davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

gress made an appropriation of 5000 for
surveys. estimates, etc. The actual work
of building the aqueduct was commenced
in 1858. when Jefferson Davis was Secre-
tary of War under President Pierce 1.-THE
War Department having control of the
water supply, and work upon the bridge
proper began in 1857.
In a paper by Mr.. w. T. s. Curtis,
Washington lawyer. read before the Co.
lumbia Historical Society in 1897, many
interesting facts and statements were
given. AS his father, Mr.. Chas- L. Curtis
was the superintendent of construction anc
inspector of the bridge under Gen. Meigs
the information contained therein was
heard from his fathers own lips and also
obtained from his private papers, as well
as from the official records of the War De-
partment, and the statements can be &C
cepted authoritative.
He said in part:
General Ghen Captain) MONTGOMERY O.
Meigs assumed charge of the building Of
the .aqueduct at it's inception. after Con-
gress made an appropriation of $1,000 for
surveys, etc. He was in charge until July
1SG0 when he was ordered to Fort Jeffer-
son. Tortugas. During his absence Captain
Henry w. Benham was in charge for a
short while. he in turn being succeeded by
Lieutenant James ST. c. Morton, who was
afterward killed during the siege of Peters,
burg. Va, in 1854. After an absence of six
months. on February D. 1851, just before
the breaking out of the civil war, Captain
Meigs returned and again assumed charge
of the work on the bridge and aqueduct,
and the same were practically completed by
him as chief engineer. From about May,
1851 until July, 1852 active work upon the
bridge ceased. owing to the civil war then
raging. In May. 1861, Captain Meigs be-
came quartermaster general, and when
work was resumed in the summer of 1862,
under the orders of the Secretary of the
Interior, General Megs ceased to have any
further charge of the work Supervision of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
Another Railroad in Forestry.
From the Railroad Gazette.


The Pennsylvania railroad has ordered
5000 young locust trees, which are to
be set out this fall on land owned by the
company: and 1t IS the intention that the
policy thus begun of raising timber for the
use of the road will be continued by the
planting Of additional trees each year here
after. Some experimental work has been
done along the middle division of the road
for two years past, and several thousand
trees are already in fourishing condition
The company owns a large number of
tracts of lands at various points along its
lines, where. in purchasing rights Of way,
1t has been necessary to buy more land
than was needed for the tracks Some of
the farms thus bought have been leased
and are now occupied by tenants; but in
many cases where the soil is suitable for
the cultivation of the locust 1t is the
intention of the company to terminate the
leases which are now in force. While To-
cost is not the best wood for ties, and
while SO extensive an establishment as the
Pennsylvania railroad will need large
quantities of this timber for posts and
other uses. still the need of a large sup
ply OF ties and the increasing difficulty
in getting good ties at reasonable prices
has been, we understand, a principal fac
tor In determining the company to enter
upon this extensive forestry work. True
to its habitual recognition Of the ideal and
the human as well as the practical and
cold sides Of things, the Pennsylvania does
not go to q desert or mountain but
plants its trees where they may benefit ita
neighbors. the farmers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
THE OLD CABIN,

other material a dam was built across the
creek a short distance above the canal, and
lock was constructed at that point to
permit boats to be foated into the pond
thus formed. Remains Of this dam can be
seen today
1.-THE rubble arch and spandrels are of
Seneca sandstone. and the abutments are
gneiss from Montgomery county, Md. The
arch stones are each two feet thick. The
parapet walls (Which were not put on until
1879 are of red Seneca sandstone, taken
from the quarries some twenty miles up the
Potomac river.
Dimensions Of the Bridge.
The dimensions of the bridge are as fol-
lows:
Length. including abutments, $50 feet;
height. above bottom Of run, 1O5 feet; length
of span, 900 feet; rise of span, 81 feet; width
Of span, 20 feet; diameter of conduit, D feet.
These figures are from the official rec
ords and reports.
THE first actual work upon the bridge
proper began early In 1857, and consisted Of
clearing away the underbrush. etc. The
soil was removed until rock foundation was
reached. This. in turn. was bl1sted away
until the solid ledge of the hill was ex-
posed. The surface was smoothed off and
q proper face made for the reception Of the
arch by a hydraulic bed of cement and
broken stone.
LAS the superstructure was to be very
massive, 1t required CORRESPONDENCE
heavy center or trestle to support it during
construction. This trestle rested upon
series Of stone piers, which still remain,
and which supported a rustic bridge until
recently. when 1t was swept away by
heavy freshet.
"On December A. 1858. the arch was keyed,
and by July /. 1889. the arch stones as we'll
as a considerable portion of the abutments,
were in position.
Although General Meigs was the chief
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

