Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-13
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE EXCURSION SEASON.
How the Potomac River IL Enjoyed
During the Warm Weather Inc
Lower River Resorts.

The Potomac river is the summer resort OF
such n large proportion OF the residents OF the
District that the opening of the season Tor rlver
excursions is quite an important event. III Is
nearly always cool on the river, and the breezes
are so refreshing after a warm day in the city
that one trip down the river induces another,
and so during the warm days of summer good
proportion of the population of the District is
srioat on the surface of the Potomac. There are
the day excursions and the evening excursions,
but the former are mainly patronized by women
with their baskets and their babies, who find
this one of the delightful ways of spending
warm day. The evening is when the river
wharves present their busiest scene of activity,
for then the large steamers that run on the river
are laden with excursionists bound for the re-
sorts lower down. The merry voices of
the pleasure seekers, mingled with the
music from the orchestras, come
f0afine back over the water as boat after boat
Drops away from the wharves and steams down
the river. In order TO accommodate the crowds
that take this means of seeking pleasure, there
are ten steamers ON the river which depend
mainly the passenger traffic for revenue.
The freight business between this city and the
lower river points and Norfolk is quite large,
but 80 many vessels make trips down the river
with excursion parties aud lake what freight
they get, that the business is pretty well
divided up.
Tie longest trip for single excursion is the
one to Norfolk. and the boats running to that
point well pattronized- saturday night Is
The favorite time To go To- Norfolk, and the boats
are crowded. There are three boats running
r,,suIarly to NOTfolk-the Lady of the Lake, the
Excelsior and the George Leary. The Jane
M0seley which formerly this line,
will. during the present season. run on the
Chesapeake between Bay Ridge and Baltimore.
Last year the fareS We're very low, one line
charging only fifty cents the round trip for the
c,IHtfno 0f Ites trim to Norfolk was quite ex-
persiVe. the rare being $3.50. During Tine pres
emf season the rates Will be Sl.5O and 81 the
rDdnd trip. Most of the excursion boats limit
the distance OF their trips 50 that Ii can be made
in one day. and this distance Is about 50 miles
down making the entire trip $50 miles, which
j. considered good run tor a steamer. In cases
where special arrangements are made, points
furi her down. such - Piney Point and Cone
river. are visited. BiackiStoD Island, which Is
seveuty-nine miles down the river, is the ex-
trcme point Tor the ordinary day excursion.
Lower Cedar Point. which is siIty-one miles be-
low the city l. iaVorlte stopping place, ana
this year the steamer Armenia Will make trips.
NEW RESORT.
Chapel Point. few miles further up, near the
entrance OF Tobacco river, is one of the new
resorts, and the staGnch little steamer Geo.
Law runs To that place. y great many people
have residences along the river tor the sum-
Iner. aud quite watering place community
has spruDg up at Colonial Beach which is sixty
eight miles down the river. The ArrowSmith
runs 10 this place, and the cottages are in COM
munication with the city Quite number of
cot ages have been erected AT this aud other
points along the river, where may be enjoyed
MANY 81 the advantages OF the sea shore, and
at the same time the distance from the city is
not great. y new resort Tor excursions near
Colonial Beach and called Classic Beach
in now open, and is only another
indication OF the attractions OF the
lower river. Mount Vernon. the nome of Wash
incton. is fourteen miles down the river and
l. better known 10 people throughout the
country than any other point along the river.
The trips OF the W. W. Corcoran to this place
are only in the day time, and 1t can hardly be
clsi-sed pleasure resort.
Marshall Hail and Glymont are the great and
popular resorts for the excursions which leave
the city every pleasant evening. There
GaEcing paviiiOns and walks and other forms
OF diversion at these places, and their short dis
tance from the city make IL possible Tor a good
deal OF time To be spent on shore. Marshall
hall Il only 10 miles down and Glynont is 2lI,.
GieShOro Point, between this city and Alex
andrld, used TO be a famous resort in former
acquired of late years of carrying razors in their
boot legs had a tendency tn detract from the
interest which the public took in the place and
it finally closed up.
y I1VOrlte excursion for ladies and children
Is that made on the Mary ashington To Deco
GUAM. The entrance To the Occoquan branch is
n short distance below ely mont. In addition
10 the excursion boats, the John W. Thompson
and the NattanO make regular trips touching
at the various lower river landings and carrying
freight These boats also carry passengers. 1t
viii be seen that facilities tor enjoying the river
are not lacking. especially when il Is cOnsid-
cred in addition that farther up the river hand
some boat houses line the shore and pleasure
every fair evening. The Potomac river is APP
preciated. and during the warm weather il
affords grateful relief from the heat of the
summer,