Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-08
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN The STAR


Some anxiety was felt at this time
nifty years ago lest the United States
might be drawn into
No Trouble trouble with France
ru:4, 49, through friction be-
s" ~AeSe' tween the forces Of
this country and Mexico In The Star
of August /. 1865. IL the following
news item tending to allay this appre
hension:
1T would seem that some clique for
some purpose-probably stock jobbing
had been making a concerted effort
to induce the belief that a collision is
impending and indeed almost impossi-
BILE to be averted between our troops
and the French troops on the Rio
Grande. To this end was tho story Of
$4,000 men being ordered for the
French service on the Rio Grande: the
story Of explosive i'll will between our
officers and French officers and the
story Of reported collision near
States troops and the Franco Mexicano
troops there. All these stories have
proved to be based on no truth what
ever or on the most trivial foundation
Imaginable. And yet they have been
SO skillfully manipulated and circulat-
ed that they have gained temporary
belief. Influencing the markets and
causing vague apprehension that the
country. crippled as 1t is by its unpre-
cedented struggle. is about to be
nations. And a contest for q chimera!
No one doubts that Napoleon is heartily
disguised with the Mexican elephant
he has on hand and Is only seeking for
~,
show Of grace the expensive and disa-
greeable task Of feeding and housing
the unwieldy animal. Nothing but
making 1t a matter Of national pride
with the French to resist any forcible
attempt by US to drive them from Mex
length OF time to consent to be taxed
for the support of that useless occupa-
ton Of Mexican soil. even If Napoleon
were SO minded, which 1t Is now quite
go on for five years in peaceful recu-
peration OF resources and we may be
certain that we shall see the French as
Clearly and Enthusiastically out of Mex
leo ere then as If we had thrust her
out by mourning an additional three
hundred thousand millions Of war debt
and wasted the blood Of half a million
men In the undertaking"
During the civil war two buildings
standing east Of the Capitol were put
to an important use for
Wartime the housing of military and
pr;eon. state prisoners. In The
A'O'' Star of August 4. 1865, is
an article relative to the prospective
return Of these buildings to their orig
inal uses:
THE two buildings on LIST street
east-that on the corner of street
north: known as the Old Capitol. and
known as Carroll prison, have played
quite an important part during the
rebellion. The latter. with the excep-
ton of a few months use as the quar-
as prison for state or political pris-
oners. while the prison styled the Old
Capitol has from the first been used
as military prison. During the war
10000 persons confined in these build
ings. and at one time there were $4,000
rebel prisoners of war confined in the
Old Capitol prison. On the day the
over 500 rebel officers in confinement
The war having ceased. the number OF
prisoners has greatly diminished. all
having been removed or released from the
In order preparatory to delivering the
building to the owners. small mill
tary guard still remains at this build
Ing, but at the other prison the full
there are about 40 prisoners confined
here. of whom not more than six OF
eight are rebels: Capt. Werz of An.
dersonville prison notoriety, who is
few offlcers of the rebel stonewail
brigade, who are held on account OF
some testimony at the conspiracy trial
seeming to implicate them. There are
on various charges and the rest are SOL
diers, under sentence of or awaiting
trial by court-martial. During the
time this building has been devoted tc
executions within its walls, four by
hanging (three for murder, one as q
spy and one by shooting with mus
kerry for desertion.'
For many years the question Of pro-
viding a summer residence for the
President has
Summer White House. been a mat
and Health Problem. TO-. Ter OF aa discus Gus
now several suggestions have been ad-
vanced to that end. In The Star of
August z, 1865. is a letter from James
Harlan. Secretary of the Interior, to
B. B. French. commissioner Of public
buildings. stating that inasmuch as it
had been represented that the execu-
tive mansion was in an unhealthy To-
cation for a summer residence he was
instructed after consultation with the
President, to procure suitable resi-
dence for his occupancy during the
summer and autumn on Georgetown
Heights or some other convenient and
healthy location. The Star went on to
say:
1.-The White House is admittedly I'M
healthy in the summer and autumn, but
there is no good reason why 1t should
be so. It stands at a point admitting
perfect drainage and excellent ventila-
ton and 1t needs only alterations in the
basement and proper attention to the
river and canal fronts, in the vicinity
Of the executive mansion. to make it
one Of the healthiest and most delight
full residences in this city. An ad-
mirable plan was laid before the Dis
session. by Mr.. William Wise Of this
city for the improyement Of the low
mont. tho source of the mala rio FeIf