Evening Star Newspaper, June 9, 1894, Page 13

SAILED ON TIME Wellman’s Dash to the Pole Begun | in Earnest. THE EXPEDITION FULLY ORGANIZED The American Party Has Bidden Goodbye to Civilization. Now ON ITS AROTIC WAY (Copyrighted, 1804, by Walter Wellman. AM rights ~ ‘reaerved.) ON BOARD THE RAGNVALD JARL, NEAR TROMSO, May 1, 1804. N HOUR AGO WE bade goodbye to the world of civilization and are now steam- ing straight for the arctle regions. sailed on the very day that was months ago set for our de- parture, and it is no Uttle triumph for an arctic expedition to get away on schedule time. In the ld of required for the Preparation of an expedition of this char- acter there is every chance for delay or accident, for It scessary to prepare not only for a voyage and for a siedge journey ever the ice, but for existence through an tnknown period, where no other resources but those carried along are aceessible. If any one ks it an easy task to prepare @ venture of this sort, throwing about it all possible safeguards, thinking of every- thing. anticipating eli possible wants, let Bim try it and be undeceived. But our gallant IMttie steamer cuts the waters of the fiords straight into the Arctic ocean we walk the deck with a reasonably clear consciousness that our preliminary work has been well done, and that we are fully ped for battle against the king of the is letter—our last communication several months—we write s of being able to send back by some eck on our way out to sea. As we steamed out of the port of Tromso this afternoon the citizens gave us a hearty goodbye. The quays were crowded with people, who waved and shouted to us their good wishes, and every steam craft in port whistled its shrill farewell note. Salutes Capt. Emu Pe were fired, and a fleet of small beats ac- companied us for a mile on our way. The last man to say goodbye was Consul Aagaard, the foremost citizen of the town, Who has Leen our agent in Norway, who chartered for us the Ragnvald Jarl, secured for us a number of the men who accompany us, and who has, with his practical help and wise counsel, been of inestimable serv- ice to our enterprise. The hospitality and generosity with which this American ex- Pedition has been treated ever since our arrival upon the shores of the country were em sized last evening by a farewell din- ner the home of the consul. We sailed away with regrets not only for leaving our frew-found friends in Norway, but with keener emotions as we thought of the hearts and homes far away in America that were darkened by this shadow of separa- tien and danger. ‘The Party Board. We are twenty-five souls on board, sixteen of whom belong to the expedition proper and nine to the crew. Of the sixteen mem- bers of the expedition all but six are Nor- ns One ts an Englishman and one an “1 Scandinavian. But we fear this mixture of races. Ab of have lived together on ship for 3 and we have a happy fam- fly. ive re enthusiastic than the Amer- fear prospects of the expedition wesian members, and when they portrait of Dr. Nansen hung con- im our eabin they exclaimed, n well enough, but we are " A tine lot of fellows we " continent—athletie, tabie. Three—Oyen, Aime ientific men, Mr. Oyen be- of wide reputation, who will 2 e of our headquarters at Spltzbergem. Mr. Dahl will be geologist to the polur party. Mr. Aime is a meteorolo- spicuots Capt. Dotielfsen, he famous Prof. Mohay, study to the metec s than any of his con- it and Heyerdahl are uni- both nous runners on the a our Ni en, has a trio enced icemen to ski and aprise a num- ck m ter in America. ago presented which is at we may be abie ing experiments with it It is not adaptable to © pack, though doubtless « im Advance. such as ours, full of the best that modern science and al arts can ¢ is interesting in y phase | "e, On our voyage coast of Norway a part of the crew was detailed to iive for ment Fou hree days upon or one and a half When the whole ven assembled to- a common water concentrated soup uz only the space of a sardine a thick, rich porridge for all containing thirty-seven per cext ef r T S placed in ounces of t nitrogenous matter and equaling in nutri- tive value a large roast of beef. Four ounces of American evaporated apples gave us a fine dish of acidulous fruit, and a hal? ounce of tea, sweetened with a few grains of saccharine, made’a fit companion for the apples. Two ounces of solid meat from Chi- ¢3go and six ounces of ship's biscuit gave the actual eating which seems a necessary tribute to long standing habit. Eating is very largely a habit at best, and the day will come when we shall demonstrate the ability of man to cure himself not of the habit of eating, but of cating a large quantity simply for the sake of the com- Helge Alme. fortable feeling of fullness which man in common with other antmals so well eajoys. As for that, our big plate of soup, the dried apples and the tea gave an excellent coun- terfeit, nourishing without heaviness. We ba found, in short, that our ration of twenty-four ounces per day is too much rather than too little, and that if necessary it may safely be diminished twenty-five per cent or even firty per cent in an emergency. A Pleasant Voynge. Our voyage vp the coast of Norway was the pleasaatest part of our journey. We were interested in watching the flect of hundreds of fishing vessels, nearly all of the Viking ship model, coming from the famcus Lofoden cod fisheries, It was pleas- ant to note how the days rapidly length- ened till, at the aretic circle, there was at midnight only a soft, radiant twilight. Now there is scarcely even a twilight, and In a few days we shall see the sun at midnight, the sun who ts to be our constant compan- fon ever in the sky for several months. Within the arctic cirele, too, it was a pleas- ure to bask in the warm sun and to go up on deck in the early morning stark naked and take our baths by the simple process of pouring buckets of sea water over one another. This in the latitude of Greenland in April! It is not always that we can do this up here with comfort, but this is an extraor- dinary season in the arctic. Today the streets of Tromso are clear of snow, earter than for forty years. The people say the weather must have deen made to our or- der, for we could not have it better. Nor could we fail to be pleased with the pre- diction of all the arctic navigators that there is so little ice to the north that we with success. jag for the Dash. Greatest pleasure of all was to note the ease with which we organized ourselves for life and work on shipboard, and the rapid- ity with which Norwegians and Americans became fast friends and boon companions. Realizing at the outset that we are neither military nor naval, and that organization was still necessary, we applied some simple rules of common sense, with most admir- able results. We have each day an officer of the day to