The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-18

volume. 1t ran through the hills and
dales, the wooded wilderness immedi-
ately west of the capitol, from the
vicinity of the soldiers home, five miles
to the Potomac and was fed by numer-
Gus crystal springs. When it reached
what is now the crossing of Pennsyl-
wanna avenue, at Second street west, it
was almost river. In rainy seasons
the Tiber overlooked its banks, an
angry flood, similar to that old Tiber of
Rome, into which Great Caesar and
Cassius once plunged for a swim; when
the master spirit of his age well-nigh
dissolved, by drowning beneath its
pillows. Well, as a city grew upon this
ground and Pennsylvania avenue be-
came the principal thoroughfare be-
tween the executive and Legislative
houses, Tiber was bridged. But, when
Shepherd builded real city, he encom-
PASSED Tiber with an arch of brick
and cement, and converted it into a
sewer. The top of the arch is but one
foot under ground, and right through
that space the cable Inc must run. Tho
engineers have removed the arch, with
great difficulty, and substituted iron
plates for the masonry, SO that the
work goes right along, and Tiber is
again inclosed, probably forever.
The cable work is progressing out on
Capitol hill, and within another fort
night it will be completed to the navy
yard. At present the horses are draw
ing the cars all the way from George
town to the treasury upon the cable
tracks, which have been completed.
The temporary sidetracks have been
removed and the people are delighted
with the improvement. There is no more
jolting nor jumping the tracks, nor any
of the thousand Inconvenience which
appertain to a y-ballasted surface
road.
But it will be long time before the
cables are running. The large square
was selected for the power house
where formerly was the stable whence
John Wilkes Booth hired his horse upon
that awit.. night of which l recently
wrote you. The ground is fully twenty
feet higher than at the end of the
avenue where Tiber is crossed, and
yet it is almost impossible to secure a
good foundation Cor the eight-story
building which has been planned.
Little pony engines are putting away
day and night, working pile drivers.
They are driving great, long telegraph
poles from twenty to fifty feet down
into the soft earth and thus seeking to
make safe foundation for the tre-
mendous weight of the i'''}ing which
is to be used as a pow ..'?se and a
home for many families vi employees of
the road.
Everybody does not complain of che
dust, noise and other Inconvenience at
tending this great work. The small
boy at the national capital appreciates
good thing when he sees it, just as
well as does the small boy in your own
neighborhood. They play in the mud,
slide in the sand, tear their clothes,
stub their toes and throw clods at
dudes in the passing open ears. One Of
them filled hard-shcll crab with sand
and laid it on the dashboard of car.
He had his reward in a minute. A
natty fellow boarded the car and
stepped on the shell with his tight
fitting patent leather boot. AS it was
crunched under him he cried in terror,
not knowing whether the car was
breaking down or his boots were split
ting, while the youngster screamed with
ghoulish glee and chucklcd in his joy,
SMITH d. FRY.