Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-18
TO GREAT FALLS
What Bicyoler Sees While Making the
Run.
The Beauty of the Falls and the De-
crcpit Condition of the bridge
Season for Visitors.

vigorous open-alr exercise, under the eX-
hilaration Of Inspiring scenery. the best way
to travel to the Great Falls is on two
wheels. The distance-twelve miles from
Georgetown-is Just nice trip for day,
especially as the Conduit road following
the government water main which supplies
the city, is famous as one of the best tracks
which the cyclist may use In his spins
among the hills of the surrounding coun-
try. A hardened pair of limbs. propelling a
machine in good order, should be able to
make the run in less than two hours but
the last two miles include a rugged ascent,
which will make more leisurely travel
preferable.
While nearly all the roads radiating from
Washington introduce little too much of
| the work element into cycling, by reason of
the undulating contour of the surface the
pike the Maryla side of the Potomac
presents ten miles Of an almost even and
gradual upgrade from Georgetown to the
hill near the end Of the rum The three ex-
ceptions Of any consequence are not far
out-one where the pike leaves the road
way along the canal, just above George
| town. in climbing to the higher level an
other ascent beyond the second reser-
voir. a beautiful expanse of wood-begirt
water. and a corresponding descent
few minutes ride farther on Past
! the old man at the spring with lem
onade, ginger horses and candy Glen
Echo. the amphitheater and the Chautau-
| qua cottages, the ride to Cabin John bridge
| is delightful spin over a splendid track.
After the tires have marked their broad
course Upon the dust of the bridges as
phalt (Which now needs some repair), the
| country assumes different ASPECT True
| the trees. the hills. the fields and the road
are similar. but one who loves the country
| .eeis somehow that he has passed into a
alHerent atmosphere-fresher. freer, more
secluded in short, more certainly that of
the country. Something suggestive of real
estate push attaches to the road all the way
| TO the red stone walls over the big arch of
masonry and one can hardly feel that he
mas escaped the business of the city until
II has been passed,
In Fact 1t is the Country.
Then. too, the road beyond has fewer
travellers. for the bridge Is the Mecca of the
greater part Of those who leave the city by
way or Georgetown for an up-river Mary
iahu destination. What dwellings are passed
nave been in place long enough to have be-
come harmonious parts Of the landscape and
| quiet the rider into some such a state of
MIND as must have inspired the familiar
reference to a 'lowly matched cottage {"
me sunshine seems brighter, the universe
larger, and in the Stiffness emphasized by
the tfnkle of the fashioned COW bells. il
seems to the happy wheelman that he has
tne unrestricted possession of IL all, At the
club house the road to be used turns to the
right and hard work is promised ahead
The dirt road which accompanies the
water main VIII not. In the language of n
southerner. carry you all the way to the
Tails. unfortunately. But the water from
the well at the club house is excellent
and refreshed by drink of this, the long
climb up the stony road is really delightful
to one accustomed to country riding and
the walk alongside the machine here and
there may be welcome rest. The sur
veyors seem to have selected the highest
summit available, but the quick run down
the other side suddenly, and almost I'M
expectedly, sends you through an open
gateway into the midst of several white
wash buildings of quaint, old ia shioned
design, most prominent among which is
the hotel, a large structure, which. sur
rounded by the old trees OF the little ham
let, strikes one as becoming monument
of rural repose.
Finding the road somewhat ambiguous
the stranger may inquire of native the
way thence to Great Falls. This is Great
Falls he will be told. and when, after
gazing around on the tangled and rugged
expanse of bewildering geography. he asks
for directions by which the cataract may
be found, the native Will point TO the ga ties
Of the canal lock near the hotel. and speak
of foot bridge beyond. AS the stranger
secures his wheel and crosses the lock on
foot. an elderly irha bitant, whose general
appearance harmonizes with the surround
ngs takes position in front Of the foot
bridge. This move is explained by a sign
over the bridge. which reads: Round trip.
5 cents: all day. 10 cents" AS the gate
keeper receives the coin he explains that
tie toll is necessary If the bridge Is to be
kept up.
A Wobbly Bridge.
The visitors impression. as he steps onto
the Continuance. will be that the bridge
surely needs something to keep 1t up, for
upon wire cables stretched across rather
frail wooden supports. The bridge spans a
branch of the river and connects the main
land with a large rocky island. which must
oe crossed before the cateract is reached
This island is itself worth visit from the
city For rugged wilderness there II hardly
anything near Washington its equal. 4
well-worn path leads to a point below the
falls but much of the pleasure of the visit
and scramble over the acres OF big, sharp
fragments Of crystalline strata between the
bridge and the big churn. This is diff
cult unmarked and even somewhat danger
Gus path, but it leads to the points at which
the plunge and rush of seethng water may
be enjoyed at close quarters, and the rocks
themselves shelter objects of interest suf-
ficient to delight naturalist throughout
days ramble. Just now the variety of deli
cate spring blossoms is marvellous, and the
visitorwil feel regret II he has not provided
something IN which TO carry ar assortment
of those to his city friends. He will do well
also to have with him pocket microscope,
for the numerous pools among the rocks
contain several species Of fresh water algae,
whose green fibers present a beautiful ap-
pearance under the glass.
The water of these pools often fills deep
circular cavities worn into the hard rock by
the powerful torrent. Among the sands
various kinds of shells are to be gathered
and occasionally specimen of the common
'prickly pear cactus will be met This
plant. which bears a beautiful flower Is
mentioned by the botanies as occurring in
sandy ground. Along the coast fromthe gulf
to Nantucket and at the great Falls of the
Potomac. the latter thus marking theinland
limit of Its northern range The river here
flowing southwark for a short distance
plunGes over great blocks of mica schist
rocks deposited so long ago that they have
become very durable West of Washington
the underlying strata is composed of this
material, geologically very od-in fact. its
exact comparative age has not yet been de-
ternlned with certainty. 1t is to be placed
near the foot of the geological scale hence
the ocean which spread its particles con-
tanned only the simple forms of hardly diff
ferentiated plant animal life. The subse-
quent contoruons of the earth's crust have
SO disturbed the once horizontal strata that
IN many places they now stand vertical
The Falls Described.
The falls, of course, are of date inca,,u
laoly more recent-as compared with the
fCckS through which thcy grind Nh.