Evening star., 1923-12-23
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago Washington bega
to go ahead in its material situation.
at rate not pre-
Improvements in viously known. In
4, The Star Of De-
VIC oi''Aio'' cember Is, 1879. Is
the following editorial:
t'The spirit of improvement raised
here by our new District government
has wrought not only a magical
change in the appearance of our.
streets, avenues and waste places In g.
the way of public work, but has de-
veloped a cooperative spirit on the
part of private citizens, corporations 4
and government officials. A public,
spirit has been created and a civic
pride evoked that promise almost.
as much in behalf of the futures
growth and prosperity of the cityA.
as the grand system of public works
now under way. The magnificent
private residences erected on a scale
to correspond with our wide streets, :
the extensive improvements made
upon the government grounds by Gen.
Babcock, Architect Clark, Architect
Mullett and other officials all Join in
the general line OF progress The. .
railroad corporations have also BEEN
aroused to do some cumulative work
and begin to recognize the fact that
the seven-by-nine shanty station
houses that served well enough for
the seedy, down-at-heel city OF the
past are sadly out of place in the
new Washington. The Baltimore and
bo1se G1mpanS anS dsno9s is psstng up
the re5uvenated city, and We learn
that the Baltimore and Ohio Com =
pany is soon to break ground for .
a station building the cost of which,
ek, hA e.
structure alone. aside from the
ground and tracks. 1t will, with It's
appurtenances, occupy the whole Of i,
square 6S1, in the rear of their pres
venient Of access from all quarters .
than the latter -
The following letter from George
Alfred Townsend. long one OF the
foremost of Washington correspond
ents, printed in Thee
Library of Star of December 20.
1878. gives q picture Of
Congress. the Library Of Congress,
fifty years ago: =.
At wish you would agate. in behalf :
of the Library of Congress. a more !
liberal management of that vast col
lection in the interests as much Of
literature and Journalism as the
politicians. Whether from its cramp- :,
ed quarters, or the occasional pur-
Joining of books cone instance ] be-,
ueve has operated to the disad-s.,
vantage of alD or the mental diff
Guilty of discriminating between Off
is not equally available to all. nor
fully available to any. MantfestlG =
such a collection Is not being pre- s
pared wholly for the noyel-readins-'
wives of members, nor for that hand !.
full of senators and representatives
who do cultivate themselves and
literature. If 1t Is not a nationa< {
library 1t Is too well Appropriated for
If It is, and I believe the librarian
wishes the name to be changed from
Congressional to National 1t re-
quires a more liberal administration.
Having occasion to prepare GER
tain state history, I wished to have
access to the biographical alcove. 70
might have had residence or associa-
tion with that state. 1 asked the
subltbrarian to open one of the wicker
doors few minutes and let me rum,
so, but directly came back curtly
and said, I must shut up this. The
boss has made new rule 4
fWhat I wish to convey TO you IS,
the necessity of the library commit
tee doing something to relieve the
librarian from what he must have
felt, being a man of feeling and pro- !.
fessional spirit, to be a sort OF neces-
sary discourtesy. Books should softer
man. There was a day when even the
Bible was chained fast. but not sincelt
the era of our Capitol. This great
| Library of Congress can be made to
do signal service to our literature
and Is of itself an inducement to the,
| population of Washington. But the
| iiberality and politeness OF men o.
| letters should distinguish II. These
are more important to it's career thar =
! a great new edifice. though perhaps,
| the present censorship Is incidental,
| to the accommoda ,sss.