Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-19
ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS
Congressman Visit the Site OF the, Pro-
posed South Capitol Bridge.


Although the hour appointed for departure
was 2 O'Clock, it was 4 pm Saturday when a
procession Of eight carriages, including g
taly-ho coach, left the east front Of the Capitol
for a trip to Giesboro', the point on the south
side of the Eastern Branch at its junction with
the Potomac
The excursion was under the auspices OF the
South Capitol Street Bridge Association, and a
large number Of Congressman, including the
District committees of both houses, besides
the District Commissioners and other citizens,
had been invited to 60. Two Of the Commits
sioners were out of the city, the other
was detained by business, and, as it
turned out to be one of the 'busy" days
IN Congress, the number Of official visitors
dwindied like democratic majority before an
election committee, and there were only i've
that didn't get away. This number WAS in
creased to about fifty by business men and
others, and it was a jolly crowd that follow
the lead Of the taiiy-ho horn blower down
pennsylvania avenue to 18th street southeast,
then south on 18th, over the Navy Yard bridge.
through the pretty suburb of Anacostia and
up st. Elizabeth hill to the hospital, where
they were received by DR.. Godding and his
staff.
AT ST. ELLZABETH's HOSPITAL
The procession moved along the winding
drives of the hospital grounds to the brow of
the hill overlooking Washington, where a stop
was taken that the enchanting scene might be
fully enjoyed. Those who had never been
there before were taken by surprise at the mag
innocence OF the view, which, as an exotic
writer puts it, "opened the petals Of their
souls" On passing the buildings the caravan
paused just long enough for the party to enter
the spacious dining hall and enjoy cakes and
lemonade already spread for them, DR.. God
ding making speech of welcome and present
ing the needs Of the proposed bridge, as also of
an lnebrlate asylum, while the banquet WAS in
progress. In ten minutes the carriages were
moving again and as DIR. Godding bowed the
party out OF the grounds they journeyed half
mile southwest to point little beyond the
old race track, where the Giesboro' road leads
down the hill into the rich valley of the Poto-
mac whose sandy loan, farther than the eye
can reach. is covered with garden truck for the
Washington markets.
PLANKED sHAD.
sumptuous spread of planked shad, shad
roe, baked shad, clans and liquids prepared by
Mr. A. Motif was awaiting them in the Gels
boro' pavilion on their arrival, and after the
banquet the congressional party was shown the
line OF the proposed bridge with its approaches,
whlle Its advantages, apparent from that point,
were dwelt upon in an informal way. The sun
was Just throwing parting ray on the F.F.N.'s
as the procession moved out of the valley,
ana 1t was O'Clock when the members of the
House again mingled in the fray with their
warning colleagues. In the party were the fol-
lowing: Representatives Phil Post of Illinois,
c. H. Mansur of Missouri, A. Mute of New
Hampshire, Clark Lewis Of Mississippi and
Sidney Z. Mudd of Maryland, MIR. Crosby of
the National Hotel, Geo. J. Seufferle, A. Z.
handle, A. h. Browne, W. Lee White H. p.
Heiskell, sr.. II. 2. Heiskell, jr., Z. A. Stafford
IL. ii. Blackburn, Judge Charles Pelham, II. j.
Beall, A. Moffit Robt. Howisen, J. H. Adrians,
Alex. Grimes, James Boyer, J: A. Dewitt, Miss
Winnie Dewitt who played the cornet for the
tally-ho; L. X. Horner, Andrew Boyer, Thos.
y. Chesley, C.. d. Neither, w. II. Otterback
W. ). Menefee of Alabama. Miss Rosa Johnston
OF Kentucky, niece of Judge Pelham, w. A.
Smith, W. E. Saunders, Jos. W. Mckee, Allen
>. Hooker, DIR. A. NJ. Green, DIR. r. A. Pyles,
Hon A. Worth Spates of Baltimore, Geo. A.
Hlckok and W. u. Backus of Nebraska, John
+. Miller, L. c. Moves, - Sperry, Adam Bede.
INpoRsED BY THE HEALTH OFFICER
The following letter has been received by
the Bridge Association from Health Officer
Townshend and copies Of it..were distributed
among the visitors:
l have your letter of the 10th instant, asking
my opinion as to the feasibility of construct
ing bridge across the Eastern Branch of the
Potomac river from the foot OF South Capitol
street and the probable effect that the pro-
vision OF bridge at this point would have
upon the healthfulness of this city. The first
question, that regarding the feasibility of con-
struction is one that should be asked of an
engineer rather than of a physician or health
official. 1t would seem to me, however, that a
bridge may very readily be constructed at
this point and am satisfied that such struc-
ture would prove of immense value to our peo-
pie from sanitary point OF view.
The extreme southern portion of the city has
long been vast dumping ground for refuse,
offal and manure from the other sections The
provision of a bridge at the point named would
naturally take large proportion of this ma
terial to the fields and farms on the meadow
lands below Giesboro', thus preventing the Gre
alton and maintenance of numerous nuisances
on the open lots and vacant spaces of South
Washington. 1t would afford a ready means of
transportation for garbage. night soil and dead
animals during the periods when the river
might be closed to navigation by the forma-
ton OF ice or otherwise. Indeed its piers
might be, at no distant day, utilized to carry
large sewer pipes that would relieve the James
Creek canal from much of its offensive matter
There are many ways i'll which such bridge
would tend tend to promote public health and
l sincerely trust that the project may receive
favorable consideration at the hands of Con-
gress.
Flying Pigeons 15O Miles.