The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-11-13

ingtOn; and it is subdivided so that
portion of it is called Brookland. This
populous suburb is now builded up to
the city limits, so that only old inhab-
itants know it is a suburb which has
grated itself onto the boundary line.
lexington was until recently the I'M
divided property left by Chief Justice
Salmon z. Chase, to his brilliant and
beautiful daughter, Kate. Just a few
years before her death she sold it, and
it was converted into building lots by
enterprising real estate dealers. 1t is
beautiful place, and it is the product
of commuters.
lexington has a history, although
there is nothing left of the old coun-
try place which is visible to mortal
eyes. Many wonderful political deals
were there arranged. The most no.
table occurrence of all was in January,
1877, when Kate Chase entertained SEN
ator Conkling so charmingly and en-
chantingly that she kept him away
from the capitol while the electoral
commission bill was being enacted in
to law. If Conkling had been on duty
he would have defeated that bill. But
Kate Chase kept him away, the bill
was enacted, and Hayes became presi-
dent.
All along the lines of the great trunk
railroads there are suburban places
which the commuters support, and
which some of them intend to own. One
of the most enjoyable, because one of
the most healthful, in Washington
Grove, about 40 miles out on the high
grounds of the foothills of the Appa-
lachian range of mountains. The Meth
odists have taken almost all of this
place, and have converted it into d
popular during the hot summer
months. There the government clerks
go to their homes and families every
evening, and there the revival service,
prayer meetings and praise services
are kept up all summer.
Col. Andrew Geddes chief clerk of the
department of agriculture, lives at
Kensington, suburb Is miles to the
northwest of the city proper. He says:
I'VE have as pretty little place aslany
of those which have been built up
around Chicago by its commuters, al
though it is not yet SO large as some of
them. | can take an electric car at
eight o'clock every morning, open my
morning paper and read it all the way
to the city, arriving a the department
at half-past eight o'clock, which is
half an hour before the department
work begins. Quite number of Wash
ington business men, as well as govern
ment clerks, live there, and we are all
proud of our country homes"
Arlington National cemetery is ON
the heights across the Potomac river,
and the old Lee mansion is visible from
every part of the city. West of Ar
lington is Fort Myer, an army post of
the regular army. Between the fort
and the aqueduct bridge, distance of
three miles, the entire hill country is
divided into lots and called Fort Myer
Heights. Here the commuters are
building homes by the score. AS soon
as the much talked of Memorial bridge
spans the river this will be the most
desira bic of all our suburbs. Every
foot of ground here overlooks the
city, and it is naturally terraced, so
that the buildings will not interfere
with the view.
Then there is a splendid new electric
line running through Georgetown,
past President Cleveland's former
country home, and far out to Rock
vile, Md, where an excellent seminary
is located. This is a fine ride, with
the homes of the wealthy all along
the route. John II. Mclean, of Ohio,
owns baronial estate here. of which
any of the noblemen of the old world
might be proud.
Another line carries commuters out
to Hyattsville and Badensburg, the
place made famous before the civil
war as dueling ground.
And, best of all, these commuters of
ours live where there is plenty of tim
Der land, and they are buying cord
wood for from SO to S. a cord, and they
are not worried about the coal famine.
Under the circumstances the commu.
tiers are to be envied.
SMITH d. FRY