Evening star., 1897-03-20
FIFTY Y EARS AG o
Washington IN the Days of Daguerreotyps
and Chimney Sweeps.
lmDR0v eUents Indicating Progress
In 1S40-A Provincial
City.

tngton doubtless mad his grievances against
public conveyarces. 1t may be assumed,
however. that when the twelfth President
was inaugurated a demand for less speed
at crossings was not among them. as the
regular means Of transportation was limit
ed to genuine slow coaches in the shape
of omnibuses. which passed along Pennsyl-
vania avenue just once every hour. The
route exter ded from Georgetown to the
for the privilege Of riding 81 cents each
way. The city had a population of less
than 10000. and Its 6,OOO dwellings were
warmed in winter by firepfaces. which re-
quired vast chimreys. So there existed the
unique office OF superintendent of chimney
sweeps. Washington required six of these
functionar!es to look after those who pur
sued this ancient and laborious calling.
Baltimore was reached by rail in about
two hours and quarter, there being three
trains each way daily Mprse's telegraph
at that time was still a novelty. The COM
ington and New York. and in it's advertise
ments pointed with pride to the fact that
messages could be sent through In half
minute. with no interruption on account OF
rain storms.
business Men.
The trade cards of enterprising business
men Of the day furnish interesting side
lights on the state of progress For in.
stance. a painter Of signs would begin an
extensive eulogy Of his talents with the
statement that Having full confidence in
the patriotism Of the American people,
consequently not fearing a dissolution of
the Union." he had at some expense en-
larged his shop, etc. In the old advertise
ments of the day one finds many curious
occupations. Here q cupper leecher, cleo
trician and chiropodist offers to physicians
the best European leeches.' with direc-
tions for keeping them in healthy con-
dition- barber of the day is found de-
claring that He has spice of chivairy
In his constitution. and will take by the
nose any one who has the courage to OBJ
trude that facial appendage within the
sanctity of his studio" The artist, for
such he must have been, as he refers to
bis place Of business q studio, quotes
hair cutting at 121s cents and shaving
81 cents A certain aspect of progress
might be gathered from the establishment
razor. who had conspicuously posted the
statement that Gentlemen having five
minutes to spare before the departure of
the cars for Baltimore may be shaved and
dressed Immediately"
improvements.
1t is interesting to note some of the city
improvements cited as indications of pro-
gress during the year 1S49. Pennsylvania
avenue had been paved in front Of the
iron bridge over Rock creek had just been
put In place. In the third ward the patent
office was well under way, and the city
hall. which had stood so long in rough
state. was nearly completed on its south
frcnt, and described by chronicler of the
day as presenting q grand appearance"
In the year referred to there was consider
able local pride in the fact that vessels
built at the Washington navy yard had cost
less and run longer than those built at any
Ian Institution was nearly completed, and
In 1919 the Washington monument stood
hfty-two feet above ground
These were the days of the daguerreo-
type. and many old Washington families
treasure the quaint productions Of these
early photographers. whose descriptions of
the completeness of their galleries and the
wealth of apparatus employed suggest the
art as something of novelty. 1t is anus
ing to find leading picture taker of the
period cautloning the public that "the most
agreeable expression of the features should
De retained to insure a truthful likeness"
Vigorous Men.
Washington was undeniably provincial
city in these now forgotten days, but per-
haps some Of its deficiencies were Offset by
the merits of its public men. Fifty years ago
the slavery question was the great bone of
contention. The vigorous types of men that
came to the capital to represent their
respective states were of the old school,
that sometimes finished a fierce oratorical
contest in Congress with an exchange
OF shots near Bladensburg. or in some quiet
glen beyond the old Chain bridge that once
swung below the Little Falls Of the Po-
tomac. The Senate of the Tflirty-frst Con-
gress presented a most remarkable array of
talent In the upper house there sat to-
gether Douglas. Cass. Chase Hamlin, Ben
ton, Clay and Webster. In the residences
of some of these distinguished men one
catches glimpse of the simple accommo-
dations afforded by the city in those days.
Douglas and Cass resided at the Potomac
House. while Henry Clay was to be found
died. In directory Of the period the great
webster modestly appears as private,