madic creature led the life of a hermit, de-
clining all companionship with his kind,
while treating such as he CHANGED to meet
with a courtesy that discouraged all init
macy. He fshed in the streams and hunted
IN the neighboring forests. He troubled TO
che, and his only companions We're said 10
be several large and ferocious dogs he
disappeared mysteriously as he came
and nothing has ever been known as to his
fate. His old cabin crumbled into ruins.
and during the days of slavery the OLD
negroes in the vicinity claimed that MS
ghost was often seen by them near MS
lonely and deserted cabin.
There are others who claim that this mys-
FERROUS character was an "lnjun In
recent drive over the river road, which Is
a short distance northeast of the bridge,
the writer CHANGED to come across an old
residenter." Capt. Pyles who, although In
his ninetieth year, is still hale, hearty ana
vigorous. This interesting individual tas
we'll as his father before HIM has lived In
this vicinity for many, many years. and MS
version Of the legend (having heard 1t from
his fathers lips) Is that in the year ITO
an Indian made his appearance and erected
his cabin by tine creek that afterward bore
his name. He was known only by the name
OF John and afterward as John OF the
Cabin" In all other particulars his story
barmonizes with the generally accepted
tradition as to his habits and mode OF Nv
ing, &C.
In further substanuation as to his hav-
ing been an Indian, he stated that he had
frequently in his boyhood days found ar
row, spear and AK heads in and about the
old cabin. AS Capt. Pyles knows every
inch of the ground in this vicinity, when he
makes a statement he does in way to
impress upon one that he knows what he
is talking about and is thoroughly familiar
with his subject
Along the Stream.
Cabin John run takes its rise in spring
near the fair grounds at Rockville. and
flows some eight miles or more in south
easterly direction, emptying into the
canal q short distance below the bridge.
Aside from the interest conferred in 1t by
reason of the traditions connected with
Cabin JOHN along its banks and in the
vicinity there exist deposits OF white-veined
or gold-bearing quartz, in which gold in
paying quantities has been found.
Upon the Huddleston farm, which Is on
the east fork of the run. some valuable and
beautiful specimens of free gold have been
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
Jules Verne's Vision.
From the London Chronicle.

From the London Chronicle.
It Is good news to learn that M Jules
Verne is going to permit the removal Of his
cataract after ALL It is perhaps the pref
test" as 1t is one Of the safest and most
beneficent. operations in surgery-an in
visible incision. little pressure on the eye
ball and out slips the Opaque lens which in
it's transparent condition had long done
such good service. Unfortunately the pa
TENTS vision cannot be co-ordinated by
glasses unless both eyes be deprived of the
natural lens, but In the case Of a single
operation either eye Is serviceable, but not
both at once, without the patient seeing
double. M. Jules Verne will now be able
soon to get back to the work he loves and
perhaps continue his usual output of two
novels per annum. He still stands chance
of reaching his century" indeed. but can
hardly surpass From the Earth to the
Moon"-a real masterpiece in It's way-nor
even Five Weeks in Balloon" which
was his first attempt. And, judged by 1903
it is fair to say that his novels are more
than mere schoolboy fiction; they are q
real contribution, accurate and ingenious
to the popularization Of science.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

