Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-13
A ONCE NOTED HIGHWAY.
The Old Baltimore and Washinxton
Turnpike.

Turnpike.
ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE LATTER crrY-Ap
vANTAGEs OF KEEPING IT IN GOOD CON
DTrIoN-PIcrUREsoUE SCENERY AND POINTS
OF INTEREST ALONG IT'S ROUTE.
To the Editor Of TIE EvENrNe STAR:
Seeing in THE STAR a few days ago that 8
delegation waited on the District Commits
sfoners TO ask the improvement Of the old Co
lumbia pike from H street to the Distric: line
1t occurred to me to present to the readers Of
your paper few Of the many reasons why
| their wishes in this respect should be compiled
with.
The old Baltimore and Washington turnpike
is the natural and direct route FOR those who
their teams and equipages to that city. 1t Is
the line OF communication to the national cap
ital from that portion Of Montgomery county
Howard and Anne Arundel counties. Five
districts in Prince George also use this road u
Washin 3sd viz: Laurel, 2 portion Of Bowie
present condition, more produce is carried and
there is more travel over this than any othe,
srse except psIhnp
put in first class condition, 1t would exceed
even that one. A great deal Of produce which
if this road was made " good. Farm nrodncta
carried by wagons from the upper portion OF
Prince George, Howard and Anne Arundel
when the road is good, are carried to Balti.
more when the road is bad.
RAILROAD VERSUS TURNPIKE.
When, owing to the wretched condition OF
this road, persons are compelled to ship by
rail- most of the produce from the section OF
country spoken Of, goes then to Baltimore be-
cause of the discrimination In freight rates on
the B. and o. r. R. / need only mention one
Instance to illustrate this. The freight on a
barrel Of apples from Baltimore 80 miles, was
Is cents and from Washington 70 miles) %
cents. Bulky products, such as hay and straw,
of being hauled to Washington In winter, are
fed on the places. Gen. Beale mentioned to
your correspondent that he feeds annually
hauling it to Washington, owing to the condi-
tion of the old turnpike In winter"
Fruits, vegetables and other perishable pro-
ducts can be put on the market in much better
condition when transported in spring wagons
than when shipped by rail. When shipped by
cars they are handled twice as many times rs
when carried by teams viz. loaded from
wagons to cars at the way station. and loaded
rom cars to wagons again at the city station.
produce, putting it on the market in bad
condition. but increases greatly the cost OF
transportation.
GOOD TURNPIKES AND BAD ONES.
Margins for profit in all business are now
small. The farmer or gardener who can market
with two horses on good roads the same
amount of produce that requires four horses on
bad roads can calculate in his account OF profit
the difference involved in owning and main
tanning two instead OF four horses. This may
be the difference between u very small profit
and a loss. 1t naturally follows then that bad
roads, causing increased cost of transportation
by rail, with other disadvantages, or the in
creased expense of owning and maintaining
additional horses, to say nothing of break;ge,
ington market. This will lessen the trade of
the Washington merchants, who supply hard
ware. fertilizers and implements, groceries,
clothing, etc, etc. The reverse of this PROPOSE
ton is also true. that good roads will increase
the food supplies and increase trade and pros
perity.
INACCESSIBLE SUBURBAN ATTRACTIONS.
Washington, as the capital of great nation,
with her numerous other advantages should
not be without her suburban attractions. What
can contribute more to the comfort, pleasure
and profit Of great city than fine suburban
drive? In this respect her need is felt and &C.
knowaedged to be almost absolute, so few of the
outlets from this vast city are known to its
oldest inhabitant. Why is this? The surround
ing country is not devoid of picturesqueness
and beauty. Turn your eye in a nOrtheaSterly
direction, for instance, and you will strike at
street an old, old rOad-Od as time itself al
most-the washington and Baltimore turn
pike" Along its route
A DIVERSIFIED LANDSCAPE
of hill and dale and forest land offers to the eye
an ever pleasing surprise, and points of Interest
are certainly many. Leaving Washington by
this route Graceland cemetery, not unattrac-
tive because of its newness, first attracts the at
tenton, and further on still another sad, quiet
home OF the dead departed, known as Mount
may be seen bearing tile bereaved and desolate
who follow their dead TO their last resting
place: This lovely spot can only be reached
over this road, which is sadly neglected. Inme-
diately opposite Mount Olivet is q wooded hin,
almost mountainous in aspect and adjoining a
pleasing array of fine old oaks, and just here
across the road is spacious public schOol-house
where the cherry voices and lithesome forms of
happy children offer Il welcome relief to the
sober mood OF the moment before. The inter
~ N r. &c fa0 hyvh hour and
commanding eminence, where once stood the
residence of Mr.. Allen Dodge and during the
war Fort Lincoln. are now located the spacious
buildings OF the reform school. Its usefulness
under its capable board of trustees and its eff
cient superintendent, Col Shallenberger, is too
well known 10 need special mention. On the
Barney planted his battery when
THE BATTLE OF BLADENSBURG
was fought, and further on the old dwelling
ground. A dangerously turbulent stream at
times, but indisputaby beautiful in its mean
ders curves and willow-Shaded banks. must in
a few minutes be crossed, and Bladensburg is
entered, where little is to be seen suggestive of
her former greatness. One can scarcely realize
go to Europe, that it had been great shipping
port for grain and tobacco. Or that here a
steamboat landed passengers when the great
Clay barbecue Was held in the Spa woods. The
famous Spa spring is still there, where orators
aud statesmen lin the past sought refresh
ment in quatfing its limped water, is still
properties. Continuing the drive over a
bridge that spans another pretty stream and
ascending Ross hill, the thrifty village of Hy-
attsville is passed through and the B. d. o. K. L.
is crossed. A little further on see to the lett
Eilaville, and on the right
THE OLD CALVERT MANSION.
where Henry Clay wrote the missouri COM
promise Just here one must pause to admire
the vast sweep OF meadow land, bounded by
continuous ranges OF hills, which, under the in
tiuencc OF certain lights and shadows, seeming
ly merge into one gigantic mountain. At one
point hereabouts, it has been said, it strikingly
resent les the scenery at Deer Park. From the
next etninence cannon shot were fired by the
confederate forces under Gen. Bradley John
son, at the time of the raid around Washing
ton, during the late war. The Agricultural col
lege next presents itself to view; and on the
same farm stands "The Rossburg ;" an old way
side inn, that was a luxury in its day to the
worn and weary, when stages were the only
mode Of conveyance between Washington and
Baltimore. Turning short to the left, and driv-
ing through the college farm, Gen. Beale's fine
estate is reached, where is kept one Of the Ara
bian horses, presented by the Sultan of Turkey
to Gen. Grant Further on Greenwood, the
estate of young Riggs the banker; and you can
then strike the Soldiers home road to Wash.
ington, which presents to view in every direc.
ton varied objects of interest, and beautiful
and picturesque scenery.
THE SLAUGHTER OF CATS.