Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

i piled to Washington the Gateway of the
South 1t is entirely too appropriate al
this time ITO be pleasant. Through this
! gateway We see the hurfiliating spectacle
northward in largennumherS. seeking mar
kets in which to > purchase supplies
Through this gateway thousands of cars
pass daily. bearing southwark the pro-
ducts of hundreds of northern factories
Il say remove the gateway and put W
the homely but effective bars keeping
within our own limits the trade that right
fully belongs to us on account of geo
graphical position; furnishing from our
own mills and factories the needful arti-
Giles of every day use, now being furnished
| by our northern and eastern neighbors.
How may this be done?" he asked.
| by earnest united and persistent ef-
fort upon the part of our people. not a
spasmodic burst of esergy, but the effort
of a tireless, determined body of men who
will not acknowledge defeat.
| With the amalgamation of the two
! existing commercial bodies into one mas
| teEu, living force, properly directed and
| commercial Washington, we can obtain
! modification of the present deterrent
smoke law, making it less of a menace
| to capital seeking investment In manu-
featuring enterprises. by establishing
| zones where the law shall be imperative
| Having done this and awakened the pres
| ent owners of the waterpower now going
| to waste" he added "a vigorous cam
paign should be entered upon looking to
| the establishment here of factories of all
kinds. We have the distributing facilities
we have cheap coal and labor as cheap
| as anywhere.
again, apply the force of the earnest
workers toward the developing of the
wholesale and jobbing trade; convince
| capital that Washington should be the
distributing point supplying all of the ter
ritory south of the Potomac and east of
the Alleghenies; prove to timid merchants
that Notwithstanding the open gateway
and the limited inducements now offered
southern merchants we have successful
wholesale houses handling dry goods and
notions. hardware. groceries and drugs.
No reason Is apparent why the business
may not be extended to cover boots and
shoes. hats and caps, clothing, millinery,
etc. The wider the field the more at
tractive will our market become, and we
will find our southern neighbors more than
willing to deal with us exclusively on &C
count of our proximity and facilities for
low freight rates. Furnish the opportunity
and the buyers will take advantage of it,
Central Reserve City.
ut seems to me- said II. Bradley Da-
wilson. president of the United states
Trust Company, that the record which
the Washington financial institutions
have made during the past two panics.
in not being compelled to resort to the
use of clearinghouse certificates, enti-
ties this city to consideration with view
to its being made the central reserve city
Such action would undoubtedly add
materially to the financial Importance OF
Washington: it would b. a great con-
venenCe to the south as Washington lies
at the gateway ofthat section, and from
one to two days would be saved in the
collection Of it's items.
Furthermore" he added 'its nearness
n fn
cilitates obtaining new currency for use
in that as well a other sections of the
country.
The trust companies of the District"
he declared, subject as they are to all
the requirements of the national banks
and in addition being required to keep
% per cent OF their capital stock in ap-
proved securities with the controller of
the currency. Should enjoy the same
privileges with regard to being reserve
agents as do the national banks"
More Parks a Requisite.
Mr.. George Pitt, 18th street merchant.
| thinks the best way to make Washington
the most beautiful city in the world Is to
make more public parks. and all govern
ment buildings on the south side of Penn
sylvania avenue. Il would he said ALSO
prohibit the erection of one-story stores
and buildings throughout the city,
manufactures NEEDED.
Asked to give his views concerning the
ways and means of improving the city so
far as it's commercial and trade relations
are concerned, Mr.. Mayer of Mayer Bros.
& Co. said: This is very important
subject to talk about at such short no.
tice and 1 cannot go into the details as
would desire to do. 1 think, however, that
the only way Washington can ever be-
come commercial city Is to encourage
manufacturing industries. This could be
done, without affecting the comfort sof the
many handsome residences, by setting
aside that portion of Washington which
faces the river front and is known as
South Washington.
81 think, too, we should inaugurate once
a year or as often as practicable a celebra-
ton week, when strangers from all over
the country would be attracted, and we
would have opportunities of displaying the
advantages this city offers as we'll as
showing the progress it has made
longtime Bonds Advocated.
II have been in the real estate business
for thirty-five years" said Frank f.
Middleton, land have seen many changes
and improvements in this beautiful city of
ours, so l am glad of the opportunity to
make some few suggestions applicable.
II would advise the issue of some $50
600 900 OF longtime bonds for the pur-
pose of extending streets, alleys and
highways and do away with this nom
sensical and unjust assessing adjacent
property as a benefit. We have been
taxed enough already on such Improve
mants." he continued. $50 l would let this
bond issue fall upon the coming genera
ton, who would derive the full benefit
that we could hardly expect TO see. l
would suggest adding two additional
Commissioners to the present number, a
continuance in office of the Engineer
Commissioner until his ideas and plans
are we'll developed, and l would increase
the police force to almost double its