The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-24
Passing of jackson City, for Years the Most
Notorious Gambling He'll the Country
BOUGHT BY A RAILROAD COMPANY
Had a Record Which, in Point of Wicked
ness, Was Unsurpassed by Any
Other Similar Resort.
Written for The Sunday Times.

While the arera re American citizen con-
elders 1t his prerogative to roast corpora
tons in general, without exactly knowing
why, railroads iii this country are targets
Tor condemnation by thousands wno
scarcely allow themselves the privilege
of going so far as TO beat the compa-
mics. And yet the Pennsylvania Rail
road whose chief fault in the eyes Of
pony is to realize IL reasonable dividend
Upon its invested capital. has put the
State Of Virginia under debt of graft
tude. by its purpose 10 wipe out of OK
sstencc the most VIGOROUSLY wicked re-
sort that ever sInudged the fair name OF
the Old Dominion.
Jackson City, which derived it's name
from American hero and president of
the United States, was once a place with
a respectable reputation. 1t had a bright
future when the cornerstone of the old
tavern was iaiG by the hero Of New Or
| leans. Seven thousand people witnessed
the ceremonies among the spectators be
ing the President and Cabinet officers ot
the United States. members of the United
States Senate and House, army and navy
officers anG other prominent people. The
address of the occasion WAS delivered by
George Washington Parke Gusts. the
adopted son of the Father of his Coun-
try. and the owner of the Arlington es-
tate.
BELONGS TO MARYLAND.
While not generally known. it is claim
ed that Alexander Island on which Jack
son City is situated. belongs Of right to
Maryland for by the charter granted TO
Lord Baltimore by the King of England
the river belonged to Maryland. and at
that time the channel formerly ran TO the
south Of Alexander Island y, hen Mary
land and Virginia ceGed land for the cs-
Establishment of the Federal scat Of Gov
ernment the entire ten miles square re-
snained in the .istrict, until part OF II
was coded back by act OF Congress III
1886. The consutuuonality of ,-..s action
has been questioned. but it is asserted
that. at any rate. there was no authori-
ty for ccding to Virginia land which for
anerly belonged to Maryland.
The New York syndicate remained IN
control of the property until 1889, when
1t was sold at auction, under forecio-
sure, to Richard lIagner, Of Washington
Tie disposed of it TO d number OF IN
t1ividuals, from whom it has been pur-
chased by the railroad company. Some
wears ago the railroad secured land TO
the east Of the track. and that winch
they have been negotiating for recently
lies to the westward. 1t will not only
give them control of the entrance TO
the bridge but will enable them to
straish:en their tracks. Engineers have
been al work along this line for some
Sime past.
SO much for a brief outline OF place
which has proven a stumblins-block TO
The moral welfare of the youth of Alex
endria and vicinity. as well as Of the
National Capital. It is of Jackson City
rs a. resort, a rendezvous for the lowest
class of sports cheap gamblers,
thieves footpads scamps scoun-
Hrels. crooks and disreputabe characters
GENERALLY I am whiting. Just how many
crimes, how many deaths. how many do
,nestic troubles how many broken hearts
can be traced to Jackson City would be
nroblenl. the solution of which only l2o-
tice officials and detectives who have had
varied experiences with the place could
give an intelligent guess. Men with
passion for gaming, youths with visions
of making a big pile Of money on a. small
Investment. topers with an inherited crav-
tnE for strong drink. 9oollmakers with
patent leather hair and barher-slop shirt
fronts three-card monte men with nirnhle
Fingers and dwarfed consciences. policy
enorts experts at tricks behind the scenes
wheel-of-fortuna fakirs with q sagacio1s
power Of stopping the ticker al the prom
sr point for their own gain, bnnco men
rip to the latest scheme, pick-pocllets