McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-10-19
The MANAGEMENT.
Washington Letter


When dropping a few lines in othel
issues of your paper, little did thinl
would come of it by way of interest
but appreciate the fact that letters
have come to me from other section,
than McNairy county, expressing in
terest in my writings and insisting
that continue to write. Some Of
these parties / do not know. One
aged lady who visited Washington
years ago, expresses her hearty ap'
preciation for these articles.
A bit Of history relative to the
founding of the city of Washington
perhaps not found in many U. 5
Histories, may be Of interest.
After very heated discussion oi
the claims Of New York, Philadelphia
Baltimore and other cities to be
named as the Capital. Congress il
1870 gave George Washington author.
ity to select location on the Po.
tomac river. He was attracted by
the location in his younger days wher
he was surveyor, and therefore
readily made the selection of his
choice location.
A French officer, Major L Enfant
who served in E'ashington's army
laid off the city; and so well did he
perform his task that but few chang.
es were made in his plans. He must
have been an architectural prophet,
since his plans, though made one hun.
dred twenty-seven years ago, are com.
mensurate with the present progress
of civilization.
A traveller, who has visited London,
Paris, Berlin and other foreign cities,
told me that, Washington is moi
only the most beautiful city, but tina,
it is the school-house of the world"
Then, as our hearts grow melan.
choly over the great war struggle ir
which we are engaged. for the de.
Tense Of our principles Of liberty, let
US not forget the fact that the liber,
ty of the noble French people, who
have given US a legacy, for which We
can ne'er repay them. is also weighed
in the Kaiser's balance and found
wanting" as is our own.
The Capitol was begun in 1893; by
1900 the central building was com.
pleted, and in that year Congress as.
sembled here for the first time. The
second wing was finished 1911. On
Angus "a. 1914. the city was invaded
by the British under Ross and
Cockburn. They gathered in the
Hall Of Representatives and Admira
Cockburn, seated in the Speakers
chair. put the question: Shall this
harbor Of Yankee democracy be
burned? All for it say aye" The
ayes had it; the building was free
and only the walls were left standing
The Presidents House shared q like
fate. The Statue of Liberty, 15 #
high and of solid gold, which stood a,
the top of the Capitol. was carried
away BY the British. The present
statue is bronze.
During the Civil War, Washington
was an encampment for troops and ;
hospital for thousands of sick ant
wounded, and was defended by a cir
Gle of about sixty forts.
In 1873 Governor Shepherd Of
Maryland (the District not being or
ganized) carried out a system Of i'm
provements s-including water works
sewers, grading. street paving ant
tree planting, etc.-which mark al
era in the material development o.
the city,
! A statue of Gov. Shepherd stand
in front Of the Municipal Building Oh
Pennsylvania Ave., N.
The public school system is unex
celled, With sn enrolment Of abou
10000 pupils. Books are furnishes
pupils free Of cost with the under
standing that they must be taken car
of Nohodv votaa and nohadv nav