Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-29
THEN AND NOW.
Changes Since Gen. Harrison's Grand
father was Inaugurated.

Changes Since Gen. Harrison's Grand
father was Inaugurated.
Wellington Correspondence Of the " Y telegram
There Is no more glaring contrast to be found
than In the only modes Of travel available to
those who desired to visit Washington at the
time Of the Inauguration Of Gen. Harrison, in
1s41, and those Of to-day. Only few years be-
fore the Baltimore and Ohio railroad had en-
tered Washington. The first train run into
the city in 1887, bringing over a large number
or tho military of Baltimore. They were met
and entertained by the citizens at large. and
ON that occasion the Washington Light Infan-
Try made their frstparade. The Baltimore and
Ohio road had run as far Bladensburg for
some months, and from there the passengers
were brought TO the city by Stockton and
Stokes blue Line" which came dashing up to
Gadsoys and Browns hotels with as much dis
play as the tally-ho OF the present day. That
was the only railroad coming into Washington
for years. Tom Scott secured an entry many
years afterward, but at the time when Gen.
Harrison arrived there were only two trains
day running to Baltimore and the west by way
OF wheeling, Its terminus at that time.
There was no southern railroad connection
until 1S60'-6l. A charter was obtained and
some grading done, but up to the breaking out
of the war the road from Richmond. the through
the passengers were brought by boat to Wash
ingtOn During the Mexican war the war news.
via New Orleans, was brought by pony express,
and on the arrival of the mail at Alexandria
the news was brought by pony express with
relays at Four Mile run, and this was six years
after the Inauguration of General Harrison.
The Morse telegraph was in operation from
Baltimore in 1874 and brought the news of Mr..
Folks nomination to the then northern end of
the capital but it was some years after that it
was extended southwark.
HOW THEY REACHED NEW YORK
The night travel of that period and for years
after was sleepless. For a long time passen-
gers for New York or Philadelphia took boat
from Baltimore for Newcastle. Del. and from
there to Philadelphia; then railroaded to Am
boy. and thence by boat to New York Some
time afterward, as a speedy improvement, we
crossed the river at Havre-de-Grace in a small
steamboat and, on arriving at Philadelphia,
drove In Omnibusses to the foot of Walnut
street and by ferry to Camden, and so to New
York. Could there be greater contrasts than
IN the travel OF that period and now? The
sleeping-car was undreamed of, the telegraph
was a rarity and only used in great necessity.
The express companies had no existence street
cars had not invaded Washington. nor asphalt
payements. Aleck Shepherd was not vet born.
The plans of Gen Washington's engineer
Major L Enfant slept in the Office of the COM
missioner of public buildings, in the basement
of the capitol
Only think of the tax the postage was in
those days-for 80 miles, six cents: over 80
miles and under so. ten cents; over 80 to $50
miles, twelve and One-half cents; over $50 to
400 miles. eighteen and three-quarter cents,
and over 400 miles. twenty-five cents!
FREMONT AND DENVER.
Who would recognize in the active but aged
man who moves so unobtrusively among us the
hero of those days, when his name resounded
from one end of the continent to the other as
the Pathfinder Another man who is here
active in his profession as a lawyer was one of
the first Congressman from the newly admitted
state of California. He was subsequently one
OF the governors of Bleeding Kansas" and
gave his name to the city of Denver.
In 1864 at the democratic convention in Chi
eaSo, met Col. Humes Porter whom I had
known years before. when chief clerk of the
War department and he showed me the old
block-house, then standing. where he had
drawn the treaty which conveyed the territory
OF Illinois from the Indians to the government
of the United States. His uncle Gen Porter
was governor of the territory. and. with the
exception Of some French Canadians. they
were the only white men there.
The 5000 miles of railroad, which was all we
could claim in 1s4l, has grown into nearly
10000 miles since then. The unknown
country. then unexplOred and generally recog-
nized a. unit for agricultural purposes is now
the garden spot of the world. All comparison
falls as We realize what has been done since the
OF NTenerll William Henry Harrl-
son. The gradual growth of railroads in the
early days OF their introduction is an interest
ing study. From 1880 when there were twen-
ty-three miles of railroad in the country until
1850. there was built 1900 miles of road.
From 1850 TO 1910. the next twenty years it
had increased 20 $1,000 miles. and in the ten
succeeding years. up 70 1850. the roads had in
creased to nearly 81. coo miles; and in the next
eight years. up to January, 1883. the railroads
have gone on covering the country and devel-
oping 1t until they have reached the enormous
figures of 10000 miles,
Increased labor will be the natural result of
the change made in the forty-eight wears which
have worked so marvelously in the develop
ment Of our country. What was terra incognita
at that time. and only known as 1.-The great
American desert" is now covered by sovereign
states. represented in the Senate and House of
representatives.. The tabled desert blossoms
ike rose" Proud cities, enjoying the
Injuries unknown at that early day. almost
cover the continent. The Rocky mountains,
the western boundary line of our country in
lo4i. have been brought into the midst of a
population which uses its peaks and valleys as
places of summer resort.