Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

HALF a century ago Uncle Sam was
just slowly finishing the big tridepart-
Slow Building west Of the White
Appropriations. s nU%ss; Sit to pro- mo-
vide the Governments building needs
for a long time to come. The follow
ing in The Star Of April II, 1880, shows
that a somewhat different policy pre-
vailed In Congress regarding public
constructions than that which Is now
effecting the transformation Of the
Capital:
tions committee In striking from the
immediate deficiency bill the appropria-
ton to complete the north wing OF the
new department building should be re-
versed by the House Of Representatives.
1t Is strange that while money Is read
lily voted for costly structures In coun-
try towns where the Government can
rent all the room 1t wants for q few
hundred dollars annually, there should
be objections to the outlay necessary
to continue work on the public building
already begun here, where the Govern
ment has such large interests and pays
many thousands Of dollars annually for
ONCE rent. The money already in
will yield no returns until the structure
Is finished. The failure to make this
appropriation viii cause the stoppage
of the work when the first story Is I'm
ished, and q cessation of operations
during several months Of the working
season. Not only will the Government
be loser by the suspension of this
necessary work, but several hundred
mechanics and laborers will be thrown
out of employment for no good reason
whatever"
Several shocking crimes committed
In washington SO years ago caused Q
Congress Stacks ON ont on the Il. part Of
Increase of Police. wonsreSs II n t the
proper policing of the Capital, but after
the first furry of agitation the matter
lapsed. The Star of April IA, 1880,
says:
"The zeal with which Congress took
hold OF the proposition to increase the
District police force appears to have
died out and the subject seems now to
be regarded almost with indifference.
The necessity for O larger police is Is
great now as when the Hirth murder
and the LENS outrage we're committed,
and the residents Of the District realize
this fact, II Congress does not. There
arose between the Senate and House
committees on the District some Ques-
tons Of difference in regard to the pro-
posed increase, but they were Of minor
importance and neither side manifested
any disposition to be unreasonable upon
the subject. These questions could be
adjusted in q short time by q confer
ence, the House committee thought 100
men should be added to the force, while
that so would be SUFFICIENT. Then as
to increasing the number Of officers,
the Senate committee was opposed TO
that. With regard to the pay Of the
police, the House was inclined to be
the more liberal, but this question
would not cause any dispute. The risks
and exposures incident to q policeman's
life should be considered in fixing his
pay, together with the importance Of
securing good men. When upon the
subject of pay, the Senate committee
be governed by the District Commits
sioners to q considerable extent upon
that point. Everything indicates that
the bill would be passed without any
dificulty II an attempt were made"
A craze for investment or speculation
in mining shares prevailed 80 years
ago and great sums
small ErontS In were chi angling
Western Mines. hands as neophytes
In finance put up
their money for securities in supposed
underground operations in the West
The Star Of April IS, 1880, prints the
following warning.
People who are thinking of going
into the mining business, either as In
vestors of money or handlers Of q pick
and shovel, would do well to look Into
the facts and figures Of the subject o
little before doing 90. Mr.. Delmar,
formerly in charge of the Bureau Of
Statistics here, has recently published
some interesting facts In relation TO
the cost and returns Of gold and silver
mining. According to his estimates,
the cost Of mining gold In California
from 1848 to 1856, In value Of capital
and labor employed, amounted to
sass, 100000 while the mint value Of