The Washington times., 1901-07-07

| connect bo-h with the channels of the
upper and lower Potomac.
It is along the upper Potomac chan
mel that the police boat rlakes its way.
after it has been determined that ev-
| erythiug with the exception of the
sloop already mentioned is all right
! as far as Long Bridge. Between Big
Basin and the lower channel. by the
! way, are the sluice gates, which, open
ing and closing automatically at the
ebb and flow of the tide clear the
business part of the river from inn
purities. and prevent accumulations Of
washed-down material.
The Nigilant steams bravely along
the broad stretch of water that leads
to Georgetown. Among the trees on
the shore, at one spot, are seen num-
bers of horses grazing in the long
grass. This is the hospital for invalid
cavalry horses, where they are cared
FOR until again fit for service. Through
the willows, at places, on the same
side, are seen beautiful vistas OF the
public buildings-the Capitol, the Lii
/ brary of Congress, and the State, War,
and Navy Departments while the Mon
ument rises in grand simplicity. appar-
entity close at hand. The contrast be-
tween the dazzling whiteness of these
noble structures and the green UNI
bragg through which they are dis
closed lends TO the former an added
and fairy-like charm.
Just now we pass the huge steam
dredges that are conducting mysteri-
! Gus operations and adding both land
! and water to the surface of the planet
/ in this neighborhood. We pass under,
! or rather through, Long Bridge, which
| opens in the middle for that purpose.
| We see the opening of the great sewer
1 Which pours its noisome tribute into
! the river near the mound upon which
/ stands the old Naval Observatory,
/ now utilized by the Medical Corps of
/ the Navy Department. 1t is from the
| top of this hill, it's summit adorned
! with noble trees, as well as with the
/ white domes of the old Observatory,
/ that Braddock is said to have contem-
plated, with enthusiasm, the beauty of
! the surrounding scene. The rock upon
! which he stood is to be discerned, en-
| closed with the railing which was
lately erected by the District of CO.
lumbia Historical Society.
GEoRGEToWN's WATER FRONT
And now We approach the water
front of Georgetown, on the one hand,
and Analostan Island on the other.
Enshrouded and hidden by the dense
growth cf trees which covers this ISL
and are the ruins of the mansion of
General Mason. The general owned
the entire island, and his fine home
was once the scene of lavish ard abun-
dant hospitality. Even Row it is pos
sible TO trace, in the neglected ave-
nues and the remains of the house and
grounds, some remnants of former ele-
gance. The ownership of Analostau IS
claimed. at present, by member of
the Oldest Inhabitants Association of
the District
The water front Of Georgetown pre-
sents a strange and confused assem-
blaze of manufactures and mills of
various kinds. junk shops, and diiapi-
dated residences, which may have
been fine in their day, but which are
now falling TO ruin. At the extremity
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal are
to be seen the ponderous canal boats,
which have come with their loads of
coal all the way from Cumberland
Families live on these boats, and some
persons among them die, perhaps,
knowing and caring for naught be-
yond the confined space of their cabins
and decks. Truly, from the latter,
visible as the cumbersome barges
wend slowly down that narrow ribbon
of water that follows the Potomac, so
closely is its loveliest aspects. There
are few more beautiful bits of scenery
than the junction of the Potomac and
the Suspuehanna. at Harper's Ferry,
and, indeed. there is hardly a view af-
forded from the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal that is not revelation of the
ever-varying loveliness of nature
Passing beneath the Aqueduct Bridge
preparatory to retracing our way, we
notice, outlined on the stone piers of
the bridge, the mark showing the po-
sition OF the old canal, which was for
merly carried across here, and which
gave TO the structure its present name.
And now we steam back over the
way we came, and, passing along by
the excursion wharves again, and es-
pying Commodore Sutton himself con-
templating US, with the aid of glass,
we round the point of the Arsenal and
make our way up the Eastern Branch
as far as the Navy Yard. Here we
keep a sharp lookout for youths who
go in bathing without proper regard
for the propTieties, and for fishermen
who are not content with the modest
hook and line but must needs en-
ploy the prescribed net. No offenders
of this sort being encountered, we re-
turn quietly to our moorings, and bid
farewell to the captain who viii go
out again in the afternoon on a regu-
lar trip and who, with his crew, is
likely to be called at any time in an
emergency. Then, making our ac-
Acknowledgements to the commodore. we
bid adieu TO the good boat VigiIant
and her worthy crew.
SEATS ON THE EXCHANGE.