Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

were nineteen-twenteths of the whole popu-
lation The more favored class could get
along very well in dry Weather, but their
vehicles would be mired when It rained.
Washington was not very attractive place
in those days. There were few dwellings
that would now be called fine. The Van
Ness residence had been rendered uninhabi-
table by the canal; and the octagon resi-
dence of the Tayloe family had been taken
possession of by ghosts. as everybody knew.
A few years prior to this date Mr.. Packen-
ham, the British minister. when about to go
home. wrote a letter to some one, which got
into the newspapers, in which he said thai
nobody lived In Washington who could get
away
In dry, windy weather clouds Of dust filled
the air. the clothes and nostrils Of the people
who were compelled to be out of doors
What I say of the dust in dry and of the
mud in rainy weather will seem Incredible
to the people of this generation, who are
accustoEle~ to see the finest pavements In
the world throughout the city. But let
them consult the old inhabitants on the sub
tect, and their skepticism will be removed.
The Old Canal.
The canal which IN that primitive age
was made by greatly charging the bed OF
Goose creek, and which pedantry had
christened THE Tiber," extended from 7th
street along what Is now B street, and
about 100 feet wide, to a broad basin be-
tween Sd and AZ streets. Steamers ard
schooners penetrated that part Of the city
through this canal. which was lined with
ugly, filthy wood and lumber yards, and
at the same time It served as a preserve
4i,,er
And It was a most successful enterprise IN
this regard as the oldest inhabitants can
testify. 1t was well devised If the purpose
had been to preserve the reputation of the
capital of the nation as "The City Of Mag
nifcent Distances" For, as Mr.. Paclsen-
ham Justly said, nobody lived here who
could get away. There were thousands of
wealthy people in this country even at
that day; they would gladly have built
winter homes at the capital of the nation,
where they could see and bring their fari-
lies into association with the families of
congressman and the high officials of the
government. but short visit satisfied them
that the capital city was not place for
clean and comfortable residence. and they
stayed away.
A Primitive Water Supply.
In 1852 Washington. with It's $4,000 inhab-
itants and GEORGETOWN. with its 1000 or
$780, were dependent entirely upon
pumps for the water used by the people for
all purposes. 1t is true that the pumps fur
nished very good drinking water-better
than we now get from the Potomac-but
there was none to be used for washing the
streets. for flushing the sewers-such as
there were-for watering the parks and
flower beds. for washing door steps and
sidewalks. For all these purposes the peo-
pie were dependent upon the reservoirs over
their heads. In the clouds.
Goose creek or Tfber was still unshcrn
of all It's glory as It meandered its Shiny
way from the northeastern hills through
the eastern half of the city and was lost
in the basin, at the junction Of Sd and AZ
streets. 1t crossed Pennsylvania avenue at
I'd street under bridge and passed on
through what is. now the conservatory
grounds. 1t may have BEEN a year or two
before the war that carriage was over
turned and precipitated down the steep
bank Of the creek, at the JUNCTION OF I'd
street with the avenue. There were two
men inside, who were drowned, and be-
lieve the driver, also. =
A tributary of this famous stream passed
diagonally through Judiciary Square, from
the northwest to the southeast, where or
nearby 1t runs into a large sewer. There
was riekety bridge over this little stream
at the northeast angle where 1t enters the
park; and sober citizen in attempting to
cross the bridge, after a heavy shower,
which had converted the sluggish stream
into torrent, fell in, and was swept down
through the sewer, He was drowned, of
course. The city authorities, by arching
over these streams, have not only spoiled
obliterated-Tom Moores satire upon Wash
ington, but saved human lives. Another
small stream ran through the square on
which the Masonic Temple stands; and
right at that point. where F street crossed
the stream. there was no railing on the
upper side The consequence was that a
decreptt old citizen. nearly blind. fell In