Evening star., 1950-01-01
Washington Target of Barbs.


contiguous to his own estate. Not
the contrary, think he has manifested
great portion of vanity in the ardent
desire he has expressed in wishing to
perpetuate his name by building a
metropolis under so many disad-
vantages, both in respect of climate
and situation. During his life, it may
out of compliment to him be carried on
in slow manner, but am appre-
hensive (and that not without rea-
SOM as soon as he is defunct the city,
which is to be the boasted monument
Of his greatness, will also be the same. "
The calamity of General Washing
tons death should generate new at
tention for the memorial aspect Of the
Federal City. Today, Baltimore is
pouring out its grief in great funeral
procession, even as New York and
Philadelphia have done in recent days.
The city which bears the magic name
Of Washington should be plucked
quickly from its present slough prop
erly to honor him. .
Workers Demand Raise.
The Commissioners had particular
difficulty with artisans at the public
buildings two years ago. Stonecutters
at the Capitol and carpenters at the
Presidents House demanded more pay.
These workers were occupying struc-
lures owned by the public. This cir
cumstance prompted the Commission
ers to direct them to end their en-
ployment and vacate. "all the buildings
you now occupy belonging to the pub
stonecutters. whom we shall engage"
The stonecutters and carpenters
thereupon elected to remain at their
tasks at no increase in pay.
Common labor in connection with
the public construction is being per-
formed largely by slaves hired from
their masters for the purpose.
When it was observed that the car
penters working on the roof of the
Capitol suffered from the intense heat
of q Washington summer, the Com
missioners decided these mechanics
should be permitted a small portion
Of spirits twice in each day. Each car
penter was allotted half a pint OF
whisky per day during the hot season,
and the progress of the work was
assisted somewhat.
'Village" Around Capitol.
At the Capitol, there are approx
mately Is wooden houses. Seven or
eight of these are boarding places.
There are, also. tailor shop, shoe
maker shop and establishments where
may be had dry goods. pamphlets and
stationery, groceries and oysters.
A printer is situated in the vicinity,
as is a washerwoman. The commercial
places are largely in New Jersey
avenue.
There is a swamp, or morass, cover
ing much of the area between the
Capitol and the Presidents House.
The roadway, bearing the grand name
Pennsylvania Avenue, does little honor
to this Commonwealth. It is full of
stumps. In rainy times, there are deep
mudholes. In places, the route is over
grown by elder bushes. There are
malarial pools and a generally un-
pleasant and inconvenient aspect. The
locality is favored for the hunting of
snipe.
The largest concentration of houses
In the city is at Greenleafs Point,
which extends into the Eastern Branch
near its confluence with the Potomak.
Here there are perhaps so buildings,
including tavern and few shops.
Those it had been hoped would be
attracted to this neighborhood have
not come, for the most part.
Many Houses Unfinished.
Many of the houses are not COM
pleted and are occupied by runaway
slaves and other vagrants. The forlorn
$50 buildings" of Messrs. Robert Morris
and John Nicholson, the prominent
land operators, still stand unfinished in
South Capitol street, on the point. Mr..
Daniel Carroll of Duddington, pro-
prietor of the area, seized the property
when it became apparent the pro-
moters of the project could not finance
it to completion.
There are wharves at the foot of
South Capitol street. The packet that
plies between Georgetown and Alex
andria stops over here. The water
front of the Eastern Branch has been
developed considerably upstream from
here.
All Of these establishments are east
ward of the point. The shore of the
Potomak, between the confluence with
the Eastern Branch and the so-called
town of Hamburger. below George
Town, is generally undeveloped. This
is because of the steep descent to the
water from bluff ranging in height
from Is to 25 feet which is the situa-
tion along this distance.
Establishments at Hamburger include
q brewery, large three-story ware
house of stone and wharf facilities.
The trip from Greenleaf's Peint to there
may be made by hack at cost of Is
cents.
Between the Capitol and the Presi-
dents House, along what is known as
the F street ridge, are a.. number of
houses and business places. The most
important of these are to be found
between the lines Of Thirteenth and
Fifteenth streets.
The Post Office is here. it having
been moved last year from its previous
location at First and East Capitol
streets. Thef efransfer was made over