The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-10-09
WASHING LETTER


Over a century ago, largely through
the influence Of George Washington
congress consented to locate the ma
tional capital On the banks Of the 70
tomac about twelve miles above Mount
Vernon. For many years after the
actual removal Of the seat Of govern
ment from Philadelphia the new city
had hard struggle for existence. Pub
lie Golfers were practically empty and
taxes were hard to collect.
Growth Of the Capital.
The period from 1870 to 1874 marked
new era in the capitals history. Dur
ing this time Governor Shepherd, a
truly remarkable man, who appears to
some to have been a crafty politician
and who is recognized by all as having
been the founder Of the new Washing
ton. was at the very height of his pow
er. He graded streets, planted trees,
dug sewers, costing what then seemed
fabulous sums, and spent about So, O00,-
900 for wooden street pavements.
which soon rotted away. In about
three years he incurred debt equal to
the price paid TO Spain for the Phillip
pines. Congress was aghast- at this
enormous expenditure, although much
of 1t was justified, as results have
shown. And so In 1874 the government
was changed from the then existing
territorial form to the system now In
operation. After quarters of a
century of viclssitudes the city was
finally firmly established. The last
three decades, which really include all
Of its life since Washington had been
city Of any size, have brought uni
form prosperity In less than half d
century the population has grown won
derfully, Increasing from $4,000 in 1860
to $4,000 in 1906.
For National Art Gallery.
Papers have just been signed COM
pleting the formal transfer Of the IA
nous Freer collection of Whistler
paintings and etchings to the govern
ment The pictures are to remain in
Mr.. Freer's home during his lifetime.
but plans are under way which will
probably result in the establishment of
gallery for the special exhibition Of
the pictures within a short time. 1t is
proposed to have a @uilding on the
Smithsonian grounds where the pic
lures may be installed The building
will be provided with studios for the
accommodation Of art students.
Paintings In National Museum
The Smithsonian institution, to which
has been presented the Harriet Lane
Johnston collection of portraits, is pre-
pairing to place these pictures on exhi-
billion in the National museum. 1t will
be the first time In the history of the
museum that paintings have been ex-
hibited. The collection comprises paint
ings by Italian and English masters.
The Jamestown Exposition.
The tercentennial commission has al
lotted the space each department Of
the government will have for Its ex-
hibits at the jamestown exposition
and has likewise apportioned the APP
preparation among the departments.
According to the floor allotments, the
space for the government will be divid-
ed as follows: State department. 1,700
square feet; treasury department.
$500 square feet; Justice, 1900; inte-
rior, 6,70O; agriculture, 5000; Library
of Congress, 200; bureau Of American
republics, 1.5O0; postoftice department,
5000; war department, 10000; navy,
1900; commerce and labor, 5000,
which includes the life saving exhibit;
Smithsonian and National museum,
5000.
Life Saving Exhibit.
w. NJ. Geddes, secretary of the gov.
eminent commission, believes the life
saving exhibit by reason Of access to
water will be the finest and most real
istlc ever made by the government. |
He says the government is getting Its
buildings and exhibits ready, and all
will be complete at the time for the
opening Of the exposition.
Dog Too Big For Longworth Home.
Newest Of the members Of the dog
tribe abiding in the White House is a
Great Dane, presented to Miss Alice
Roosevelt just before her marriage by
DIR. Sophia N. Jung. Or. Jung attend
ed Miss Roosevelt from the early days
of whooping cough, Group and the
measles, and more than ordinary affec-
tion exists between the two. The
Great Dane still is unnamed. He has
been boarding ON farm where all the
arlstocratic dogs Of Washington spend
the summer. But he will make his
home In the White House this winter,
for the Longworth domiclle Is not the
proper size for such an animal.
Bureau of soils.
One of the most important Of the
government departments and one
which is continually working in the
sole interest OF the farming class is the
bureau Of soils Of the department OF
agriculture. This bureau was estab-
Ilshed only seven years ago, but since
that time it has expanded to a high de-
gree and is now one Of the important
branches Of the department.
work OF the bureau.
The work Of the bureau Is Of much
Importance to the country as a whole.
In brief, Its work may be said to con
slst Of locating the soils on which the
products of the land can best be cultl-
vated and publishing the result Of its
Investigations, giving the same wide
spread distribution to the farming class
of the country. It has stan Of expert
soil physicists Of much ability.
Xane Pt.ss 4rf,, a ,se.n Z.