Evening star., 1937-10-07

first bankruptcy of Washington as 4
result Of neglect by the Nation of It's
obligation to the Nations city" A
bankruptcy like that, the message
said, threatened for a similar reason
today.
The completion of the Union En-
gine House, Mr.. Proctor said, was
due to an impulse born after the
Treasury Building had burned in 1898.
On that occasion the firemen rushed
to the engine shed on the site of the
present District Building only to find
the key was missing. They looked
for it at the Willard Hotel but never
found it," he related. Meanwhile, the
Treasury burned.
The census Of 1910, he said, gave
Washington a population of 23,364,
composed Of 16,843 whites, lib slaves
and 4,808 free colored persons. In
Georgetown there were 1912 persons
all told. He related. also, that he found
IN the 1ntelligencer of 1887 an ac-
count of the death of William O'Neil,
father OF the famous Peggy ONeil.
Traffic Dangerous Then, Too.
Traffic conditions were as bad In
that day, 100 years ago. as they are
now" Mr. Proctor reminded. Fast
driving was carried on in Pennsvl-
vania avenue to reckless degree, Just
as it is now in automobiles. 1t was
not infrequent that a number of
people were knocked down and killed
by the horses running away. There
were at least two or three serious acci-
dents a day"
He related also that a school was
conducted in the Union Engine House.
with Miss Mary Jane Mills as the
first teacher, in 1861-62. From 1912
to l845, he said, the room where the
association now meets was famous
for its discussions of the free school
issue. discussions led by John Quincy
Adams. Justice Woodberry of the
Supreme Court, Caleb Cushing and
others famous in their day. In 1870
the room was used as a mess hall
for the poor.
The f1remen's parade Of 100 years
ago. according to the Intelligencer
report on the day preceding, was COM
posed OF the leading companies of
the District. Among them were the
Columbia, Vigilant, Perseverance
Navy Yard. Western Star and Union
Fire Companies. There were also in
the parade the Hydraulion, Relief,
Crescent, Sun. Star and Friendship
Fire Companies of Alexandria, Va.
Mayor and Council March.
DR.. w. B. Magruder of the Union
Company presided at the dedication
exercises, with j. H. Smoot of the
Franklin as secretary Mayor Peter
Force and the Councils Of Washington
and Georgetown were present and
marched, too.
| After the arduous march the men,
bers were not so tired, 1t was related,
that they could not enjoy a cold
collation." at the engine house.
Mr.. Harper drew on his recollections
OF Washington in the 8Os, at that
time with a population of $50. 900. He
traced the city's growth and changes
IN local forms Of government. He
recounted also the changes in the
proportion of the Federal contribu-
ton to the upkeep of the District
from the days of the $3.50" and
"40-60" basis of payment to the pres
ent day. when the Federal Govern
ment pays bare IS ,00O, 900 toward the
total needs of more than $40, ZOO, 900.
But other things have changed for
the better during all these years, he
said, including the water supply, which
the late President Taft once charac-
terized as so bad that no one could
see himself in the bathtub. The
Washington Of today, Mr.. Harper
stressed, pictures the results of the
work and the courage Of the city
forefathers. He added:
with such phenomenal growth in
population and international impor-
tance, Washingtonians, representing
$4,000 American citizens, pay taxes,
obey laws, heed the country's call
for service, but they have no voice
in the levying of taxes, or making of
the laws, or of declaring war.
! "Regardless of this difference in