Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-05
UP AT CABIN JOHN
A Modern Suburban Resort to Be
Established There.
CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR THE WORK
A Large Sum to Be Expended in
Improvements.
DETAILS OF THE PLANS

made by the Bobbinger brothers to their
well-known property at Cabin john
bridge, on the Conduit road, six miles from
Washington. Some time ago the Messrs.
Bobbinger entered into an agreement with
Mr.. j. II. Livingston, who established and
conducted the suburban resorts at Chestnut
Hill and Woodside, near Philadelphia, to
transform their place into a first-class
amusement resort. Since then Mr. Liv-
ingston has been making plans and at the
same time accomplishing a large amount
of other preliminary work. Hundreds of
trees in the ravine and along the canal and
riverside have been cut down, Howell &
Taylor of this city, engineers have been
busily engaged in surveying and laying out
sites, and Architect j. L. Smithmeyer has
been directing the general theme of design.
Within a few days army of laborers,
mechanics and expert artisans will be en-
gagged
1t is the purpose to make at Cabin John
suburban resort second to none in the
country and equip it with novel features
and high-class modern amusements.
Steel Promenade Bridge
There will be a new entrance to Cabin
John for those who do not go in car
riages- This will be by means of a highly
ornamented steel promenade bridge, which
will be constructed over the ravine through
which Cabin John run flows 1t will have
a cantilever effect in appearance and will
De o'b feet long and fourteen feet wide
with an ornate railing of intricate design
AT regular intervals on either side balconies
VIII extend out and over the ravine and
IleSe Will contain iron settees for strollers
mere VIII be seven of these balconies on
ei her side, fourteen in all, and rising from
each will be double arches crossing the
bridge diagonally. upon which vari-colored
electric globes will be set. This bridge for
bear
the Berlin Iron Bridge Company of East
Berlin Conn. will cost about $50 600 when
constructed and equipped and will be placed
ABOUT itn feet below historic Cabin John
brldSt. toward the river, and on a level
with it. ON the farther side of the rayine
It Will rest on the bluff near the rear of the
hotel.
Gravity and Scenic Railroad.
South of this a few feet will be erected a
pavilion 60 by 80 feet in dimensions, two
stories in height and of attractive design
The ground floor will be devoted to a res
taurant and the upper story to the starting
point of a gravity and scenic railroad
which will run at a commanding height
above ground a distance of $50 feet straight
away from the Potomac. The cars will he
propelled by electricity generated bv a 1OO-
horse power engine. situated in a power
hCuse TO be erected nearby, and the road
equipped with the block system. Along its
route VIII be scenic tunnel with electric
features The contract for this pavilion
and railroad has been awarded to l., A
Thompson of New York for $50 600 and
at work. ''--N
South Of the hotel and near the edge of
the blun overlooking the Potomac a ca
rGusel, or merry-go-round ninety feet
square, will be erected. The contract for
this has been awarded to c. A DENTAL of
Philadelphia at his bid of $4,000 The
horses and animals on this whirIigig viii, he
stationary on the outer edge and have a
lcplnS motion on the inner tier East of the
merry -so-round Ferris wheel, fifty feet in
diameter, so arranged that riders will he
AFFORDED view of the river will he erect
ed, and to the west will be theater with
capacity of seating 1000 persons.
Lake in the Ravine,
Cabin John run will be held by a dam
to be constructed near the canal. and IT'S
waters will be formed into a lake covering
a large part Of the bottom of the ravine
and being several acres in extent. Electric
launches and rowboats will be placed in
1ne lake. and boardwalk eight feet wide.
protected by a rustic cedar fence will be
bulIt along its edge on the west bank
bridge will be thrown over the canal to
me river bank from the bluff west of Cabin
the waters edge. a boat landing will he
built on the north bank of the canal, where
an electric boat, which is to run on the
lanai, Will arrive and depart
froSislOns OF Contracts,
The contract for the promenade bridge
calls for its completion not later than MAY
-, and the contracts for the gravity and
scenic railway and caroUsel call for their
completion not later than May p Wherever
opportunity offers there will be rustic
pavilions erected on the lake cliffs and river
bluffs, and a music stand will be built for
the accommodation of an orchestra
West OF the main grounds will be a pony
nna and
amusements will be provided for them
The grounds will be laid out in wide walks
of broken stone base, topped with packed
gravel, and Cincinnati landscape gardener
will arrive Monday TO prepare for numerous
flower beds and parterres. Three hundred
settees Will be distributed through the
grounds.
Electric features will play a prominent
part IL the general scheme. There will be
electric lights everywhere, even in the
cedar trees. and arrangements have been
made with the Washington Traction and
Electric Company for special service and
special machinery has been ordered to SUM-
ply it, An automobile charging plant will
be established In this connection
Terminal Railroad Facilities.
General Superintendent F. L. Hart, SUI
perintendent R E Lee and Engineer Upton,
in charge of the suburban lines OF the
Washington Traction and Electric Com
pany, spent several hours Friday after
noon considering the terminal facilities of
the electric railroad The wooden bridge
across the ravine Immediately east OF
Cabin John is to be replaced with a steel
structure few yards above, the abutments
Tor which are now being constructed The
cars VIII cross over this and run in a
loop around to the entrance to the prone
made bridge and return. Here a large
platform Will be erected. part of the
present track system at the terminal systen,
now situated will be used To nark
cars and track room for forty cars will he
provided, so that crowds can he ouicklv
brought to the city. The entire Creat Falis
line is being double tracked and this will
be completed by May Is. All the wooden
bridges and trestles, fifteen in number viii
be replaced by steel bridges, and cars will
run from 14th and East Capitol streets 10
Cabin John bridge without change
Mr.. LivinEston's Ideas
Il have been long convinced" said Mr.
Livingston Saturday to a Star reporter
who visited Cabin John to learn about tn.
proposed improvements, that Washington
would support a suburban resort wher,
high-class modern amusements would b,