W. B. Bryan

“ Washington contains a greater number of collections of books than any other city of its size in the world. There are no less than thirty-four libraries owned by the Government, besides the Public Library and those in educational institutions and in private hands. ”

“ Owing to the unfortunate location of the granite structure occupied by the Treasury Department, the view from the Capitol down the broad expanse of Pennsylvania Avenue is interrupted by the southern portico of the Treasury building, instead of ending with the White House and its garden. Flanking the White House on the east is the Treasury Department building, with its vast colonnade, and on the left, the massive granite structure occupied by the State, War, and Navy departments. ”

“ Along the Potomac the land is low, but it gradually rises, reaching an elevation of 100 feet, and much more in the suburban portion of the city. A circle of hills forms the edge of a plateau which has in some parts an elevation of 300 to 400 feet. Formerly the section of the District bounded approximately by Rock Creek, the Potomac River, the Eastern Branch, and Florida Avenue was the city of Washington, but now there are no civil distinctions throughout the entire District. ”

“ Numerous drives and walks furnish the opportunity of enjoying the unusual experience of rural surroundings in the heart of a great city, since Pennsylvania Avenue, the broad thoroughfare extending from the Capitol grounds to the vicinity of the President's house, lies a square or two north of this park of 230 acres. ”

“ Georgetown, built partly on the heights of the Potomac River, west of Rock Creek, was a municipality before the site of the Federal City was selected, and is sometimes designated as West Washington. Anacostia, Brightwood, and other names given to the settlements in the District away from the main centre of population are still in use, but have no civil significance. The steam railroads enter the city from three different points and centre in two depots, one north and the other west of the Capitol building. ”

“ Charitable Institutions. The city is well supplied with hospitals, some of the leading ones being: Garfield, Providence, Freedmen's, Homœopathic, Emergency, Columbia Hospital for Women, Government Hospital for the Insane, Children's Hospital, and Columbian University Hospital. There are many dispensaries, asylums, homes, reformation and relief societies. Social settlement methods are not lacking. Organized charitable work on an extensive scale is carried on by the Associated Charities, which is supplied in large part with funds raised by the Citizens' Relief Committee. ”

“ The Public Library is a free circulating library. It occupies a spacious marble structure on Mount Vernon Square, given by Andrew Carnegie. The library is controlled by a board of trustees, appointed by the District Commissioners. The Bar Association has a valuable library in the Court House, and there are also collections of books in the various educational institutions. ”

“ Washington is not a manufacturing city, but still a large sum of money is invested in manufacturing enterprises, and the value of the yearly output is considerable. The product is made up principally of articles for home consumption. In the census year 1900 the District had 2754 manufacturing establishments, with a total capital of $41,981,245. ”

“ There are also a law school under the auspices of the Catholic University, and the Washington College of Law, primarily for women. In addition to the National College of Pharmacy, there is a pharmaceutical school in connection with Howard University. There is also a college of veterinary surgery. The American University, established by the Methodists, has extensive grounds near the city and one building has been erected, but the university has not yet been opened. ”

“ The tendency toward centralization in modern business has led to the erection of a number of lofty buildings for commercial purposes. The building regulations restrict buildings on residential streets to a maximum height of 80 feet, and in business sections to 110-130 feet, according to the width of the thoroughfare on which they front. ”

“ The streets on the whole are the widest of any city in the world, as they range from 80 to 160 feet. They are paved with asphalt almost exclusively, and the sidewalks are commonly of cement. More than 84,000 trees line the streets. ”

“ Since 1874 the government has been under the control of three commissioners appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. The citizens have no direct voice in the appointments to office within the District, having no vote in District or national affairs. ”

“ In the year 1903 Congress authorized the building of a union station, which is to cost $4,000,000. Underground electricity is exclusively used as the motive power in all street railroads within the former municipal limits, and the overhead trolley outside those limits. ”