Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21
ROADSIDE SKETCHES.
A Ramble Over the Hills East of the
Anacostia.
STORIC OLD HOUSES.
The "wskefield Meadows Where Twining
City Now Stand-The Old Harshman House
and the Ancient Home of the Nsylors-The
March of Modern Improvements.

THE ATTRACTIVE HILLS THAT LIE
Il between the Anacostia river and the Bowen
road and between the towns of Anacostia and
Benning will be the scene of this weeks tramp.
Taking Pennsylvania avenue east proceed to
the new bridge that spans the Anacostia at
Twining City Kentucky avenue. which runs
down from Lincoln Park, enters Pennsylvania
avenue near the bridge. Stepping upon the
northern end of this structure and casting the
eye about. attractive, pleasing views are pre-
sented- immediately in frontal the other side
of the stream. is the young and promising viii
iage of Twining. the elevated. rolling country
beyond making a pretty background to the
picture Looking toward the right the mouth
of the Anacostia. the Potomac. the town of An
,ostia and the navy yard are visible. Making
= full turn to the left there is had good view
of Congressional cemetery, the white monu-
ments of the silent city being conspicuous on
the gently sloDing hillside.
This cemetery is one of the oldest and most
interesting places of the kind in the District.
IL was originally called National burvIng
ground" and designed for the last resting
place of Congressman dying ut the seat of gov
eminent. but il soon became favored place OF
burial for citizens well The land was do
mated by Congress The graves of deceased
- .;esmen are an interesting feature of the
lace The cemetery contains about thirty
acres and was established in 1907. The grounds
are adorned with drives, walks. trees, shrubs
and flowers. a number of people of national
fame are buried here. The superintendent
lodge Is at the main entrance, on street south
east the oldest graves being also in that vicinity
Some of the tOmbs date back to 1904 The
remains of Vice President of the United States
George Clinton lie in the northeast corner and
are marked by an attractive monument In
this vicinity also rest the remains of Elbridge
Jerry of Massachusetts. the author of the po-
Itical method known AS ''gerrymandering. by
which legislation and congressional districts
often outlined and divided in such IN
air and partisan manner to give to minori-
ties the control of states and Congresses.
Among other nOtables sleeping here are John
Forsyth Commodore Montgomery. VIM. Writ.
A. +. Cpshur. Joseph Lowell. Alexander ID.
Baxter, Commodore Richard wainwright and
Gems. Alexander Maeomb and Jacob Brown
and the Choctaw chief Pus-ma-ta- ma The
monuments erected by Congress to the MEM
IF deceased statesmen are in the middle of
cemetery. The cemetery also contains the
remains of many of the oldest and best-known
citizens Of Washington Of generations past
Five hundred Union soldiers of the late war are
buried here. One of the most interesting
monuments in the place is the one erected over
the remains of the twenty-one young women
who were killed by an explosion in the old ar
senal in 1864.
THE OLD ASAcosTIA BRIDGE
The old bridge that originally spanned the
Anacostia at this point was constructed in
1875, but was burned on the oath of August,
lSl4. by the authorities in order to embarrass
the British, who were approaching Washing
ton from the south. 1t was rebuilt the follow
ing year. but was again partially destroyed by
ire in 1915. and was afterward abandoned.
The piles of the old bridge are visible q few
yards up stream at low tide.
The building Of the present substantial
structure begun in 1887 under the SUPER
vision of engineer officers Of the War Depart
ment and was completed and opened to travel
on the 10Th of March. 1890 1t cost $40. 600.
IL IL a substantial iron structure, resting on
solid stone piers Its length is 1.510 feet and
Consists of twelve spans. The tops of the piers
are ten feet above the level of low tide, which
PAGES the iron trusses fully three feet above
the highest known flood line. The floor is of
heavy oak planks, resting on oak beams, and
has roadway twenty-four feet wide and two
footwalks of four feet each
Reaching the southern end of the bridge il
VIII be interesting to stop a moment and note
the Changes that are taking place In the vi
einity and 20 recite some historic facts.
The new settlement. which extends south to
the Alscostia road and west to the old Navlor
road. IS called 1winiEg CITY in honor of the
late Maj VIM ]. Twining who was Engineer
Commissioner of tine District for a number of
years The plat OF the town provides for two
public reservations. One OF these is called
Ellicott Circle. and Is located at the south end
OF the bridges tie other. l. Enfant Square at
the junction of Pennsylvania and Minnesota
AyeuueS.