look after details, and every man is assigned to his share of the work— three to looking after the dogs, two to table stewards’ work, and so on through all the phases of ship duty and service. No cruiser in the white squadron could have its affairs in better order or get along with less friction than we experience in our daily routine. There is work enough for all, for in addi- tion to the ordinary tasks, we must make preparations for the Ice journey and for our headquarters. Food supplies must be assorted and packed, boats prepared with awning covers and other fittings, boots and gloves and wearing apparel be overhauled and distributed. Dog harness must be made, and also canvas harness for the men to drag with. Every article or store that Is going upon the ice must be weighed, for weight, next to utility, ds the great consid- eration in an effort of this sort. We watch every ounce with jealous eye and throw aside every pound that can be safely dis- carded. The Ragnvald Jarl is as full of stores as she can be. We have the three aluminum beats, seven sledges, three other boats, tons of provisions for a possthle wintering, every conceivable article of housekeeping Necessity, weapons, ammunition, tools by the hundred, including a miniature ma- chine shop, all sorts of articles for repairs cn the field, alcohol for fuel upon the ice and barrels of petroleum for light in case winter overtakes us at the headquarters, ‘oceries enough to start a grocery shop “Sith, boots enough for a very respectable ‘shoe store. medicine sufficient to stock an ordinary drugsist, enough bedding for 4 smal! hotel, culinary and table articles in quantity and variety most astounding, sci- entific and photographic instruments by the score, bamboo poles from the ill-fated Spectatorium at Chicago for use upon the ice, mountain rope from the Alpine clubs, clothing enough to start up an ambitious clothier in a small town, and about two million other things “too numerous to men- tion.” as the auctioneers say. Think of anything you please, except money, and the chances are we have it. We even have a Passport—pot to the realms of the ice king, but to the Russian dominions, issued spe- cially for us by the czar at the request of Secretary Gresham, through Minister White. It commands the subjects of the czar to give us help should’ we require ft, and this we take along, not because there ts one chance in ten thousand of our meeting Rus- sian subjects or touching Russian soll, but because we wish to be provided against even that remote contingency should our return be made via Franz-Josef Land, Nova Zem- bla and Russian Lapland. Coal and Dogs and Ficas. In Tromso we took aboard ai) the coal the Ragnvald Jarl could hold. Every chink and corner 1s filled with fuel, for in the arctics coal is sometimes worth its weight in gold. Where there is no coal, there a dog may be found. The Ragnvala Jarl is as full of dogs as our dogs are of fleas, and that {s more than enough. Our Belgian dogs are giving us a good deal of trouble, not because they are weakly or vicious, for they are neither, but simply because they are dogs. Imprisoned below deck, with nothing to do but eat and sleep, they fill in their superabundance of leisure time by try- ing to chew cach other into small pleces. Bob we had to bring on deck because he broke his chain three times and every time had one of his mates for breakfast. Milord, a big poedle sort of chap, with corkscrew curls all over his dirty body, has set out to be the king dog, and being armed with sharp teeth and a thick wool, which fills his assailants’ mouths and protects his hide, he is likely to succeed, though It is easy to see all the other dogs are craving a chance to get at him. The pack have more wounds and bites than Dr. Moburn could attend to in a week, but luckily they are in most cases hurts which quickly heal. We had our first funeral just as we crossed the arctic circle, consigning to the waves a poor pup who had been bitten to death by his mates. Two more have succumbed to the same disease, and we have found it nec- essary to organize a regular dog watch. Fortunately we have more dogs than we need and can still afford to lose a few, if the brutes must have amusement at one another's expense. Letters for the Peary Party. The Ragnvald Jarl is perhaps the first steamer that ever carried mail to the north pole. Besides the American and Norwegian colors, which have been saluted by all passing steamers and by the light house keepers, we have the right to fly the post pennant if we wish so to do, for we have on board letters for Mr. Astrup, the young Norwegian who ts with Lieut. Peary, from his mother, and also for a number of the memberg of Dr. Nansen’s brave party. The writers asked us to carry them In view of the bare possibility of there being a meet- ing of two or more of the polar exploring — now in the fiekl in the region of the pole. Unless we are fortunate enough to get another opportunity to dispatch letters by a fishing snack, it !s not likely we shall be again heard from till the return of the Ragnvald Jarl from Spitabergen, in July. At first we had intended to send her back to Tromso about the Ist of June, but now it 1s probable we may have need of her in the north throughout May. and that she will not reappear in port till after the re- turn of our supporting party from the ice pack. No news from us until the middle or latter part of July will be good news, and what do you think we shall have to send you than? WALTER WELLMAN. BUILDING THE CITY The Largest Sale of Lots Ever Known in Its History. A NATIONAL ONIVERSITY Washington's Contribution Toward its Endowment. OLD DISTRICT RESIDENTS Written for The Evening Star. . N MY LAST Pa- per on this subject I sketched the progress made by the Com- missioners of the Dis- trict In the erection of the public buildings and improvement of the city up to the summer of 1793, and the complications in which they had been involved by the lot- tery schemes of Mr. Blodgett. Having severed all connection with him, they opened negotiations with parties of wealth and influence, in the hope of inter- esting them in the federal city. Among these were James Greenleaf and Robert Morris. Greenleaf was a native of Boston, who had resided for some years in Amster- | dam, where he had married into a wealthy family, snd had been appointed United States consul in that city. Washington save him a letter of Introduction to the commissieners, in which he said: “He has been represented to me as a gentleman of large property and having the command of much money in this country and in Eurepe, but I can say nothing on this head from my own knowledge. I have reason to believe that if you can find it consistent with your duty to the public to attach Mr. Greenleaf to the federal city he will be a valuable acquisition.” It was generally understood that Greenleaf