Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-25
ROADSIDE SKETCHES.
a Tramp in the Vicinity of the Little
Falls.
THE OLD GUN FOUNDRY.
The Legend of tine Three si-,ers-Picturesqu
Views From the District Side of the River
The story OF FoNhsII, Who Made Cannon
for the War of 1912.
Written for The Evening Star.

TRAMP TO LITTLE FALLS. FEEDER
"A dam and River yiev.-Route.-Takc the
towpath of the old Chesapeake and Ohio canal
.; Georgetown bridge. which follow to Second
Lock road. thence To River View by-road (at
Conduit road. to Lynch road. to Canal road.
10 Morris road. to West Washington.
Condition of the roads-TowpatE OF canal: A
good fOCtway: Canal road: Good: Second Lock
road: Very rough; River View by road: The
oil part. which runs along the west side of
Powder Mill branch. is fair; the western end,
which passes through open field. is not so
good. but vehicle can sc: through without
risk or trouble, Lynch's road: Rough; Morris
road: Fair.
At the north end Of Georgetown bridge. on
the east side, descend by stairway to the tow
path OF the canal. on which walk to Feeder
Dam. four miles above.
save when the eye rests on the opposite
yirginia bluffs. which are always pleasant to
Look upon, the canal surroundings for some
distance west of the bridge are not particu-
laIly prepOssessing- Therefore may in
dUlge his reminiscent faculties for few
moments recalling some historic facts concern
inS this famous artificial water course.
TIE STORY OF The CANAL.
To the Chesapeake and Ohio canal belongs
Va tEc HrSt great WOrk OF
the kind constructed in the United States. and
its history is both interesting and eventful. 1t
was projected by George Washington. AZ early
as lI4 he became interested in it. There
were many formidable obstacles to be
overcome. however. and it was not until
ls2S that the enterprise took definite
shape. Congressional aid was invoked
in as behalf. and II became a national issue in
the politics of that day. Henry Clay strenu-
ously opposed the scheme, but il found n warm
champion in John Quincy Adams. Mr.. Adams
strongly advocated congressional aid for it in
one OF his presidential messages. but this met
with such determined opposition from major
ity OF the members of his cabinet that he
forced to eliminate the clause. But it finally
received the sanction of Congress by close
vote.
On the Fourth of July. 1923. work was COM
mcnced on the canal near Eittle Falls Presi-
dent Adams. in his shirt sleeves. breaking the
ground with a spade handed TO him by Gen.
Mercer. president of the canal company in the
presence of thousands of enthusiastic specta-
tors The event was celebrated with great
eclat.
On the arch Of the bridge. which spans the
canal at Slst street (old Congress street,. are
inscribed the names of Andrew jackson (who
was President of the United States when the
canal was opened1 and the prominent officers of
the corporation of Georgetown and the canal
The building of this waterway was q mann
moth undertaking. and twenty years elapsed
before its completion. IL was opened, amid
great demonstrations, in 1850. The heads OF
the executive departments of the United States
Government and the diplomatic corps attended
the dedication.