Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26
THE EASTERN DISTRICT.

THE EASTERN DISTRICT.
The Region Across the Anacostia-Its
Traditions and Hopes.
Eighteen square miles Of territory, fifty
miles Of roads, about two miles Of pavement
and as much Of surfaced streets, 10, 900 people
and steady growth, almost one-third the area
and little more than one thirtieth the popua-
ton of the District, such is an epitomized de-
scription of that part of the country east Of
the Anacostia river. During the war it was q
tented field the camp of the capitals defend
ers and of recruits waiting to be ordered to the
front. A little cluster Of houses along muddy
streets formed what was then known as Union
town, now the pretty suburb Of Anacostia, with
paved Streets brick walks, street cars, gas, and
nearly all metropolitan advantages. Fort
Stanton, the walls of which still remain just
above the town, was located at the highest
point in the District. said to be few feet
higher than the statue Of Liberty on the Capt.
tol, and overlooked every approach to WASH
ington. 1t was over the old Eastern Branch
bridge on the Nailor rood, near the site of the
new bridge on the Pennsylvania avenue extern
sion, that the British army entered Washing
ton in 1914. 1t was over the old Anacostia
bridge, on the site Of the present one, that
night of April IA. 1865, and it was over the
same bridge a little later that the Union army
passed to be reviewed before being finanally
disbanded
TRADITIONS OF THE ANAcosTIA.
Ever since the Indians gave to it their name
there have clustered about the Eastern branch or
Anacostia river pleasant memories and historic
happenings. 1t was on its banks in the out
skirts of Anacostia, as seems now conceded,
that John Howard Payne wrote Home. Sweet
Home" and it is said that the father of his
country, who fellowshipped with friends
below Oxon Hill, was not infrequently a pill
grim through this part of the District.
Vessels, too, once passed up the river to
Bladensburg when that was point Of no small
commercial Importance, and the war ships that
made the naval glory of the young republic.
as well as those that preserved the republic in
later day, have fioated upon its waters.
THE OLD RACE COURSE.
1t was toward the close Of the war that the
old National race course reached the zenith Of
its fame. The track was mile circuits pretty
az roller rink floor on the height above st
Elizabeth. The soil was just spongy enough
to save the racers feet and make them feel that
they had wings and there some notable races
occurred. 1t was there that Dexter trotted his
fastest heat and was sold for S34, 900 to Robert
Bonner, who afterward declined to track him
here, though he published q long article COM
mandatory of the track and its manager. Mr.
A. Noffitt. still resident of the vicinity Army
officers focked to the races, Gems. Grant,
Meade, Hancock and others, with their stats,
being often present. Large numbers of horses
were wintered here then, the climate Of this
latitude being such that they were in the
spring ready for either q northern or southern
circuit. Among the horses well-known in that
day that entered here there were, besides
Dexter, Flora Temple. California Damsel, Idle
wild, Mountain Maid, Princess, Queen Of the
West and the Canadian runners Thunder.
Lightning and Blackbird, the PAGER McGoozler
and many others. Owing to bad roads and
slow transit the course was practically aban-
doned years ago and the government has pur-
chased and utilized part OF the ground in the
ST. Elizabeth farm.
Since that abandonment vast improvements
have been made on the public highways and
now one of the finest drives in the District ia
from Washington to the race course and around
the Hamilton road on the heights to Good
Hope and Bennings. The street-car line estab-
iished about that time extends from the 7th.
street wharf to St Elizabeth hill and has a
charter to run into the city and also up Harri-
son street to Good Hope. With the completion
Of the Pennsylvania avenue extension and the
establishment of rapid transit to the CITY the
eastern district, so its residents expect will be-
come o delightful residence suburb. unsur-
passed IN beauty and hardly excslled In it, ad-
vantages.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The Anacostia public school, that was opened
twenty years ago in a single department, has
steadily grown, till now il has all of the usual
| eight grades and crowds the accommodation
| afforded it. Estimates have been made for a
new building the coming year. Additional
1 buildings, doubling the capacity, have been
erected at Hillsdale, Good Hope and Bennings
this season and still there Is none too much
room. About fifty government employees, most
Of whom represent families, now reside on this
side Of the river, and their number is being
constantly augmented. Rapid transit, since
civil service reform has given be tier tenure
Of Office, would, it is believed, immediate
multiply this number by ten or a larger figure,
and happy homes would tell the story OF
progress.
There are four churches in Anaco stis-Cath-
olic. Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal many
In hillsdale, one at Good Hope and another at
Bennings. Among the fraternal organizations
are the Mssons, Red Men, knights Of Pythias,
Good Templars, three Rechabite tents and g..
Ar. post in formation, besides o branch of the
W.C.T.U. and other moral forces. Citizens
association No. 8, the name Of which IL to be
changed TO the Eastern District citizens asso-
cistion, II an organization that has done much
during the past few years TO promote the pub
| lie interests on this side of the branch and a
now in better shape than ever before 70 accom-
plish its purposes. Another association IL be-
| ing organized at Bennings and altogether the
religious, fraternal and commercial interests
Of the eastern district are well cared for. Just
. little more working and waiting, little more
paying Of taxes and importuning Of Congress
for needed improvements, and this part Of the
District, 80 its citizens hope, win be model
suburb, high and healthful, with enchanting
views and charming prospects. The original
plan Of the District, a. made By washineton
himself, provided for ave bridges over the
branch, Q contamination that has not been
reached in century Of progress and prosperity
This broad and shallow stream occupies too
much valuable ground and company Of men
have proposed TO I'LL 10 In, leaving narrow
channel, II the government viii give them the
new land they make. Such, u II believed,
would make locations along it, banks more
beautiful and would prove very great sdvan.
tage In many waya
| TIE FRANCE" cABBAoa.
In selecting . national flower the famous
"branch" cabbage ought not to be overlooked.
| OF its kind IL 10 the finest in the land and the
Americans want flower they can eat. Experi-
enced gardeners state that all kinds Of truck
| mature about two weeks earlier ON the branch
than ten miles farther north, and thus history
may almost repeat itself II We select for ma
tional emblem Nay flower from he eastern