represented large capitalists in Holland, who were desirous of investing in real te in this country, and that he visitad Washington for the purpose of examining the prospects of the new capital. His investigation seems to have impressed him favorably, and on the 23d of September, 1708, he entered into an agreement with the commissioners for the purchase of 3,000 lots. Robert Morris of Philadelphia at that time was a United States Senator from Pennsylvania and well known, both in this country and in Burope. He had been the superintendent of finance under the Continental Congress, and his credit had supplied the revolutionary army with food, clothing and munitions of war. He was on the most inimtate terms with Washington, who declared that the purse of Morris had been the salvation of the country, A native of England, he was brought to America when a child by his father, who settled at Oxford, on the east- ern shore of Maryland, At the age of fourteen he was sent to Philadelphia, where he entered a comntercial house. He showed ability and became a merchant of promi- nence before the war. When hostilities be- gan he engaged in blockade running, and fitted out a number of privateers. The risk of capture was great, but the profits were enormous, and he soon became known as the richest man in America. After the war he invested largely in the certificates of indebtzdness of the several states, and when, in 1701, the federal government as- sumed the payment of this indebtedness the certificates rose greatly in value, and Morris was supposed to have made a great deal of money. Greenleaf made overtures to Morris to join him in his investments in Washington, and they formed a syndicate for that purpose. Morris afterward declar- ed that Greenleaf had agreed to furnish all the money that might be required for its operation. On December 24, 1783, Green- leaf and Morris made a contract with the commissioners by which Greenleaf’s former contract was enlarged, and they ugreed to purchase 6,000 lots, averaging 5,265 square feet, at $50 per lot, or $480,000 for 81,590,000 square feet, to be paid in six an- nual installments, beginning May 1, 1794, Thus the commissioners at one time dis- posed of more than half of the whole num- ber of lots owned by the government. Of the 6,000 lots so purchased, Morris and Greenleaf were to have the privilege of selecting 4,500 northeast of Massachusetts avenue and 1,500 southwest of it, excluding water lots, and reserving a square north- east of the avenue to be selected by the commissioners for the site of A National University. So it appears that the idea of such an institution was clearly fixed even at that early day. Washington's correspondence with the commissioners shows that it was one of the most cherished features of his Plan for the greatness of the national capi- tal. In January, 1704, he wrote them: “It has always been a source of serious reflection and sincere regret that the youth of the United States should be sent to foreign countries for the purpose of education.” He says that he fears “the danger of their contracting principles un- friendly’ to republican government,” and that he has “greatly wished to see a plan adopted here by which the arts, sciences and belles lettres could be taught in their fullest extent, and which, by assembling the youth from the different parts of this Tising republic, would contribute, from their tnterccurse and interchange of infor- mation, to the removal of prejudices which might, perhaps, sometimes arise from local circumstances.” And in another letter: “The federal city, from its centrality and the advantages which tn other respects it might have over any other place in the United States, ought to be preferred as a proper site for such an university.” As a Practical evidence of his interest in the matter, he adds that “if a suitable plan can be adopted and put into execution he will give fifty shares of stock in the Potomac Navigation Company foward its endow- ment.” Thus encouraged, the commission- ers went so far as to select a site and open subscriptions. They reported their action the following year: “We have chosen a piece of ground, which, if approved by you, ts intended for the site. Some donations have been subscribed, and we doubt not when the subject under consideration is more matured, we shall find many persons lberally disposed to forward this national concern.” Other more pressing matters and the financial embarrasments that soon over- clouded the prospects of the city seem to have suspended indefinitely the execution of this project, but Washington never lost sight of it, and in his will left the fifty shares of the Potomac stock to his execu- ters, with directions to invest their pro- ceeds tor the benefit of the university whenever it should be established. Provisions for Improvements, In their contract with the commissioners the syndicate bound themselves to build twenty brick houses each year for seven years, and not to convey any of the lots before January 1, 1796, except upon condi- tion that the purchaser should build upon every third lot conveyed. ‘The commissioners having full confidence in the ability of Greenleaf and Morris to carry out their contract, were ereatly pleased at having made an arrangement that promised the rapid improvement of the city. Gen. Johnson, their chairman, wrote Washington: “Things ure now se- cured, I think, to carry on the public build- ings to a considerable length under the most disagreeable circumstances; and our public affairs should brighten, a pow- erful influence is secu! to do what is right and proper, and which ought to have been done in the outset.” Greenleaf under- took to arrange a loan in Holland for all the money they might require, and with the capital represented by him and Morris, and the political influence of the latter in Congress, the prospect for the new city seemed very bright. Unfortunately, how- ever, the expectations of the commissioners were never realized. Before the loan in Holland could be effected financial difficul- |tles arose there and the scheme failed. Morris had not confined himself to specu- lating In Washington lots. His credit being first rate, he had bought real estate on de- ferred payments in immense quantities all over the country. One of his biographers says that he bought and sold the wuole state of New York west of Lake Geneva, When the time approached for the - ment of the first installment on the | ington lots Greenleaf and Morris asked for an extension. They offered their personal bond, with John Nicholson of Pennsylvania as security, for the $30,000 about to become due,» and asked the commissioners to ac- cept it and give them an absolute convey- ance for a proportionate number of lots, $0 that they might realize at once on of their purchase. The commissioners, hav- ing confidence in their solvency, agreed to | he writes: | @ portion | principal public buildings, and does not part of them, with the subordinate agents, Teside in Georgetown, the concerns of the city will be conducted uninfluenced or to the best advantage.” He adds that for this reason the old board had suggested, and he had approved, a plan for building ‘a house for their accommodation between the two know why it was abandoned. And ‘or sure I am, be the state of take the bond and give them a deed in fee | the public buildings in the year 1800 what it simple for one thousand lots. These lots the Syndicate at once put upon the market, and sold them at about double their cost. One of the purchasers was Thomas Law, may, there will not be accommodation for at that period within such a dis- tance as to induce a removal from Phila- an |delphia if those whose particular duty it Englishman, who had made a large fortune | is to b> there and to sct an example hang in the East Indies. Lord Evienborough, Custis, granddaughter of Mrs. Washington. He was a nephew of | aloof and fix the attraction another way. and married Elizabeth | The consequences of such a deficiency, not only to the city, but to Georgetown and all It is said that he invested first and last | the interests thereabouts, is too evident to $500,000 in the city, He became largely in- stand in need of prediction.” It is not sur- terested in the canal which was constructed | prising that Messrs. Scott and Thornton through the city, commencing at the mouth | were unwilling to exchange their comfort- of Tiber creek and mac with the Eastern branch. A Canal Express. connecting the Poto-|able homes and the society of Georgetown for the woods around the Capitol. How they appeared at that time we may gather An English traveler, who visited Wash-| fom the description given by Col. Twining. ington at the time. says: “Mr. Law, the chief promoter of this undertaking, pro- poses to establish yacket boats to ran | over night at the “Fountain Tavern.” between the Tiber creck and the Navy |Next morning he started on horseback, and Yard—a conveyance which may be rendered more economical the hackney coach.” and electric lines the idea of a “canal ex- press’ seems too ridiculous for conception and it is hard to believe that even a hun- a canal boat as a substitute for even a hackney coach. It seems easier to believe that some humorist of that day was play- ing on the credulity of the Englishman. Law purchased land in the vicinity of Greenleaf Point—named after James Green- leaf—where the Arsenal grounds now ai few yards from and overlooking the river. Tho “Law Building” on New Jersey ave- nue south of the Capitol was erected by him, also a row of brick houses near Dud- dington Place, formerly known as the “ten buildings.” Morris, who seems to have been carried away by his mania for speculating in real estate, "at this Ume formed another syndi- cate called “The North American Land { Company,” with a capital of 6,000,000 acres of wild lands in the middle and southern states, bought on credit for a few cents per acre, which they proposed to sell to Euro- pean investors at 50 cents per acre. There had been a great boom in lands tn this country and foreign capitalists had bought largely. The syndicate expected to unload at a big profit. Morris invited Washington to come into the pool, but the general, al- though he had bought a great deal of land himself, never purchased more than he could handle. He declined and gave his oid friend a bit of advice. “You are old”—he wrote—“and had better retire than engage in such extensive concerns.” Morris re- plied—“I can uever do things on the 5: i must be either a man or a mouse. very short time demonstrated the wisdom of Washington's advice. A financial depres- sion developed in Europe that was soon felt in this country and the boom collapsed. Mor- ris and his friends found themselves over loadéd with unproductive ri ch they had not paid for and neither sell nor borrow money on. When the second installment on the Washington lots fell due in May, 1795, they had no Payment. Not only that, but they stopped work on the bulldings they had begun in pursuance of their contract and these were eft in their unfinished state to go to wreck and ruin. A New Board of Commissioners. About this time the board of commission- ers was reorganized. Two of the original members—Gen. Johnson and Dr. Stuart— had been long anxious to be relieved of the burden of responsibility and adverse criti- of the District commissioners. Washington was desirous of retaining them, but they re- fused to serve longer. Gen. Johnson wrote him: “I do not know of any event which would induce me to stand the mark of calumny and gross abuse as I near three years pust.” Was appointed in his place August 23, and br. William Thornton succeeded Dr. Stuart September 14, 1704. The third mem- ber of tne old board—Daniel Carroll—re- mained until May, 17935, when Alexander White took his plac not mention the subject of salary Yor the commissioners, but Washington thought for their time and services. In January, 1798, he had asked their views as to what would be a fair compensation, suggesting as his own idea “six dollars days of actual service and mileage for trav- eling,” as only one of them lived in the Dis- trict. The commissioners did not think it evough, and mentioned $1,600 per year as about the right figure; the President entirely wrote them: “No fixed salary in the United ig equa) to one thousand dollars clear of ex- penses."| The commissioners acquiesced, but when they aad announced their inten. Uon to resign, and could no ionger be con- sidered interested parties, renewed their recommendation, and the salary of their Successors was fixed at $1,600. Gustavus Scott was a native of Prince William county, Va., but at the time of his appointment was living in Annapolis, Md. He had represented his district in Congress in 1784, and was a man of large influence id eminent connections. Soon after his in- Stallment he purchased a tract of land on Roek creek, adjeining the new city, known as “Rock Hill.” It commanded a magnifi- cent view of the city, the Potomac and sur- rounding country. Here he built a resi- dence and lived there until 1804, when he sold it to Joel Barlow, who had just re- ae from eine where he had lived for many years the representative of the Sctoto Land Company. In 1805 Mr. Barlow remodeled the mansion and gave the Place the very appropriate name of “Kalorama,” beautiful view. Robert Fulton spent a great Part of his time here with Mr. Barlow, who furnished him with the means to make ex- Perlments and eonstruct models of his pro- Posed steamboat, and it is said that his first model was launched on the waters of Rock creek. Massachusetts avenue now passes through Kalorama, which {s one of the most desirable suburbs of the city. Dr. Thornton was a gentleman of fine artistic taste, and it was his Plan of the Capito! that was finally adopted, after some modifications by Hallet. Alexander White was practicing law in Winchester, Va., when offered the position of commissioner. Several citizens of the District were cand!