Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

On July IL. 1880, The Star printed
the following letter from citizen pro-
posing the observance Of
Celebration the ninetieth anniver-
proro.sd sary Of the legal begin.
PO"S~' ming Of the District Of
Columbia.
Prom the 18th Of July, 1870, the Dis.
trict Of Columbia dates its establish
ment, 90 years ago. Since that day what
mighty changes have taken place in the
Capitall In place Of q swamp crowded
with brushwood and rank weeds, the
abode of reptiles Of the most venomouS
character, and the Subterranean sewer
once the resort Of every description Of
wild fowl, we have stately private man
sions. magnificent public buildings and
streets and avenues unequaled in the
Union for their facilities of traverse
alike to the teamsters and the pedes-
TRANS. Surely the advent Of the ninth
decade deserves some popular recogni-
ton. would suggest that the day be
appropriately celebrated. Let the can
mons roar proclaim the opening day;
the trained bands Of the District turn
out in all the panoply Of war and dis
play their discipline through our main
thoroughfareS; let the brotherhood So
cieties, mounted and on foot, fall into
line In their trappings to swell the joy
the air and the entire city exhibit the
scene Of gala day"
Considering that the Government of
the United States is purely civil in its
-.,. character" says The Star
military Of July IA. 1880, land
Exnarsa that the military arm Is.
APeASe' in theory at least, en-
tirely subordinate In Its functions, the
cost of keeping up that branch of our
national establishment Is frightfully ex-
pensive, as compared with the cost Of
European armies, and especially so
when the relative importance of the
armed force here and there is taken
into account. The annual cost of main
tanning a single soldier in this country
is reckoned at little more than $1,000.
In England the expense per man for
year Is about $700. In Austria Hungary
the cost is about $3.50 per soldier; in
France and Germany each about $215,
and in Russia and Italy about $500. In
several of these countries the soldier
is as well clothed as here, II not better.
and as well equipped. He is not so well
nor so extensively fed as the American
soldier, but the difference in that item
cannot come anywhere near offsetting
the wide difference in the annual cost
of support. The inevitable inference Is
that there is either inefficiency or waste
in the administration of our military
affairs. The thing for Congress to do,
therefore, Is to devise some way to re-
duce the expense of keeping up the
Army, instead of reducing its numbers.
1t Is none too large for the require
ments of the country but its cost is
out of all proportion TO its importance
and the service performed. Then, too,
there are too many fancy and extrava-
gantly paid officers in proportion to the
number of gun carriers"
Apropos Of DR.. Tanners 40-day fast
then In progress in New York, The
Star Of July Is, 1880, says:
Eastlng THE case of DR.. Tanner,
Miners. the New York faster, is
somewhat curious and may
have an interest for the medical pro-
fesSion, but 1t Is not as extraordinary
as many people suppose. More than
20 years ago four coal miners in the
Muskingum Valley, little below Zanes-
vile, Ohio, we're shut up In a coal mine
by the caving in Of the passage, where
they remained for IL days before their
rescue could be effected. During all
this long and wearing time they sur
vived without a mouthful Of food.
though, like DR.. Tanner, they had
water, being able to supply themselves
from the drippings from the wall of
their prison. When rescued the men
were all, of course, weak and greatly
reduced in flesh, but there was every
reason to believe that they could have
survived several days longer without
food. AS an indication that their long
tirely on things beyond the grave dur
Ing their close approach to It, the fact
may be mentioned that the first thing
one of the party asked for when he got