The evening times., 1899-07-31

Ever since last spring gossip has been
current in real estate circles about large
deal by which railroad across the East
ern Branch and large tract Of land in that
vicinity was to be transferred 10 promi-
nent Milwaukee brewing company.
The railroad mentioned is the single
track branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
Company which conveys freight 'along the
banks of the river opposite the navy yard
to point below Blagden's wharf, where
the cars are ferried over to the Virginia
side on barges. The land said to be desired
by the brewing company is at the point
of the river some distance below Giesboro
Point and just across the District line, en-
bracing about 800 acres. The object in
securing this land is to establish large
summer garden in connection with a stor-
age-house for the company's manufactures,
which are extensively handled in Washing
ton, Alexandria, and neighboring commu-
mites. @
1t is proposed to convert the steam rail-
road into an overhead electric system, and
run cars from the Anacosita side of the
Navy Yard Bridge to park, which will be
the terminus. In this connection it was
proposed to acquire also the power house
of the Capital Railway, already alongside
the track Of the Baltimore and Ohio, soon
to be discarded on the completion of the
electric system connecting the old Anacos-
tia Railroad with the Capital Railway.
said, was the very thing in the right spot.
and little would remain TO do beyond cleo
trifying the tracks of the old Baltimore
and Ohio and putting on the cars, connect
ing directly with the Anacostia branch OF
the Metropolitan system traversing nearly
all sections of the city. 4s-.
Agents of the brewing company in Ques-
tion, were here for some time last spring,
prospecting for suitable position for such
plant as described. Wilson Park. former
ly known as Pencote Woods, was first fa-
vored, but on account of the proximity of
the Government Insane Asylum, objections
were made and negotiations ceased al
though this tract was considered the most
suitable on that side of the District over
looking the river, the main objection be-
ing the excise laws of the District 1t was
here proposed to erect large hotel sit
uated on the brow of the hill, affording
lofty birdseye view OF the District. The
entire tract was offered by Mr. Wilson,
representing the Vanderbiits, of New York,
ii is said for $3.50, 600.
While no definite move has yet been
made by the agents OF the western brewer
TO secure the land below Giesboro Point, it
is a fact that several prominent real es-
tate men in the District have been and are
at work to bring about the consummation
Of the entire project. This has gone so
far that the Baltimore and Ohio Company
has offered an option, If it really has not
given it, on its Eastern Branch freight
road. This road. it is said has long been
an incubus TO the Baltimore and Ohio,
which can dispense with it very readily.
One of the inducements offered to the
Western brewer last spring to establish
this plant was that through Mr.. Babcock,
of Wisconsin. Chairman of the House Com
mittee on the District of Columbia, and
other Representatives in Congress, an ap-
preparation would be made TO dredge the
Eastern Branch channel and reclaim those
flats. An organized effort wall be made to
secure this sorely-needed improvement at
the next session of Congress in any event
Representatives of the land upon which
the brewing company still hfa its eye last
spring are still in comm ufifcstion with t.
and they are confident that by nsxt fall
some of the company's wealth will have
found good investment in and about Wash
ington. The improvements thus contem-
plated, it is said, would give a populous
section of the District across the river
speedy communication with the city's main
arteries. and altogether greatly stimulate
the advancement of the southeast section.