The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-10-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.l

Congress will next winter provide fol
a magnificent new postof1ce building
for the city Of Washington, to be locat.
ed near the new Union station, If Rep
resentative Bartholdt Of Missouri,
chairman Of the house committee on
public buildings and grounds, can
bring it about
Improvements in the way Of addi-
tional facilities for the government are
needed in Washington" said Mr.. Bar
tholdt the other day. II would count
In that class a new building for the
bureau Of engraving and printing, or
at least additional space, in order to
afford more room and comfort for
those who are employed there and are
forced to spend large part Of their
lives in the building.
New City Postof7ee.
"My idea" continued Mr.. Bartholdt,
would be to have the new city post
Office as close as possible to the sta
ton and connected with it by subter-
ranean passageways, 30 that mail COM
ing in on the trains could be dropped
into receptacles provided for that pur-
pose and Immediately carried to the
postoflce. Under such system with
in ten minutes a letter could be on its
way to the addressed"
An estimate Of the approximate cost
Of the new postofhce building was not
ventured by Mr.. Bartholdt, but it is
understood that those who have had
the project under consideration est-
mate that it would cost upward Of
s1,00O,O0O. It would conform to the
stately architecture Of the new Union
station and the government structures
on the hill.
Other Structures Contemplated.
Mr.. Bartholdt does not stop at the
city postoff1ce and the bureau Of en-
craving and printing in recommending
new improvements for the national
capital. He believes the geological
survey is exceedingly cramped in its
present quarters and that new build
ing should be erected on the squares
bounded by Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets and Pennsylvania avenue and
the Mall for the departments Of state,
Justice and commerce and labor.
Dewey Rents Gift House.
Admiral Dewey has leased the house
at 1747 Rhode Island avenue, which
was gwen to him by the American
people as a reward for his victory at
Manila bay, to Frank Mitchell Of
Washington. Mr.. Mitchell will occupy
the house in October.
Admiral and Mrs. Dewey vacated the
gift house last spring and moved to a
house owned by Mrs. Dewey at the
northwest corner Of Sixteenth and 4
streets. This house was occupied by
Mr.. Ethan Allen Hitchcock during his
service as secretary Of the interior. 1t
is larger and better fitted for entertain
ing than the Rhode Island avenue
house.
The Most Beautiful City.
Wa lington is the most beautiful
city in the United States and Is claim
ed by many authorities to have no peer
in the world. Paris has more magnih-
cent yistas, but there are quarters Of
the French capital with never a claim
to beauty. There are more shade trees
in Washington than in any other city
in the world. 1t has $4,000 trees, while
Paris, the next in the list has only
5000. It must be remembered In this
connection that Paris has nearly
100000 population, while Washing
ton has but 10000.
Streets Of tho Capital.
Washington streets are wider than
those Of other cities, being originally
from 80 to 100 feet wide. Many Of
these were too wide for the demands
Of traffic, and when the improvement
of the city began in the seventies the
thoroughfares were narrowed and the
portions next to the buildings were re-
served as parking spaces. The pretty
strip Of green along both sides OF
Washington thoroughfares is really a
part Of the street. It is the property
Of the United States and Is not under
the control Of the owner Of the abut-
ting property, although he must keep
up the lawn. The real estate Is al
ways sold by the square foot instead
of by the clumsy front foot method.
There is no law to compel the people
to sweep the snow Off the sidewalks In
winter, because they are the property
of Uncle Sam, and a private citizen
cannot be compelled to care for gov
arnpponf pronortv