Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-11

nue. and of 10th street, the construction Of
the Anacostia and Piney Branch bridges,
and the reconstruction of the AQueduct bridge
and the erection of the District government
building. All these things have come
within the last seven years. In the same
period there have been notable improve
ments in our general laws. especially those
of social character, In addition to those
already indicated. including compulsory edu-
cation, medical inspection of public schools
and provision of truant officials, the regu-
lation of the sale of poisons, drugs and
chemicals, of employment agencies, of saw
ings banks, of markets and. slaughter
houses, of safety in theaters and other pub
lie places and of the character Of theater
performances, of the sale or gift of intoxi-
cants to minors. the neglect of families by
husbands and similar subjects.
Provision has been made for the steady
elimination Of insanitary and dangerous
buildings. and the conversion of alleys into
minor streets, and for the drainage OF lots
and the removal of nuiSanceS and the con-
nection of property with sewers. tuber-
culosis hospital, a home for the aged and
tnfirm, girls reform school, an Industrial
home school for colored children. have
been secured. Constant Improvement has
been made In health, building and police
regulations, and in their enforcement.
Advance in Municipal Affairs.
1t Is impossible, in this brief reference.
to give any adequate idea of the advance
which has been made in the municipal af-
fairs since 1878, and it is equally impos-
sible for lack of time to give any adequate
idea Of the general growth and progress Of
the District of Columbia for that period.
Every one knows how the city of Wash
ington has grown out over the hills and
how town after town has grown up beyond
its borders. Every one knows how the street
railway system, taken altogether one of the
best in the country, has brought the far
thest suburbs nearer to the heart of the
city of Washington than Georgetown used
to be. The increase in the volume of the
financial resources of all the financial in
situations from (estimateD $4,000. 600 to
$1O0, 100000. is an indication of the success
in business. But all that has been done
to make Washington beautiful. rich and
attractive, physically and morally, is, as
we all feel, but the beginning of what is
to be done to make it the most perfect
capital in the world
At the celebration of it's centenary in 1900
we had vision of what it might be at
the end of it's second century. We saw
the whole District of Columbia, fully COW
cred with public and private improvements,
its buildings set in perfect, system Of
parks, parkways and boulevards, it's pub
lie structures grouped tremendously and
all in perfect architecture. We saw Penn
sylvania avenue lined on both sides with
public buildings and parks with trees and
statues and monumental structures. the
noblest street on earth. We saw private
architecture diversified but harmonious
with the public models. We saw ell the
services developed to the highest degree.
We saw model schools which We're neigh
borhood houses and related to model play
grounds. We saw in every department of
the civic life, the care Of the sick. and
the prevention of disease, the administra-
ton of justice, and the prevention of crime,
and every other field the most complete
application Of the best ideas and inven-
lions.
A Commercial Emporium.
tha Of "a o.
toms idea that the national capital should
| be "a commercial emporium" without
spelling its beauty or reducing its attrac-
tiveness, but rather increasing both. we
saw the execution of his last Will and tesla
ment in q university, national in scope and