Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-29
The Country Between Brightwood
and Bladensburg Roads.
IRREGULARITIES OF TIE TERRITORY
Description Of the Topography Of
the Country.
POINTS FOR WHEELMEN

by The Star, giving a clear and concise de-
scription of the roads leading into Washing
ton, the first section covering the territory
between the Potomac river and 32d street
extended, while the second section embraced
the area between 32d street extended and
the 7th street road, including tho valley of
Rock creek. In this, the third section, the
area is limited to the territory between the
7th street road and tho Bladensburs or the
Washington and Baltimore turnpike, while
the southern limit is Boundary or Florida
avenue.
This section Is totally different from the
other two sections in a number of ways, and
a glance at the map will show this. One
thing that is particularly noticeable is the
limited number of roads leading northward
between 18th street northwest and BlaGens-
burg road. 1t might be added that the end
OF the Bladensburs road is also the end Of
Florida avenue or Boundary, H street, Mary
land avenue and also 18th street northeast
The lack of roads between the first two
named highways can only be attributed to
the sparsity OF The population. 1t Is true
that there are number of streets extend
ed 60 beyond Boundary, but they lead to
nowhere, ending in wilds and wildernesses
Lincoln road Is the only road in the vicin-
ity that leads north. 1t runs into North
Capitol street extended just above the
Boundary, and leads to the two principal
roads in the section.
Fourth street extended may sound like a
dignified name, but it is only the highway
which runs parallel with the tracks of the
lexington electric railway, ending at the
gate of the Catholic University, while the
cars. Keeping on, reach terminal at Brook
land, over the Bunker Hill road The best
way to reach 4th street extended is to fol-
low the electric car tracks from I'd street
and New York avenue northeast.
Another popularity of this section lies in
the two steam railroads, the eastern one be-
railroad, while the western track Is the Met
ropolitan branch of the same road. The
main line leads on to Baltimore, while the
metropolitan branch leads through Rock
vile and all way stations up to Point of
Rocks. The location of the railroads, how
ever does not affect the area for bicycle rid
ing. Only few of the way stations are
mentioned, as their location adds nothing
to the value of the map and any one inter-
ested in these can ascertain the place by
securing time table from the railroad
office AS roadway for bicycling the rail-
road tracks make rather poor riding, though
in some instances there are excellent
stretches OF cinder paths, which afford
splendid riding. AS rule, however follow
ing the railroad track is not recommended
and, II, by making detour, public road
can be reached, it is more advisable to pur-
sue such a course.
Two Attractions.
One thing which commends this section
for short spins is the fact that the Soldiers
Home and the Catholic University are To-
Gated within its bounds. The former place
has such attractive grounds that a ride
through them on a summers afternoon is
one of the most enjoyable of trips. Then,
again. it is worth the time to go through
the home itself. and climb into the tower
Of the main building, from which a beauti-
full view of the surrounding country can be
obtained.
A visit to the Catholic University is also
frfn vvh ro1o tn fojr
weather, at this time Of the year, as well as
In the summer time.
Takoma is also another pleasant place for
a short run, and then there Is the MARYLAND
Agricultural College, a few miles above
Hyattsville. There are any number Of other
stations on the map which can be made the
objective point of a short trip.
In this article the subject matter will be
confined to description Of the roads, while
in following article, for the convenience of
the readers, a few of the simple routes will
be selected. The two most important roads
in the map are the 18th street and the Bla-
densburg road.
The first named road was fully described
in the first article of the second section
The other road we will speak of. This
road and the railroad tracks run close to-
gether all the way to Baltimore, the road
being the shortest distance. The road up
to the reform school. and some distance be-
yond, is good, the surface being macada-
mixed, though clay appears now and then
Sand first makes it's appearance above the
reformatory, but not in such quantities as
TO make bad riding into the ancient village
of Bladensburg. Up to this point the road
Is mostly level, though rolling in some in
stances. The hills begin to develop on the
stretch leading to Hyattsville, just half
mile distant, the road up to this place be-
ing graveled and generally in good condi-
ton. The highway continues to be hilly up
to the Maryland Agricultural College, and
in this stretch sand interferes and makes
but fair riding. A portion of the roadway
Is composed of "slag." and is rather bad
upon weak pneumatics. For a distance Of
four and half miles above the college the
road is level, Tut the riding is vile on ac-
count of the sand, deep enough in some
places, said a cyclist once, to drown your
self. In front of the college is a beautiful
stretch of road, which was built by the
students as practical illustration of good
road construction.
The Brentwood road is In the vicinity of
three miles in length, and runs from the
Bunker Hill road to the lexington end
ing at the railroad station 1t is of macad-
am surface for total of half it's distance
with dirt and gravel and clay the remain
der of the roads surface. The hills are
small and all ridable.
The Bunker Hill road is another road
with surface almost the same as the
Brentwood road. It starts at the Bladens-