The Washington herald., 1922-07-17
CITIZENS CREDITED
FOR CITY'S GROWTH
ON l32D BIRTHDAY
John c. Proctor, Histo-
rian, Recalls Early De-
velopment of Capital.
FUTURE PROGRESS
Hopes Congress Will Turn
Over s5,OOO,OOO Fund Said
To Belong to City.

Yesterday was the 132d birthday
Of the City of Washington.
From a "backwoods settlement in
the wilderness" existing chiefly on
paper, the residents of the District
were congratulating themselves
yesterday on having the most beau
tiful and important metropolis of
the world for their home.
The progress of the District of
Columbia in the past is an open
book" John Clagett Proctor. rank
Ing historian of the city, pointed
out The strides made are due to
the progressiveness OF the people
residing here. For many years in
the early history. Congress did but
little leaving taxpayers to pay for
all municipal improvements. Today
We have the most beautiful city in
the world, a magnificent monument
to the man for whom it is named.
Best Governed City.
Its future, which nothing can
prevent being as conspicuously
great as its past. can be materially
aided by Representatives in Con-
gress. which are due the 100000
residents. Congress can also en-
courage our people to further ofToTt
by giving them the S5.0O0.OO0 now
IN the Treasury, paid in by citizens
OF the District
With all its drawbacks resultant
of the lack of the franchise, Wash
ington Is the best-goyerned city in
the world, / believe. Its face is
turned along lines of improvement
relatively greater as the city grows.
Progress has been steadier than is
to be noted in other cities. where
advances were perhaps more rapid,
but neither so consistent nor sub
stantial."
Great as has been our advance
in the last 1872 years. the years
ahead hold even more for progress"
declared Henry l. Bryan. vice pres
ident of the Oldest Inhabitants As
sociation.
Popular Places in Past.
Bryan was born on the Capitol
grounds. before they were extended.
Il can remember Sanderson's. which
used to stand near the little shed
close TO the House of Representa-
tives. and used to go there for a
sociable hour before Mr.. Volstead
came to Congress There was Whit
ney's. too. which stood on the Capt.
tol grounds. and was popular with
the Senators. II was a little south
of where the car turns"
All the trees on the extended part
Of the Capitol grounds are new.
Bryan said, except the one around
which walk has been laid to pre-
serve IL. Where the health office
is now erected stood the old Co
lumbia engine house. whose engines.
owned by the association. was run
by hand, he added in reminiscenCe.
II was the design of those who
laid out the city that its principal
growth should he east of the Capt.
toI. but the Northwest section has
gradually become the popular resi-
Dental section.
Made the Capital In 1870.
Washington was selected as the
site for the Federal Capital in 1890.
Ten years later the machinery of
government moved into the village,
and in 1914 it was captured by the
British. the Capitol burned. tOgeth-
sr with most of the public build
inGs. In 1899 il was described as
a large. struggling village reared
in a drained swamp" and as late
as 1871 il was exceedingly back
ward in municipal improvements
The streets were deep in mud, the
sewerage useless. and the public
buildings and grounds neglected.
The change in the past fifty years
is miraculous. it was pointed out
The most conspicuous changes
were wrought by shepherd" Proc
tor says. They have been wonder
full. gradual. and steady. The cree
tion Of the Washington Monument.
the Lincoln Memorial. and the lay
ing out of Rock Creek Park are
only few of the remarkable ac-
complishments of the city"