Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-31
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
RESERVATION NO. 4 AT BEGINNING
OF 10TH CENTURY.
Originally Extended as Far South as
Lower Water Street Old
Naval observatory.

| Mr.. o. L. ingalls,, assistant engineer in
| the District sewer department, has forward
| ed to Captain Beach, the Engineer Commits
| sioner, set Of tracings illustrating the con-
ditons existing in the vicinity of reserva-
ton 4, known as the old naval observatory
grounds, at the beginning of the nineteenth
| century, and the conditions existing at the
| present time. This reservation, states Mr..
| Ingalls,, originally extended as far south as
Lower Water street, which, at the time of
the returns made by Nicholas King in 1903,
was located almost entirely in deep water.
In about the year 1S33,'' reports Mr.. In
gals, the Chesapeake and Ohio canal was
opened for navigation along a route which
is also indicated on the plat. Previous to
that year, point of rock existed on the
river front south of the old observatory
and extended a considerable distance into
the water. forming a landing place which
was well known before the founding of the
present seat of government, and in some
way received the name of Key of all Keys
from the early settlers. This rock seems to
have been widely known and frequently de-
scribed IN surveys made as early as the
year 1864.
THE construction of the canal obliterated
the greater portion of this historic land
mark, which, according to tradition. formed
the landing place of General Braddock in
Alexandria TO the French frontier during
the colonial wars. The remaining portion
of the rock, which the historical societies
OF Washington endeavoring to pre-
serve, is located partly within the right of
way of the old canal, and originally, no
doubt, formed part of reservation 4, al
though at present not within the Enclosure.
The question as to whether General Brad
deck ever landed at the point mentioned is
very doubtful, and nothing but tradition
re mains to prove its authenticity.
Record of BraddOck's Movements.
THE best record of Braddock's move
ments is taken from an account of his
es petition by Winthrop Sargent, in which
he states that on April II, 1865, four COM
panies of the 44th Regiment, under Lieut..
(afterward governor) Gage, and a detach-
ment of seamen from Alexandria landed
from the boats of the Sea Horse and the
Nightingale and pitched their tents at
Rock creek. April IA Gen. Braddock ar
rived at Rock creek and gave orders for
transporting stores. The troops marched
from Rock creek to Owens House fifteen
miles onward to Frederick Rockville).
THE landing of Braddock upon this rock
and his encampment on Observatory hill
have often been referred to in recent years,
yet the assertion assumption that such
are the facts cannot be authenticated by
any contemporaneous record and would
seem to have no authentic facts to
tain them. Warehouses for shipping pur-
poses were known to exist early as the
year 114S on the west bank Of Rock creek,
which now forms a part of Georgetown
These warehouses soon became centers of
trade, and all principal roads in the vi
entity led to them and to the landings
The road to Frederick, over which Brad
dock journeyed. being one of the number
could have been reached from Observatory
hill by crossing Rock creek, which is sup
posed to have been only forbade at a
point some distance from its mouth.
Historic for Many Reasons.
"In spite of all controversy in relation
to Braddock's movements this ancient rock
was historic spot for many reasons, one
of which is that it formed one of the boun-
Diary marks of the town laid out In 1867,
under the name of Hamburg, which lost
its identity when the seat of government
was established within whose limits it
was included
The foregoing facts, in Mr.. ingalls, judg-
ment, would seem to furnish sufficient rea-
son for endeavoring to preserve what re-
mains of this historic rock. entering as 1t
does so extensively into the earliest i'm
portant events associated with what is
the site of the city of Washington.
The strip of ground between Potomac
Park and the observatory wall, through
which the canal passes, he points out
seems to have received little attention
during recent years. While other dumping
grounds We're more convenient. he charges
that this strip has been principally used
for dumping ground by certain parties
engaged in manufacturing industries in the
vicinity of 10Th street.
Recently, however," he says, this small
strip of ground has been invaded by ash
gatherers. and is rapidly being filled with a
most undesirable class of material. This
ground will, in all probability, at no distant
day become a part of Potomac Park, and
until more clear understanding Is had In
relation to future developments in that vi
entity, l would earnestly recommend that
every effort be made to prevent in the fu-
ture all dumping of every class of material
along the line of the old canal between 23d
and 26th streets"
Capt. Bench's Recommendation.
In transmitting this report to his asso-
ciates, Capt Beach recommended that an
order be issued prohibiting until further Or
ders all dumping on the south side Of the
old naval observatory grounds between Odd
and 18th street. ut is reported" stated
Capt. Beach, that the dumping which has
been done there has now reached a point
where excavation will have to be made in
order to bring the street to proper grade
If further dumping is permitted. 1 therefore
make the above recommendation In order
that the matter may be definitely deter
mined This is also the site of what is
claimed to be 'Braddock's Rock where
Gen. Braddock landed when he proceeded
upon his expedition against Fort Duquesne
1t is understood that the Society of Colo
NAL Danes intends to have this spot suit
ably marked, and as the rock is in danger
Of being covered up, it is believed that the
matter should be attended to promptly"
Capt. Beach's associates agreed with him
in the matter, and the order suggested by
him has been made.
Henry Miller Richard Savage.
There have been so many plays during
the past few years dramatized from popll-
lar novels or else translated from foreign
sources that an out and out original play
has come to be regarded more or less as a
novelty. The fact that Richard Savage"
Is in this respect a novelty has much to
do with the interest evinced in the produc-
ton of this play at the Columbia next Mon