_ dates, but Washington thought it was in- expedient to appoint any one from that locality owing to the fealousies that exiszed between the people of Its different sections. Thornton and Scott had located in the west- ern part of the District, and those interested in the eastern part of the city were con- tinually protesting against the favoritism which they alleged was shown the west end. Georgo Walker, the champion of East Washington, whom I have mentioned in a previous article,was especially bitter against the new commissioners, and he was so vio- lent in his charges that Washington wrote them, “Mr. Walker's attack appears to me to be as Impolitic as {t is indecent and in- temperate; and discusses the subject of his indictment in the same letter. The Presi- dent seems always to have stood by his commissioners. He never appointed one until he was fully satisfied of his integrity, and after that sustained him against all at- tacks. He sometimes differed with them, and in such cases did not hesitate to ex- press his opinions plainly and forcibly, but bis letters show that he always had perfect confidence in their fidelity and good faith. That he retained this to the last is evidenced by a letter he wrote them just before the expiration of his second term of office, in which he fully indorsed them all, and par- ticularly Mr. Scott, who had been the spe- efal object of Walker's criticism. Notwith- standing this confidence, however, he un- derstood human nature well enough to know that it was but natural that there should be local jealoustes and conflicting interests. Writing at the time of White’s appointment to Cgl. Deakens, who had recommended the lection of a Georgetown man, federal city would have been discharged with ability and fidelity by the gentleman whose name you have mentioned to me, I cannot harbor a doubt, but the Angel Gabriel, in his situation, would have been charged with partiality. From a thorough conviction of this, I have never turned my attention to a character who, at the time of his appointment, was a resident either in Georgetown or the federal city.” In pass. ing, tt may be observed here that Washing- ton fever called the ital by the name given it in honor of himself. He tnvariably speaks of it as the “federal city.” Was this modesty? While, however, the President @id_not belleve in appointing a man who was a resident at the time of his appoint- ment, he thought that, when appointed, it was his duty to reside in the city, and as near as possible to the public buildjngs. He writes to the board: “It is my decided opinicn and expectation that the commis- sioners do reside in the city, and the nearer they are to the pubiic works the better and more desirable it will be.” Messrs. Scott and Thornton, however, were not inclined to give up their residence in the west end, and Washington wrote them again, insist- ing upon their removal to the tral part of the city. “Till this happens,” says he, “the jealousies between the bs gel and lower end of the city will not subside, nor, indeed, will it be believed, be the fact as it may, that, while the ers, OF & mALr e and comfortable than | tract of level re, and built there a handsome residence a| WBch funds to meet it and made default in the | 8¥5dicate, “We mu: cism, which even in those days was the lot | ceeds of the loan were I have done for} bond, but security. Gustavus Scott] and Col. a British officer, who came to Washington in 1796 on a visit to Mr. Law. He arrived at Georgetown in the evening, and stopped e thus describes his ride from Georgetown to the Capitol: “Having crossed an extensive country, somewhat resembling In this day of cable|<n English heath, I entered a large wood, through which a very imperfect road had beer. made. After some time this indistinct Way assumed more the appearance of a reg- dred years ugo anybody would contemplate | WaT avenue, the trees here having been cut down in a straight line. Although no hab- itation of any kind was vistble, I had no doubt but I was now riding along one of the streets of the metropolitan city. I con- tinued in this spacious avenue for half a mile, and then came out upon a large spot, cleared of wood, in the center of I saw two buildings on an extensive scale, and some men at work on one of them. Advancing and speaking to these workmen, they informed me that I was now in the center of the city, and that the building before me was the Capitol, and the other destined to be a tavern.” This extract fs taken from “Twining’s Travels in) Americ: a very entertaining little book, recently published by Harper Bros. Confronted by a Deficiency. The scheme for raising money by a loan in Holland having failed, the new board found itself without funds to defray the ex- penses of the public bulidings in course of construction. The commissioners called up- on Greenleaf and Morris to pay the arrear- ages due on their purchase, but in vain. Finally they invoked the President's inter- vention, and he wrote Morris, September 34, 1795, “I am so thoroughly impressed with the rulnous consequences which must result to the pubiic buildings from a delay of the payment which the commissioners request that I should think my official conduct rep- rehensible if I did not press them upon you most urgently.” Morris replied that he hoped to raise the money soon and that the present embarrassments were caused by the failure of Mr. Greenleaf to keep his agree- ment to furnish the money for the opera- tions of the syndicate, owing to the fact that and had the French invasion of ch they could | @sturbed finances there, and had put it cut of his power to do so, Morris himself seems to have made every effort, but to no pur- In March, 1796, he writes one of the fee Gen. Stuart this day, and if you wil! not attend, the city of Washington will go It began to look like the city was going in that direction. In this dilemma the commissioners made an application to the state of Maryland for a loan, and the legislature agreed to let them have $200,000 in United States stock at par, provided the commissioners would give their personal bond for the full amount, with 6 per cent interest. The commissioners re- cetved the stock, which they sold for $169,- 873.41. They had to pay the state Interest, amounting to $39,000, so that the net pro- $130,873.41. This was soon expended, and, in 1798, Congress au. thorized the United States treasurer to ad- vance them $100,000, The next year they again applied to Maryland, and that state loaned them $50,000 more. This time, how- ever, they were required not only to give Gen. James Mi Lingan Uriah Forrest became securities, 1i¥4, | and