The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-06-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

4 1.-THE river front of washington would
be disgrace to a small town, not to
speak Of the capital Of nation"
This is the expression of Engineer
Commissioner Judson, and, moreover,
| the commissioner means to see that in
SO much as his efforts can avail this
remarkable state of affairs shall be
remedied.
Potomac River Front.
1.-THE crazy mass Of tumbledown
structures which at present mark the
! squalid water front of Washington,
with the exception of Potomac park"
said the commissioner, has been
erected by private individuals or cor
| porations without any general plan
and with but little general supervi-
sion. Wooden docks-if the latter term
can be used to designate these struc-
lures jut out In any and all directions
the meanest kind Of frame erections
abut upon the river, and altogether
the spectacle Is one which to a person
acquainted with the trim and often
elegant and splendid quays of the cap
itals of Europe cannot fail to arouse
some measure of surprise"
There is now a bill before congress
aiming at a complete regeneration of
Washington's water front. A supreme
court decision has been handed down
which gives to the national govern
ment the entire control of the land Of
the city facing upon the Potomac. The
opening wedge in the general plan Of
Improvement was the creation Of Po-'
tomac park and drive, which bids fair
to become the playground of the peo-
pie Of all classes of Washington.
Wooden Docks to Go.
If Commissioner Judson's plans are
rendered feasible by means of con-
gressional action the tumble of wood
en- docks and shanties which now
marks the busiest portion of the river
front will give place to stone or con-
crete docks, built according to regu-
lar plan. This will mean radical
metamorphosis of the scene familiar
to all inhabitants of the capital who
travel the river in boats or otherwise.
In Memory of "Signer."
In memory of his illustrious services
as a patriot philanthropist and theolo-
John Witherspoon, the famous Scotch
Presbyterian clergyman, one time
president of Princeton university,
signer of the Declaration of indie
pendence and a member Of the Con-
tinental congress, has been erected at
the junction of Connecticut avenue and
Eighteenth and N streets, in front of
the Church of the Covenant.
Famous Words In Bronze.
The statue is mounted on a marble
written in bronze letters, "John With
erspoon, 1922, Scotland; 1894, Prince
tom On one side is inscribed "Pres-
byterian minister" and on the other
"Signer of Declaration of 1ndepend-
ence."
On the back of the pedestal is
bronze plate bearing the following
quotation from the famous speech Of
Witherspoon:
"For my part, of property have
some, of reputation more. That repu-
tation is staked, that property is
pledged, on the issue of this contest.
and, although these gray hairs must
soon descend into the sepulcher,
would Infinitely rather that they de
scend thither by the hand of the exc
cutioner than desert at this crisis the
cause of my country"
Government Frog Farm.
Uncle Sam is going to start frog
pond and turtle farm-that is, George
M. Bowers, Tnited States fish COM
missioner, the man who has saved the
New England lobster from extinction,
prevented the dying out Of the shad
and the Blue Point and held out
helping hand to the craven clam. now
plans to give first aid to the CASTRO
nomic ambitions Of mankind by stop
ping the gradual annihilatioh OF the
diamond back and the bullfrog.
North Carolina is to be the scene Of
the governments efforts to save these
two delicacies. Heretofore efforts of
the commission to propagate diamond
back terrapin have not proved success
ful. Now "a new effort is to be made.
A turtle farm win be located at Beau,
fort, picturesque little sea town on
Rogue sound, North Carolina. The
builfrog nursery is to he located at
Edenton. sses
First White Messenger.
John Ellie. who recently died here. Is
said to have been the first white mes
senger boy ever employed in the Dis
trict. Sixty years ago messages were
always carried by colored people,
When this practice was abolished lille
accepted Job as messenger and made
good' While thus employed he Wis
tied the homes Of cabinet officers, dip
lomats and other distinguished men.
and in this way he became acquainted
with the people who were his patrons
when he began the manufacture of
footwear.
6ootmaker For Society.
About the time Of the civil war John
lille was the leading boot and shoe
maker of Washington, and the foot
wear turned out from his shop cover
ed the feet of the society bellies and