were
IN Government property, in Mount YER
lon Square, where the Carnegie Ii