Col. Forrest, in addition, gave a mort- gage on 420 acres of his estate near the city. These two private citizens, who thus came to the assistance of the city in the time of her need, deserve to be remembered. Gen. e organic law did | Lingan had been a brave officer in the revo- lution, and was appointed by Washington collector of Georgetown. He was trong they ought to receive a just compensation federalist, and, having volunteered to de- fend the office of a federal newspaper in Baltimore against a mob, In 1812, received Injuries from which he died. His death ber day for the | caused great indignation His funeral was attended by an immense concourse, and G. W. P. Custis, Washington's adopted son, delivered an oration in his honor, and @ salute was fi from the deck of the first but this seemed to] ship ever built in Georgetown, named, after too much, and he | him, the “Gen. Lingan.” Col. Uriah Forrest was also a veteran of States, from the chief magistrate to the| the revclution. He served with distinction doorkeeper of the House of Representatives, |in the Maryland line, and loat a leg at Brandywine. In 1786-’S7 he was a member of the Continentai Congress,representing the Georgetown district. He lived near that tcwn on his fine estate “Rosedale,” where he dispensed a generous hospitality, He married Miss Rebecca Plater, one of the beauties of her day, and @ daughter of Gov. Plater of Maryland. One of Col. Forrest's daughters married Mr. John Green of the Navy Department, and they lived at Rose- dale. She gave a portion of it to her son, George F, Green, and he erected a stone mansion on a rch nee site, — “Pretty Prospect.’ is property was so! in 1886 to President Cleve! and he oc- cupled it as his summer residence during his first administration. Another of Gov. Plater’s daughters married Judge Phillip Barton Key, who owned Woodley, the place which Is now leased Mr. Cleveland. Commodore French Forrest was a son of Col. Uriah Forrest, and Rev. Douglas For- rest, formerly assistant rector of Trinity Church, is his grandson. One of Mrs. Green's daughters in 1866 married Don Angel d'Iturbide, secretary of the Mexican legation, whose father was the first emperor of Mexico. The son of this marriage, Au- gustin d'Iturbide, was adopted by Maxi- milian and named as his successor. A Vain Straggle. Morris and Greenleaf for two or three years struggled to stem the tide of financial disaster that had set so strongly against them, but in vain. In March, 1798, Green- leaf made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. A month before, on February 15 of that year, Robert Morris had been ar- rested for debt, and on February 16 he was consigned to the debtors’ prison in “Phila- delphia. The country which had enjoyed the use of his purse, when he was rich and it was poor, now allowed him, tn his old age and poverty, to remain there for more than three years. On August 26, 1801, he was released under the general bankruptcy act. While he was in durance Washington went to Philadelphia to assume command of the army.to which he had been appointed hy President Adams, in anticipation of a war with France. The first visit he paid was to his old friend in the debtors’ prison. What they talked about we do not know, but the gratitude of republics might have been a topic. Washington doubtless re- membered also Morris’ answer to his advice. The pocr old man had realized the alterna- tive. He was a “mouse” caught tn the trap of speculative mania. Ten years before that, in the same city, Washington, on his way to assume the first presidency, had visited Morris in his luxurious home, and had then offered him the office of Secretary of the Treasury, on the ground that his emirient financial services tn the revolution placed him above all competition. Morris declined, but recommended Alexander Ham- fiton. Washington seemed Mg ens and said: “I always esteemed Col. Hamilton as a man of fine talents, but I was not aware that he knew anything about finances.” “He knows everything, sir,” answered Morris. “There is no subject that his mind does not illumine.” Hamilton was appointed and verified the estimate of Morris. J. 8. T. —__. How It Done. From the New York Recorder. This pathetic tale leads me to make a few remarks as to how these foreign scamps obtain a foothold in our “best society.” Suppose the scene is the opera. Mra. A notices a stranger in Mrs. B's box, @ young Englishman. I met him at the club last night. I think his name's Cremorne. Seems a jolly fellow.” “He's nice looking. You may bring him to my box if you choose.” So Cremorne, the scamp, is duly passed on from one family to another, no one know- ing a thing about him, or caring, for that matter, so long as he is presentable ang a novelty. He may have got his first introductions through accident, mistake or a chance ac- quaintance on shipboard. It matters not. He is soon in the swim, and, being an iron pot, is very to get the best of the earthenware Mes who have taken him up. In this "recent incident the people who petted the pilferer are to be congratulated that he didn’t get away with a daughter two, as well as with thelr money end uri PICKING STRAWBERRIES DANGERS OF BOWLER INSPECTING. Sudden Changes of Temperature Bring ou Paralysis of the Spine. The Terrible Experience How the Luscions Fruit is Gathered, Packed and Shipped. i s Boller Inepecter, Sustcken Bows oe Pronounced Incarable by the Most Emim ent Specialists, Yet he Recovered. ie is Early and Basy Work and Men, ‘Women and Children Are En- waged in It. \ tom the Newark Evening News) There are but few classes of men in the United States whose calling subjects them to sudden changes of temporaturc tbat at times will vary in degrees that reach Into the hundreds. Boller inspectors, probably have mere of this to con- tend with than any other single class of men in the country and they, sooner or ‘later, feel the effects of itand not asmall number of them have died at an age when they ebould really begin to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Paralysis of the spine is one of the fruitsofan expert knowledge of steam boilers. In the coldest season of the year, the expert is required to go into a boiler room and Inspect the boilers while the temperature {s crowding the mercury up into the hundreds. When his work is done, he putson his coat and goes out in the The result is easily imagined. ‘ For the past seventeen years, Mr. Jobn Bird, ‘one of the best known men of Jersey City, has been an inspector for the Hartford Steam Boller Insurance Company. About two years ago he began to suffer with pains in the small of his back, but at first paid but litle attention to tt, thinking that ft was nothing more than a severe cold, or at worst, an attack of rheuma- tsm. He Wwentabout his work as usual and the pain became more intense. Finally he be- came so bad that he could scarcely