Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-20
Written for THE EVENING STAR.
DRIVES ABOUT WASHINGTON.
What One Can See In an Hours Jour.
ney on the Bladensburg Pike.

What One Can See I'm an Hours Jour.
ney on the Biadensburg Pike.
~ article in your ever-progressive
I'm z paper on the beautiful suburban sur
us Troundings of our delightful city and of
kM Wits many elegant drives over good,
~MaAhard and smooth roads in the north
western section up into Montgomery county
suggested to my mind drive out in the north
eastern section and into Prince Georges county
to note the character of its roadbeds. buildings
and scenery oil along this line and to give the
benefit Of my observations to tho many of your
readers who like to enjoy a few hours ride on
pleasant afternoon. Starting from the east
front OF the Capitol and going out Maryland
avenue on a splendid road, compact and
smooth, without Jar possibly, except at few
crossings, you 20 on until you strike the old
Bladensburg pike at the old toll gate-the
junction s OF street and 6oundary-where the
being built up rapidly, the character Of its
buildings not being 80 costly or elegant as in
the northwest, but Of a character to show that
properties are being sought after in this hith-
erto neglected northeast section.
ON THE BLADKNsBURa ROAD.
Soon after passing the boundary the first
notable object that strikes your eye is the ex-
tensive green house plantof Mr.. Strauss. said
to be the largest with one or two exceptions in
the United States. The immensely of these
continuous lines OF green houses il somewhat
wonderful veritable crystal palace, an OBJ
ject Of admiration truly worth seeing. A few
minutes thereafter on this splendid road you
pass the Catholic burial ground, picturesque
Mount Olivet; next comes in sight the besuti-
ful grounds and well-planned buildings of the
Reform School A few hundred yards further
on and we pass the place of the late Clark Mills.
once famous for the foundry where this great
American genius tOiled on his casts and
wrought in bronze. Immediately thereafter
you pass the home Of the Rives, built many
years ago by John c. Rives, the partner of the
older Francis T. Blair, and who for many years
published the Globe. Right here is where
the District line ends and the Prince Georges
county line commences Just in sight and
few rods from the road can be pointed out
little ravine, the veritable spot where many
celebrated duels were fought. little further
on and you pass the grounds, pretty and pleas
antly shaded, of the Washington Highland Club,
largely composed Of members of leading real
estate firms. After crossing the finest bridge
In southern Maryland, built by the county over
this branch Of the Potomac that has by many
tortuous windings ascended 30 far to the north
east, there heaves in sight the historic village
OF Bladensburg, renowned for its battle, OF
which there seems to be well-fOunded i'm
preston that it should not be deemed the pride
and the celebrated Spa spring.
EVANSVILLE AND R1vERDALE.
Turn here to the west and in a few minutes
the fourishing town of Hyattsville is reached,
the most extensive of all of the suburban
towns near Washington. The county keeps
the road in thorough repair, smooth and COM
pact, we'll trenched on tho sides, SO that the
water can readily run of. A mile further on
directly north and the new subdivision OF River
dale Is reached, better known as the old CAL
vert estate. Your paper has SO lately related
the romantic story Of this estate that neod
only mention with particularly what has been
done that conduces to the pleasure and satis-
faction OF our drive. system OF sewerage not
unlike that devised by Col Geo. Truesdell at
lexington has been introduced and the road
beds thoroughly graveled and rolled, made
hard and smooth as q plank floor. Now. be it
remembered that only little over an hour
has been spent on the road, with only q toler-
ably fast stopper, and perhaps y distance of
eight miles encompassed, when We commence
Eastern branch over two compact and solidly
built bridges to the east OF Mverdale mansion
PICTURESQUE scENERr.
Here let me say the scenery around about
these bridges and along this stream can COM
pare favorably with the romantic region of
Rock creek. We turn into the old country
road just at the southwest corner of the large
farm Of Mr.. Benj. d. Stephen, whose house,
built on q commanding hill In the northern
distance. 'lends enchantmentt0 tho view" and
whose large, clean fields OF grass, stretching
out in . northeasterly direction nearly AZ far
as the eye can reach, betoken fine pasture and
good tllage. Immediately south and on the
same country road We pass the beautiful couu-
try seat OF Mr.. p. W. Browning, one Of WASH
ington's oldest retired merchants. and then
the largo estate Of Mr.. Il o. Lowndes comes
into view, where the well-known aud beloved
Bishop Pinckney lived for so many years. This
part Of the road passes through we'll wooded
lands, where We can sec huge white oaks rear
their majestic heads full 200 feet
Along the banks of the stream adjoining
Riverdale are immense gums and oaks aud pop
lars, i've feet In diameter at the trunk, Renu-
inc monarchs Of the forest Adjacent TO the
land Of Mr.. Lowndes, Mr.. ]. II. Rodgers, OF
pan-electric telephone fame, has purchased Q
large tract and coutemplates extensive improve
ments leading up to the Spa spring property,
Thence our road passes through RadsnsbufR
and over tho bridge to the pike leading into
Maryland avenue again and 70 the Capitol A
very pleasant drive Of about two hours durs-
ton ever ine roads and beautiful county
with historical associations. HO.R
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