The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

Washington dsspzteh IN kansas Clty star
They do many things differently IN
washington-some Of them they do bet
ter, as hey ought TO in the Capital City
Of a nation Of ninety millions. The Fed
eral Government pays half the expenses
which helps a good deal. At the same
time this isn't gratuity. for the gov
ernment is the owner OF an enormous
amount Of property within the limits OF
the city.
Washington itself isn't much larger
than the Missouri Kansas City. The last
census gave It a population OF under 3Oo,-
OO0, so 1t lends itself readily 70 eompari-
sons with the town at the mouth OF the
Kaw. It is more comDactly built than
Kansas City. because Of the natural lin1i-
tations OF the land within the District.
Builders felt the necessity Of ecOnomizing
their ground and there are few yards
OF vacant lots. At the same time, this
city presents many points Of interests to
persons concerned with municipal deyel-
opment elsewhere
It may be painful to refer 10 such
subject to Kansas City readers, but the
most impressive thing 70 the Western
visitor on entering the city is its mag
nifcent gateway The Union Station has
been written about widely, but the coun-
try at large probably doesn't understand
what a beautiful thing Washington has
n the great structure OF marble and
granite lying to the north Of the Capitol
Cost No Object.
It doesn't make any difference how big
It Is, or how many million dollars It cost
Statistics are Of no special consequence
All that the visitor knows is that = Is a
quarter Of a mile walk TO GO from end
end OF the building and hack again; that
the splendid rotunda is one Of the finest
things he has ever seen. and that the
building looks out through three colossal
doorways-
/ OF course. il has au the latest conven-
iences-elevatOrs 10 handle baggage. sub
ways. beside the tracks, and al that It's
rotunGa Is Illuminated by reflected light
There are TO glaring globes 10 put out
ths eyes. nothing but soft white light
reflected IN near the ceiling. But the
chief thing IS the beauty Of the exterior
OF the station. and the way IN which I
itol
\ Some day Kansas City may have a
chance to know BY actual experience hoE
IL feels 70 have such a monumental stTuc-
turs al its entranCe-Some day.
The station stands in a great plaza
which IS not yet finished, but which indi-
Gates what may be done in the unior
depot plaza In Kansas City. Street cars
circle this plaza, but the landscape IS no'
disfgured with overhead trolley wires
And this Is one Of the striking things
about the whole city You see stree
after street given over TO street cars. bu
with a clear vista. No poles, no wires
, nothing but the slot in the middle Of th'
, street recalling the old cable days Il
Kansas City. You hardly realize what
difference the underground trolley make,
IN the beauty of a street until you g
from the forest OF wires and poles Il
Kansas City 70 such a thoroughfare a
Pennsylvania avenue IN Washington
Incidentally, another attractive thin
, about the street car service is the fare
: six tickets are sold for a quarter an
you rarely see nickel handed 10 N
icoaductor. Everybody carries tickets.
COmpactneSs of Plan.
= As has been said. Washington has on
: advantage in the c0mpactness OF It
plan. It IS possible 10 keep the street
in very much better condition when the,
/. / are not spread over Z whole prairie land
/: scape. The Washington streets are pave
] with miles and miles Of asphalt and the,
E look as II they had been busted OF
every morning with a feather dusteI
Z The washington street department ha
the advantage, Of course. OF not havin
. 10 contend with large amount Of truck
> ing. The National Capital is not manu-
% featuring OF business city At the sam
!, time. the scrupuiOUs care OF the street
2 make the average visitor from com
: mercial city exceedingly enviOus-
j The city is famed for its trees JsffeT
5 son started by planting LOmbardy poI
= lars along some Of the chief thorough
= fares and lis plan has been continued a
: the city developed. In spring and sun
: mer the town Is a great bower
When Washington was laid out b
D MAJ. LEnfant, il was planned on seal