Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20
NATIONAL CAPITAL POSSESSES
WANY DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Visitors Take Note of the Neatness of the Streets
and Gain Impression of Roominess Situation
in Other Cities - Debt of the District.

1t is generally thought that what
might be termed the distinctive features
Of this city. as compared with others
attract the attention of visitors and eilcll
expressions of admiration. Such features
are the broad streets and the parks ana
open places. There are. OF course the
public buildings and the many examples
Of domestic architecture, which also
claim the attention of those who see the
city for the first time and share in the
general appreciation which is so common
ly expressed.
While the impression of roomineSs as
contrasted with the cramped and con-
tracted spaces In other cities provided
for the use of the public and for neces-
sary light and air is naturally among the
first that comes to the casual visitor
still there is another element which Is
perhaps not so much in evidence ana
that is what may be called the neatness
of the streets.
Not in a Rundown State.
The curbstones. for example, instead
of running in all sorts of zigzag fash
ions even to .burrowing into the ground,
are On Washington streets In symmetri-
cal lines. When the stones get out OF
line they are Strengthened and when
they are broken new ones take their
place. There Is also another thing which
is unusual in the average American city
and which appears small and trivial, but
which really makes striking difference,
and that is the condition of the pave
ment
In many cities the worn spots are not
patched or renewed. Then in most cities
the street car companies are careless
about paving and maintaining the paw
ing along the strip bordering the car
tracks and so that. too. ADDS TO tne
general frowsiness of broken and dis
placed curb ragged pavement and worn
spots.
Not Even Respectable Poverty.
The difference between looking after
such details in the economy of a city is
precisely the same as in the household
and the effect of neglect is the same.
giving to the household and the city
streets an atmosphere of poverty and
Of the kind of poverty, too, that is not
self-respecting or. capable. or course
the reason such minor matters. as they
might be called, are overlooked In most
cities is because the cost of maintenance
runs ND to quite an amount each year
and makes one Of the considerable items
in the budget of the city's annual ex-
penditure
In this city there is money for such
meet what are called extraordinary cN-
penditures or at least a portion of such
expenditures which in other cities are
provided for by bond issue. IT is pos
sible to stretch the ordinary revenues OF
the city over not only the ordinary cur
rent expenses, but over percentage al
least of these extra charges mainly be-
cause. as It is believed, the money
largely available for such uses is saved
from expenditure which local politics re-
quire.
Result of Economies.
In other words. according to this line
of argument, what is spent in other cities
by the local politicians and diverted from
the legitimate purposes of such revenue
would be available to duplicate in such
places what has been done here for
nearly forty years. The record is a re-
markable one and the only criticism that
is heard is that injustice is being done
to the present generation in the Way of
cutting down needed provision for the
schools and additional police and fire