Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

"Our Navy doesn't amount to much.
as every one knows" says The Star OF
January 18, 1881,
Costly Navy IL c eSeTv 6 gOoq kn oeS.
misery loves company 1t is some COM
fort, however, to know that in
proportion to the amount of money
paid some other countries are no better
off in this respect than ourselves. Eng
land is an example. One of her crack
ships, the Bellerophon, which was built
Is years ago at cost Of 81, 780, 900, and
which has since been repaired at an
expense Of $5oo,Ooo, is now being over
hauled at an outlay of 100000. An
other, the Hotspur, built only 10 years
ago at cost Of $3.50 900, afterward had
$4,000 spent on her for repairs and Is
now in dock for a second refit, to cost
$400 900. A third, the Defence, which
cost originally $1,250,000, has since been
refitted at an outlay of $850,000, while
the Sultan, which was launched no
longer than 1870 at cost of 81, 875, 600
and has since received repairs amount
ing to $325,000, is again docked for an
outlay of $425,000 The Shah left her
ways a new ship only seven years ago.
She cost originally $1,250,000. has had
$4,000 expended on her since then
and is now being overhauled a second
time at an estimated expense Of $780,
600, which will probably be largely in
creased before she Is sent to sea again.
The Amethyst is another case. She cost
$685., 900 only seven years ago and is
now in dock for her second overhauling,
which will amount, with the one prevt-
ously had, to nearly half her original =
cost, or $4,000. The most brilliant
passages of Mr.. Robeson's late admin
istration Of our naval affairs could hard
ly surpass this record, which, it is need
less to say. is attracting good deal
Of attention in England just now"
*
The prospect of the assumption of
work by the Government on the Poto-
The Future of the at ~' washington
Reclaimed Flats. st.au1aeeo q, sr tSs
use to which the redeemed area should
be put. The Star Of January 10, 1881,
says:
I'm any plan for the reclamation of
the Potomac fats the work should be
done by the Government and the land
reclaimed should belong to Govern
ment. 1t should be made continue
ton of the Government grounds now
from the Capitol to the river
at the Monument Lot. This added
ground could be utilized to beautify the
city and for Government use. Prof.
Baird would no doubt be very glad to
have portion of it for fish ponds and
lakes, and these sheets of water, sur
rounded by trees and strawberries, could
be made very ornamental. With a
series of drives in connection with those
now existing in the Armory, Smith
sonian, Agricultural, Monument and
White House grounds, this present I'M
inviting region of the river flats would
become a most attractive resort. The
Government should never give up this
ground to a private company or to in
dividuals, but should always maintain
control over the river front of the
Capital City. Should this ground get
INTO the possession OF private parties,
t will almost inevitably be used in
way to make it a disagreeable feature
f not positive nuisance upon the city
ront. Almost inevitably the bone-boil
ng, Soap-fat, aSphalt-reflning estab-
would find their way to this
ocality, and it would become just such
nuisance to Washington as Hunters
Point is to New York, with the added
that it would be situated
light in the neighborhood Of the White
House and as the prevailing winds in
he Summer are from the south and
outhwest the offensive fumes and vapors
would be waited over the main part of
he city, ~.