When we lived in D.C. back in the 60s, we drove in to visit the many historical attractions. Except for the Sunday evening concerts by the splendid Marine Corps band on the barge on the Potomac at the Watergate — when it had cooled down a bit — we NEVER went in during the Summer months due to the stifling heat and humidity.
I think the Founders were on to something when they cited the place in a low-lying, mosquito infested swamp. I like to think that they KNEW the place was uninhabitable for those 4 months when either the bugs, the temperature and the humidity competed for the highest numbers or in Spring and Winter when the rain and snow turned the place into an impassable bog. That left just the 3 or so months of for humans to go there and do the PURELY ESSENTIAL and, then, LIMITED business of government.
While driving along the Mall with some visiting friends, it finally hit me: AIR CONDITIONING, PAVEMENT and CENTRAL HEATING! If Mr. Carrier and those other loudmouth inventors had just shut the hell up, we either wouldn’t be in this mess or we’d have another 100 years to kick the can down the road.
“Progress” isn’t always progress.
Many,many Americans have never lived with out it. I remember summers meant open windows and road dust settling on everything. Winter meant wood or coal smoke covering everything.
In summer, mom was up early to cook before the daytime heat set in. In winter, somebody was up early to start a fire.
Unpaved roads are only fit for a horse and wagon.
“I think the Founders were on to something when they cited the place in a low-lying, mosquito infested swamp....”
Bingo!! I’ve held that for years. DC remained a sleepy, Southern town until the mid-late 60’s...when like all other Southern cities, it woke up due to Willis Carrier’s work in FLa on cheap AC!!!