Evening star., 1897-08-07
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old Columbian Artillery with their brass
field pieces in the northwest rooms-and
lawyers made their offices. About on the
nerth line of Z street was located two
storied building which did duty as the Jail
TIL about the latter part of the 40s. and
from that time to 1SR2 when IL was burn
ed. as the Washington Infirmary new
Jail building in the northeast corner of the
square accommodated prisoners for some
thirty years to 1860, when the new build
Ing on the Eastern branch was opened
The city hall lot was to- some extent a
pleasure ground, especially for men and
boys. quot pitching being favorite exer-
else 1or number of lawyers. inauguration
Daiis were sometimes held in buildings
erected for the purpose ON the grounds,
ar more than one Industrial exhibition or
fair was held in the lot and many cir
euseS g. ana menageries pitched their tents in
II Inc pension office building now occupies
much OF what long was neglected common,
ated." -. oD''et
X * X X
The supposition that the sunfower would
absorb malaria has long since passed
away explained a health office physician
to Star reporter. though there is no
doubt that there was some good connected
with 1t. At one time, many years ago,
there was an idea prevalent that there was
considerable malaria about the old naval
observatory. Some of the professors were
told that In South America and other coun-
tries where malaria was supposed to
abound. that the sunflower was regarded
as preventative. and they ordered a guam
tity of the seed. The flowers, as many of
our older residents will remember. were
grown about the observatory III great pro-
fusion for their hygienic advantages. There
was no harm done by the growth of this
flower, for 1t crowded out certain plants
and weeds which were by no means as
beautiful or valuable in any respect.
The naval observatory Is therefore the
original home of the sunfiower in this coun-
try, and it is entitled to the credit of bring
ing it here. Whether it absorbs malaria
not, it is certain that it beauties waste
places. The flowers which grow along the
banks of Rock creek, within sight of the
cable car bridge, were originally planted
there over twenty years ago, and they
have been coming up regularly since"
X x i; X
Indian arrow heads, which were once so
plentiful, being found in many places in
large quantities, are becoming very scarce
and valuable volunteered a scientist to a
Star reporter. There was time when
they had but little or no value, but the
enormous quantities of them exhibited in
the numerous museums in this country and
the world, has almost consumed the stock
to be found. 1t is a lost art among the In
dians, and doubt If there is an Indian
now living who can make an arrow head.
They were made of the various fiints, most
ly of white f1ints, though in some sections
the Indians were forced to use yellow or
pink-stained flint. Arrow heads of the lat
ter colored flint now sell at wholesale from
$3.50 to s. per Dozen the ordinary white
flint arrow heads now commanding 81 to
$50 per dozen when the specimens are
carefully made. In the corn fields of Fair
fax county, Va. quite a number have been
found during the corn planting this season,
but they are bought up as readily as they
can be had"
X i i
1.-THE Navy Department clerks have a
good one on me-" said Senator Jones re-
Gently to a Star reporter. II have had fire.
quent occasion to visit the State. War and
Navy Department building during the ses-
sion of Congress, and somehow always
managed to get there about noon each day,
though had no particular object in getting
there the same hour each day. But it hap
pened that way. 1 noticed on several oc-
casions as passed through the halls of the
building that some of the clerks or mes
sengers sang out down as I passed them,
and, though 1 could not understand the
reason, 1 did not connect it with myself.
When the thing happened three or four
times in succession, it began to make me
think. About three weeks ago l had busi-"
ness there, and just I entered room
looking for a friend, an official. clerk
at me straight in the eyes. l got little
hot under the collar at it, and said, Young
man. There is nothing particularly down
about Ene that l know of, and will you
please explain why all Of you speak of me
as down as 1 pass through? The clerk
Redeemed UP somewhat and explained that
his down had no reference to me what
ever; that what he meant by it, also the
others, was that the time ball which is
dropped from the flag staff at the top Of
the building at noon each day had dropped
for II o'clock; that 1t was a custom of the
clerks and messengers Of that building
whenever they happened to be watching
the ball to sing out down. SO as to in
form their fellow clerks who were not
watching the ball that 1t was down. OF
course. the explanation was satisfactory
and that is all there is of 1t. admit. how
ever, that the clerks in that building have
one on me, and I'll try to even it up some
time with them"
Submarine diving" explained one of the
inspectors who is supervising the work OF
Strengthening the pier of the Aqueduct
bridge. and where daily thousands of per-
sons stop to look at the diver, clad in his
armor, who is at work there as he comes
to the top of the water every hour or so.
"is now way in advance of what 1t was,
and divers are now able to ascertain and
report clearly and intelligently as to the
bottoms of rivers. They cannot only feel,
but can see exactly the conditions on the
bottoms of rivers. The outfit of a diver
costs from $500 to 5000. This means the
rubber armor, the helmet or brass head
piece, the air pump and the hose which is
used to carry the air down to him. 1t also
includes elephone service down to him,
by which he can carry on a conversation
while he Is at work. The diver at work at
the Aqueduct bridge has no telephone His
brother always manages the air hose for
him. while two laborers by the pump keep
up constant stream of air to HIM The
diver has been working SO long with his
brother that by the aid of his signal rope
ne can almost carry on conversation by
signals and jerks. For instance, some days
since the diver in examining the bottom of
the coFerdam around the pier found that
he needed a piece of board nineteen inches
long and seven inches wide at one end and
but four at the other. He sent up the in
formation by signals and the board was
cut to suit him. Later on he sent I'D word
by the signal rope that he had misaid his
hammer and ordered another one sent
down. which was done. Though divers are
weil paid while they are at work their
work, however. is very uncertain. as many