tse his limbs etal He called in Dr. Varick of Jersey City, who after @ thorough examination refused point blank toatien@ him. Headvised Mr. Bird to consult Prof. Corning, of New York, Mx. Bind acted On the suggestion without delay end sought the renowned specialist. After going through ® rigid examination, Prof. Corning told Mr. Bird that bis spine was eMicted and that science could not help bim, The history of the case is a remarkable one end 1s beet told in Mr. Bird’s own Janguage. To a reporter who calied at his handsomely furnished howe at 165 Whiton Steet, Jersey Clty. Mr. Bird said: “ When I first decided to doctor for my trouble I learned, thut I had contracted paralysis of the spine. I called in my family physician, Dr. Varick, who refused to teat me and advised me to go to Prof. Corning of New York, I went to the Professor aud followed his advice for eight months, but it did no good ai ali, After Lis I went to Professor Thompson, who treated, me With clectricity and compressed alr, Some times I (ook as much as fourteen pounds ands half in three hours, Tiere are very few men that can stand the compressed air for mor than a half hour, ‘Written for The Evening Star. ‘The strawberry season commenced ten Gays earlier this year than last, consequent- ly lovers of peace and quiet, who object to the cries of the strawberry man, can con- sole themselves with the fact that it will be over ten days sooner. Unless there ts a fur- ther succession of rains, the 15th of June will witness the departure of the straw- berry from the boarding house shortcake, and even as a high-priced luxury it cannot possibly hold sway much beyond the 20th, for though the crop is very abundant the end thereof is likely to be sudden. To the cultivator and the dealer it has not been a profitable season, for many reasons. The market price has varied as much as stocks in Wail street, but much of the time crates of sixty quarts have been selling at wholesale for $1.50, which is only .02 1-2 @ box. At this rate the profit of the raiser is extremely smatl, if it exists at all. The least a picker is ever paid is .01 per quart, consequently the possible profit of the cul- tivator is .01 1-2, minus the expense of tend- ing the vines, the price of the boxes, the freight and incidental expenses. The huck- ster’s profit ts more tangible, and fs largely due to a nice discrimination in the choice of boxes. All things are not what they seem, and many strawberry boxes do not hold 2 quart. When the contents of a small- sized crate, holding thirty-two quarts, is emptied into the smaller boxes there is a gain of thirteen boxes per crate. That is one reason why the strawberry man ad- vertises his wares as “‘five cents a box” In- stead of “five cents a quart.” The Supply for Washington. Washington is supplied principally by Nor- folk, by Fairfex county, Va., and Anne Arundel county, Md. The commonest vari- eties are the Sharpless, a long, pointed ber- ry, and the Crescent, a small, sweet one. The Gandey, which heralds the approach- ing end of the season, ts considered best for preserving. The Early Lovetis, the Bureka and many other varieties are also seen in the markets. Every year more people are going into the business of raising smail fruits, and the strawberry seems to be a favorite, perhaps because it does not require @ great dea! of attention. The vines, in the first place, are rather expensive, but they perpetuate themselves by sending out runners, which have only to be transplanted. The same vine will bear three seasons; after that the patch is usually plowed up and put into something else ‘or a year or two. A day spent in a shanty of a strawberry | «put forall that I @id not im patch would render the firmest bellever in peeve eaneh, coor and I began to lose all hope. A number of OF he tae Hatin eeretey eeeias to eat? | trtendeof alno tn Now Verkand Newasasted ket at the bottom of the box and the big | me repeatedly why I did not try Dr. Williams’ 4 me ad wou be a treatise = the —_ | Pink Pills for Paice People. They kept at it so human race. All atong the 1 : i aa feos the aboany, waines Kaus: one naa persistently, tha: nally 1 decided to give them ed to the table where they are served, eaci ® trial. change of scene is marked by the shiftin, “Weli, str, Jo you know that they have done of the biggest berries to the top. me more good than all the Professors and Doo The Pickers at Work. tors inthe world. I am a hundred percent It is an interesting sight to watch the betternow than when I first began taking them, pickers at work. There are mon, women Jam better in bealth and jn spirits and there and children of every shade, between lily 4s no longer that old fecling of depression, I white and ebony black. It ts quite likely walk better now than lever did while I was that some of Coxey’s men are reaping « under the care of te physician, Iam gaining small harvest during the absence of their flesh now and lave been ever since I took the leader, as the farmers say there are many Pink Pills. Another thing, the feeling has ones cohawegd ge ypes ther Bre ince Ta Come back An my logs. It used to be x0 that f order to get rid of the “set” in time to catch Could pound them as bard as} was ableand I the early trains and boats into the city. could not feel it at all. Dr, Williams’ Pink Tire cariler the berrian Bot Into market, the | Pills are the best thing I haveever heard of and more ey are to of, B60 youe wi the farmers would rather have S00 pickers ee selena aace a ea for six hours than half as many for double . . the time. A row is assigned to each one.| Ananalysisof Dr. Williams’ Pink Piliesbows and aie overseer attends to it hat, it is | that they contain, ina condensed form, all the cl “a “ad ut at s picked at all. elemen OCONAAT pive new lil rich- Armed with wooden (raya, containing ten OF | mass to the tieea ox pone auatened acrwor SSetak” As the Lease ote Sie, can ant | ghey neon Gutaiting epecthc fur such Gmeenesp aslocomotor ataxta, partial paralysis, St. Vitus? dance, sciatica, neuralgia, rheumatism, ner ‘vous hendache, the after effect of la grippe, “swink.” As the boxes are filled, they arc left in the row ufttil the last quart ts picked Paipitation of the heart, pale and sallow com: plexions, ana all forms of weukness either in when they are collected and carrie? to the shanty on the trays. It sometimes happens male or female. Pink Pills are sold by all Gealcrs, or will be sent post paid on receipt of that the man who has picked twelve quarts finds only eleven boxes awaiting him in the Price, (50 cents a box or six boxes for $2.50—they @re never sold in bulk or by the 00) by address row, and then dark suspicion falls on the Pickers If the ing Dr. Williaws’ Medicine Cow pany, Schenee | tady, N. ¥. in his immediate vicinity. overscer, or boss, as he Is called now, does not interfere, the end sometimes terminates