Evening star., 1915-03-29

mercial footing by digging the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal; but the effort was
beyond their unassisted strength. and the
relief of Congress was sought. Senator
Southard, in 1885. reported that the debt
of the city reached 1.-The enormous sum
of 1,SO6. AZ. J9:' that it had no means
from which it could apply at that time
single dollar to the discharge Of its OBJ
legations: that owing to its debts in con-
nection with the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal. foreign bankers would in all PROB
ability become the owners of great pro-
portion of the property within tile capital
Of the union; that the city authorities had
been misled into expenditures which did
not properly belong to them. although
the views by which they were governed
were of a. liberal and public-spirited char
acter. and that nothing was found in the
conduct of the inhabitants or the authori-
ties to excite in Congress a reluctance to
come to their relief. Aid was accordingly
granted the bankrupt city, hnt .':e recon-
r:..nY.fi", t'a.st - aA1ator IL .,'ht''t
after an exhaustive consideration OF the
relations between the nation ard its CAPT
tai. that the government should pay regu-
Iarly proportion of District expenses.
was disregarded. and the city, though
rescued from foreign bankers. was per-
mtted to remain national disgrace In
1899 George Combe. the British traveller,
described the city as ''like large strag-
Cling village reared in drained swamp
In 1862 Anthony Trollope was in WASH
ington. Like Tom Moore. Mrs. Trollope
and Charles Dickens. who preceded him.
he writes Of the city in a dyspeptic spir-
IT.. Everything disagrees with him.
sed unfinished collection Of unbuilt:
broad streets, as to the completion of
which there can now. l imagine. be but
little hope. OF all places that I know
satisfactory. / fear ] must also say the
most presumptuous in its pretensions."
Looking upon the city simultaneously
with Mr.. Trollope, one can reply only
scriptions corroborate his account of the
forlorn condition Of Washington at that
time.
Washington's Leap Into Prosperity.
But Mr.. Trollope's disgust at the Wash
ington Of the present was equaled only by
his hopelessness in respect to its future:
and as a prophet he proves complete
failure From the time when the capital
was camp and hospital. its streets filled
with soldiers and resoundlng with martial
music, its churches saddened by the moan
of wounded and dying. its development as
a city has been continuous. The greater
part of this magical transformation has
been wrought within the last eighteen
years. In place of struggling country
village, with zigzag grades, no sewerage,
unimproved reservations. second-rate
dwellings, streets of mud and mire. and
wretched sidewalks, the modern WASH
iugton has arisen a political, scientific
and literary center. with population
trebled since 1850: a city sustained. i'm
proved and adorned by an annual expend-
remodeled: with an elaborate and cost
ly system of sewers and water
mains: with about $50 miles of i'm
proved streets. nearly one-half of which
T.,
transportation by thirty-three miles of
street railway; with numerous churches
and schools, as we'll as government build
ings OF architectural pretensions; with
broad streets shaded for distance OF $50
miles by more than 60.O0O trees. destined
to make Washington a forest city: with
attractive suburban drives; with reserva-
tions and parkings given picturesque
beauty by shrubbery and rich foliage,
statuary, fountains and flowers. and with
in size and splendor Of interior adorn-
ment, spr1nging UP in rapid succession
where Trollope sank knee-deep In mud.
This wonderful change for the better. ef-
fected by certain wise and energetic
agents o. the general government whom
the District delights to honor. is the re-
suit. in part, Of reversal Of the condi-
tions which hampered the ctty's growth.
Congress, no longer hostile, or Indifferent
concerning the pecuniary needs Of the
District. has spent large sums not only
upon public buildings, but also in the
improvement of the city, at first spas
medically, since 1878 systematically. The
people Of the District, encouraged by the
general abandonment of the idea of a
removal Of the seat Of government, have
also made extensive outlays. But the
main public expense Of the work Of re-
creating the city Is represented by q
present debt Of more than $4,000, 900.
nearly all Of which has been incurred by
officials placed over the affairs of the
District by the general government in
carrying out those magnificent inten-
tons" concerning the capital, which by
District was to execute. II. by any
reasoning. the citizens Of Washington
can be held legally or morally responsible
for this debt II must be said. as was re-
marked by Senator Southard in the SINH
lar case Of 1885, that they have been
''misled into expenditures which do not
properly belong to them"
A Little Bill for Back Pay.
Washington's recital Of past grievances
must be modified somewhat to represent
just complaints at the present time. Capt.
tai movers no longer retard the city's
growth. The nations ''bantling' no
longer fears sudden death. Congress full
fills its obligations in respect TO the Inn
provement Of the District with fidelity.
An appropriation equal to one-half Of the
estimated District expenses is- annually
made, and considerable sums are fire.
quently appropriated for special purposes
which enure to the benefit Of the capi-
tai. The ward Of the nation Is properly
clothed and fed There ran hxs little COM