The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-02-14
WASHINGTON LETTER

WA0HlNdl Jun LElltF
~ CARL scHoFIELD. special Core
sponaent.
Five squares OF land within the orig
inal limits 81 the city recently passe,
from private ownership 20 that Of thI
government. For tie frontage alonl
the east side Of Fifteenth street from
Pennsylvania avenue 10 y street, 81
the mail. and extending through &
Fourteenth street nearly S25OO .00l
was paid II WAS the largest sum palt
out &C one time M this District By th'
government for land.
The nearest approach 70 this transac
tion was the acquisition OF the l6ot
acres bordering Rock creek and com
prisiug what Is now known as Roch
Greek park But III that instance the
District shared IN the purchase. and
even then the entire cost Of these hun.
dreds Of acres was less than half what
has been decided by the commission
as being the value Of the property
which has just been acquired
Uncle Sans Real Estate.
Considering the growth Of the gov.
erument during the years since this
city has been the seat Of government,
Uncle Sam has not been until recent
years q large purchaser Of property Al
the federal city
One reason, OF course. Is to be found
in the liberal appropriation Of ground
FOR public uses m the original plan OF
the city. For years these public spaces
as well as the unusual width Of the
streets were the despair Of the local
municipality, upon which during the
first three-quarters Of century Of the
city life the burden Of maintaining
streets and sidewalks as well as the
other expenses Of a city fell to large
extent.
Congress Gave Away Land.
II was only within the past forty
years. whom the present form Of gov
eminent was established. that ade-
quate recognition was made or tie re-
sponslbllity q the general government
as property holder 70 do its part
along with other property holders in
paying the cost Of carrying on the
municipality. For a large part Of the
time the property IN the city owing 70
the slow growth o. the population and
the slight volume o. business done
here. was not much IN demand, and
the values were low Its great extent
as compared with the number Of PEG
pie also led to IT'S being held IN little
esteem. so that congress itself gave
away large blocks Of city squares.
Department Buildings Needed.
As It has turned out, it would have
been cheaper Cor the government 20
have held on 10 the land which was
originally owned IN this city, or az
least a large portion Of f. for Il is EVIL
dent that most Of II viii be needed,
just as Washington foresaw would be
the case. when It Is realized that at
the close Of more than a century since
the removal Of the government to this
city two Of the executive departments
OF the government are without bones
a further commentary on the situation
IS hardly necessary. Il should be said,
however. that one Of these depart.
ments that Of the department Of com
merce aud labor, Is only few years
Old, but the department Of justice
which Is one of the oldest, IS IN the
same plight. while the supreme court
Is stll IN the capitol building, where
it has been ever since It removed it's
sttings to this city
To Honor indian Fighter.
Congress has been asked for the sec
ond time this season to build a monu
ment ii honor or Colonel William (
Crawford. who was killed by Indians
ID what Is now Wyandot county, o.
July 1t, 1Ts2. The second representa-
i've to Introduce a bin for Ora wford
memorial Is Allen F. Cooper Of Penn
sylvania. His bin carries with It a (
expenditure Of $4,000
md provides for the location q the 4
at Connellsville. IA.
Burned at the Stake.
Representative Anderson Of Ohio has Z
also introduced d bin to honor Colonel <
This measure recommends
he erection of the proposed statue on
he spot Colonel Crawford met his
leath. Colonel Crawford was d sol
ller In the Revolution and took part
Ii Braddock's expedition. he was
lose friend Of General Washington
md ia 1882 was placed at the head Of
! little army sent out 70 eight the war
ing wyandot Indians The tribe at
hat time was numerous IA northwest
irn Ohio. particularly along the San
husky river between the present towns
4 Sandusky and Upper sandusky. At
What IS now the town 0f Crawford. fiji
Yyandot county, Crawford and sew
raj Of his command we're captured (
The former ais the leader was burned
It the stake after being cruelty tor
ured.
Tho Bridegroom Came.
on account 81 the annoyance to
Of congress from women who
would Gull them from their duties upon
n sorts Of pretexts the rule Of the I
ouse IS very strict and no woman
an see representative while the
louse is In session unless by appoint
nent or she be a member Of his Sam-
u A few days ago young woman
topped Up to the doorkeeper and re-
nnsfna Tint her card Is fakan to 4