with the razor act of parlor social notoriety, though for the mosi part the pickers are too busy to be quar- relsome. Some Interruptions. j = Strains of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “Old Grimes is Dead” are occasionally Interrupted with the quenion, “now may | ARE You Fat? has yer picked?” or blocked by the entrance Dr. Edison's FAMOUS ORESITY PHL AND BANDS and OBESITY FRUIT SALT seduce Foat Neight without dieting: cure the cage of dbewity, a of a luscious berry into the mouth, for, as many of the pickers come without their such as AMA, LerveUNESS. eR cs; keep you bealthy aud beaw breakfasts, the biggest berries seldom reach the ct Some New Style Special Obesity le bring a “cole snack” with them, and eat it at about 10 o'clock, when they Bands. Our supporting and special Obesity Rands will have become weary with well-doing. One producer has adopted the plan of hav- ing on hand a box of horse ginger cakes, which every child, both ta city and country, knows are the best nt the Digger cakes that can be bought for a penny. Not only ‘ ow \arieties. the little “picker-ninnies,” but many of the | Erin fiauds fave ser eens Nand mantles, Alt Z ‘GTON, D. C., Sept. 5, 168. its: I received your Obestt m glad to suy that J thi T think ft grand and Inches 1.50 for 6 older pickers as well, are glad to exchange @ ticket for a cake. To make money is not the idea; it is simply to keep up thier strength, so that they will not stop work. Some of the children, however, find them #o tempting that they pick all day and go your Rand is ke it ever so Ne home at night with neither a ticket norés | Pte of Gvowity Vilix. Yours trely, cent in the little calico bags they invariably MAME SO, SF Oh @. om wear on a string round their necks, in lie Loring & Co. Sire: Incloosd find of carrying @ pocket book. h please send me ope Obesity Band, size Sending Them to Market. Now, as f have takes the tediciees and know them to be good. and think I en sell some, as J can recommend experience, will act as ag: send particulars, Yours tr ‘The mest exciting time of the day is just before the wagon starts for the train. The order goes forth for all hands to stop work and bring in their boxes, whether they have only one or a dozen. In they crowd, many taking the trays on their heads. The berries are deposited on the tmprovised counter as fast as a place can be cleared for them, the “ticket agent” keeping a sharp eye on the pickers, for the crucial test of honesty is this general Press, when it is almost impossible to count the boxes of one before another conumences als, Mrs. F. Ui. STANTON, Lebanon, N. ¥. THE FARMBES AND TKADERS' RAXK, ‘Tena. KNUXVILLE, be Gentlomen: Your Obesity Fryit Salt reat benedit to my w dozen bottler covering a’ ported of tipee years, iy tm conneetion with gases from the at debility; alee there te 2 great lose Very respectfully, 3.1L. MAXWELL, dr, Caster, 30 FAT, NO REEUMAY to unload, The packers hustle the boxes| Messrs. Loring & Co: 1 will t you with into crates—taking time, however, to pick | a long letter. have used rour Ovesite Pills and out the nicest umes for the upper layer; | worn un Obesity Rand. No heart toouble now, ne the driver, with several volunteer assist- ants, loads the wagon and the strawberry is started on its journey to the city. Whether his neighbor has gotten his off an hour earlier, whether the commission agent was able to dispose of the “set” sent the before and how much longer the season is likely to last are questions of great im) ‘ance to the farmer. Then the pickers must be paid. The cal- ico bags are emptied of their contents and the tickets carefully counted—both by the Picker and the packer. who aiso acts as assistant cashier. Frequently they make as much as $2, sometimes more and some- times less, according to the price paid per box and the number of hours they are al- lowed to pick, for after the orders have been gotten off the pickers are usually Gismisced till the next day. ETHEL PATTERSON WRIGHT. —_——_—. A SWINGING AQUEDUCT. fainting © guxping for breath. we cohaustion, ne extm fat to carry around. no weskness or sore bess of linbs from rhemmaticm. The Edison Ubes | ity Pits and Band bave t this, What more ena one Gutlaes’ wate las? ME. JoiiNsUN, Engineer Peausyivauia Kallrosd, FROM A PROMINENT, PENNSYLVANIA HOT roamde and 5 inches In measurement ies. Sire: I have been wt Tis, and will say thet t |have lost 42 pornds in weight and he ab nal measurement. Mave felt spondidiy while using the Obesity Rand nd remedies. I teat ouly six bottles of Dr. Edison's Pills and have paid | Mo attention to @icting and have improved all the | thme. Will answer correspo ELIAS DILIIELD, Proprietor Tremout House, Oct. 37, 1808, ‘Trement, Schuylkill Co, Bm. Our guods may be obtained trom G. G. C. SIPMTris, Cor, New York ave. and 14th et, MERTZ’S MODERN PHARMACY, Keep a full line Ovecity bends Pills asd rate ‘4 Bait in stock. One English Canal Carried Across An- other on a Drawbridge. Brom the Burlington (Ia.) Gazette. The recently opened ship canal, which connects the city of Manchester, England, with the sea, 1s of commercial rather than Sent by mail on receipt of price. engineering importance. There were few ands cost $2.50 up; the Fruit Selt $1 per AiMficulties to be overcome in its construc- nd Wills $1.50 per bottle, or 8 bottles fer tion, yet one of the novel features of the |"YonING & CO. 42 West 224 st., Depactment ap enterprise is so curious that it deserves | 74, New York, ‘2 Hamilton place, Depart: passing notice. It is a very common occur- | N® # Boston. s03m fence for one ratiroad track to be carried —-. — over ancther; much less frequently we see one canal conducted across the line of an- other, but to have the iniersections of two water routes provided with a drawbridg is still more unusual. This, however, wi found the most satisfactory way of deal- ing the problem presented where the route of Manchester's new highway to the Mersey ran up against the old rater canal, leading southward from Wigan, in Save 25c. to soc. On That Traveling Bag —that you've got to have by getting See wast isted for not ha: —— just wi! reasons ex! not havi g,frade crossing 40 not appear, bar x aoe | A Telescope Case. appear that such a scheme was not deemed feasible, and hence the smaller channel | J6in- Sin. 201m, Pin. 24in, was borne over the larger. But a ‘ed -25. $1.50. aqueduct would have interfered with the masts, if not the smokestacks, of big ships, and therefore a swinging span, like that of ap ordianry dra e, Was resorted to. Obviously, the stationary ends of the sev- ered waterway needed to be, and they are, equipped with gates, which must be closed before the swinging span is opened. The latter structure is 65¢. 75¢. 90c. $1 A $4 Bag for $2.75 —we sold it Inst season for $4. For some reason Known to the manutacturere it is now $2.75-same bag—same quality