The Washington herald., 1907-11-05
Rio dc Janeiro and Washington.

1t is a pity that every Senator and
Representative cannot read the report
recently submitted by Consul General
Anderson concerning the efforts to phys
ically improve the city OF Rio de ia
neiro. In the short space Of three years
something like S35. .0OO 600 have been ex-
pended in beautifying the city. one OF
the principal projects being the con
struction of a new avenue across the city.
plan of boulevards or driveways has
also been inaugurated. and hundreds of
houses have been torn down for the
widening of more than twenty miles Of
streets. Miles and miles of stone pave
ments and stone curbing have been laid,
provided, and "the entire city given an
open, sunny, sanitary lie"
The fact which is Of most interest 20
the people of Washington in connec-
ton with this transformation Is that the
Brazilian government seems TO have un-
dertaken the work without regard TO
the local resources Of Rio de Janeiro.
The municipality is a wealthy one. the
federal district being situated. we are
told, in the richest portion of the Bra
lillian republic, and the center of national
society. art, and national life generally.
1T is but natural" says Mr.. Anderson,
that Rio de Janeiro should have the
necessary influence in the federal gov
ernment OF Brazil TO secure large ap-
preparations for its betterment and that
the people of Brazil should take great
pride in the city and its improvements"
IL Is unfortunate that what seems to
be taken as a matter Of course in Rio
de Janeiro is not also natural enough
In Washington. In other words, We are
compelled TO regret that Washington is
not a city sufficiently influential and
wealthy to make an impression upon
Congress. The fact is, however. that
if the National Capital was rich and
populous, we would probably receive no
government aid whatever. We undoubt-
edly fare better because. as a munich
pality, We have no plethoric treasury.
In Brazil there seems 10 be a national
pride in the glory and prosperity OF
the capital city. In Mexico the same senti-
ment exists. for the City Of Mexico is de-
velOped by the federal government with
out regard TO the amount Of revenues from
local taxation. What is needed in this
country is a greater interest in the
progress and Identification OF Washing
ton. The people Of the District of CO.
lumbia DO not ask 10 be treated as
paupers or dependents. They sre ready
and willing and able 70 pay their full
share Of municipal expenses, and. in
deed, have borne ungrudgingly all the
burdens of taxation which Congress has
seen lit to place upon them. There is
more involved in this question. however.
than mere local development Washing
ton must be, in a very large and posi-
tive sense. representative of the entire
country. 1t is inevitably regarded as
reflection Of all that IS best or worst
in the national life. Vienna, Paris. St
Petersburg, Berlin, and London-these
are the cities TO which the Austrian.
Frenchman. Russian, German, and Eng
lishman refer with pride. They are 10
each one the epitome Of his nation.
Not because Of our residence IN Wash
ington. but because of our American
citizenship, we appeal for most gener
Gus national recognition of the Capital
City by Congress. Every dollar expend-
ed 10 elevate and beautify Washington is
a contribution to the common good.