Evening star., 1902-01-01
The Districts Yenr.

The Districts year closed yesterday with
n remarkable record of advancement and
with bright prospect Of further progress
toward it's ideal of municipal perfection.
Elsewhere in The Star today will be found
an exhaustive summary of the events OF
the year covering all lines of local activity
and happe ming. 1t Is unusually compre-
hensive in it's scope. and the net showing
IS of an active enterprfsng, intelligent
community. determined upon utilizing its
exceptional advantages to the full.
Two great projects for the realization or
the dream of the capital-makers were IN
augurated during the year. The Senate
started work upon the preparation of a
comprehensive plan for the Improvement OF
the public parks of the District. and. in a
measure connected with this scheme, the
steam railroads merged under single con-
troll agreed to erect "A union station re-
lieving the Mall of tracks and abolishing
grade crossings within the city.
1t is difficult TO estimate the full effects
of these two improvements. The park inn
provement plan will unauestionably result
in the development of Washington's nat
urai beauties, systematic the government
building enterprises and yield u maximum
of benefit to the people from the great
breathing spaces 50 wisely provided by ihe
founders. Even If not fully executed for
another generation. the provision for this
work will Immediately rebound to WASH
ington's benefit. through the influence OF
the fact of the governments tardy awak-
ening to a correct appreciation OF the cap
itals position and requirements.
The grade-crossing legislation and the
subsequent agreement TO remove the tracks
from the Mall and to erect union station
can not fail to improve conditions In gen.
eral apart from the vast betterment In the
immediate surroundings of the railroad
properties. present and prospective. In
this alone Washington has leaped ahead TO
a position from which 1t may soon become
leading railroad terminal in point OF the
perfection Of the equipment of the rail-
roads and the establishment of right rela-
tions between railroads and people.
The enactment of code was the most
important item of local legislation apart
from those Just mentioned, giving the Dis
trict a comprehensive, modern system or
laws Other acts affecting the capital great
ly helped to advance the material prospects
Of the community. The financial relations
between the District and the federal
government became somewhat embarrassed
as result of continued invasions of the
organic act in the past, but as the year
closed a disposition appeared in Congress
to solve the attendant problems wisely and
for the good of the capital.
The exceptionally long death list includes
the names of many men who were promi-
nent in building up the substantial interests
of Washington. founders of the prosperity
which has been enjoyed by the District
since the civil war. This coincidence of
notable losses was doubtless due to the
fact that that highly esteemed generation
is now approaching the close of it's natural
course, and as one by one the men pass
away who have made the Washington of
the last half century they are given a full
meed of sincere praise by those who are
now shouldering the burden of maintaining
the capitals prestige,
The year has brought prosperity to the
District. Its business interests have suf-
fered no setbacks, its people have increased
in wealth. home-buiIders, the index of a
communty's condition. have multiplied as
never before. and the new year opens with
every prospect that Washington In 1902 will
advance with unprecedented strides toward
the attainment of the ideal which today
animates every active, intelligent, progress
siye Washngtonian.