was again transferred back to the War De-
partment, where it is today
Many Obstacles.
'In the construction of the aqueduct,
many difficulties arose; valleys had to be
arched and hills tunneled and leveled to
provide for the conduit. The most serious
obstacle was encountered at Cabin John
run. The ravine was too wide and deep
to fill. and the only solution was an acQue-
duct over the valley. At first 1t was de-
cded to span it with a bridge of masonry
supported upon series of piers and arches,
at an estimated cost of $50, 400. Suisse
quently this plan was changed and 1t was
determined that the present magnificent
affair should be constructed, to excel any
structure of it's kind on earth, and at the
same time be lasting and imperishable
monument to the genius and skill Of its
engineer.
To-day this noble structure is without
rival on earth. as far as an arch or span
of masonry is concerned. The nearest ap-
proach to it is the railroad bridge over the
river Pruth in Galicia. That has a span
of 213 feet, seven less than Cabin John
The Lavaur bridge in France. on the line
of the Limoges and Drives railway, has a
span of 201A feet. The largest span stone
arch in Great Britain Is the famous Gros-
venor bridge over the river Dee at Chester,
England. having span of 200 feet.
1.-The total cost of the bridge was 1854 600.
The cost of the conduit system was 81 ,905,
600. The capacity Of the water main Is
76.5O0.0OO gallons daily. There were H.
Ola. Is cubic yards of masonry, $50. 66 cubic
yards Of concrete and sic cubic yards Of
brick used in its construction, The cut
stone arch. or ring, is of Quincy. Mass.
granite. shipped to Georgetown by vessels
and thence to the bridge by way of the
canal In order to provide for the trans
portauon 70 the bridge OF this stone and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
M. c. MEIGS,
CHIEF ENGINEER,
WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT,
A. D. 1859.
FECIT.

During his absence from July, 1860, to
February, 1861, Captain Benham and Lieu
tenant Morton, who were in charge for this
short period, had their names also cut on
the face of two of the arch stones imme-
dtately under those of General Meigs, and
designated themselves also as chief engi-
neers. Upon his return, and observing
what had been done, he gave orders that
they should be erased, contending that 1t
was improper to have their names appear
as chief engineers. especially as the work
sence of six months was simply contin-
uation of his projects and plans. which had
received the approval of Congress.
THE bridge will last forever, a monu-
ment to the skill and genius of its engineer
nor will time obscure or belittle the glory
achieved by the mind that conceived it's
graceful lines or the credit due to those
who directed its construction with so much
precision and detail that not stone has
moved nor settled in anyway to mar it's
beauty, symmetry or strength"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
Animals as Sailors.
m the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
A French scientist has made some very in
teresting observations as to the love Of die-
ferent wild animals for the sea. The Polar
bear. he says, is the only one that takes to
the sea. and is quite jolly when aboard ship.
All others violently resent trip on water.
and vOciferously give vent to their feelings
until seasickness brings silence. The tiger
suffers most of all. The mere sight Of q
ship makes him uncomfortable. and when
on board he whines pitifully, HIS eyes water
continually and he rubs his stomach with
his terrible paws. Horses are very bad
sailors, and often perish on sea voyage
Oxen are heroic in their attempts not to
give way to sickness. Elephants do not like
the sea, but they are amenabls to medical
treatment. A good remedy Is q bucketful Of
hot water. containing three and a half pints
of whisky and seven ounces Of quinine.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
Latest Form of Amusement
for Up-to-Date Parisians.
ITS FINE PRACTICE
JUST LIKE THE REAL THING IN
ALL ITS DETAILS.
Only the Bullets Are So Made That
They Do No Damage-Rules
Of the Game.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
PARIS, August 20. 1903
The bell rang, and presently servant
brought my friend a small box. He opened
1t, and saw that 1t was box of revolver
cartridges.
what are you going to do with themr'
I asked.
My friends friend looked up with a
strange light in his eyes.
HE is going to shoot Henri X-l' he
answered.
Now Henri is another of our friends, a
mild and inoffensive young Partisan. So Is
Georges, and so is Jacques. / was aston
ished
He Is going to shoot our friend-with
one of those balls2"
Jacques nodded somberly
"At sixteen yards" he added.
"a duell' 1 exclaimed.
81 would hardly call 1t a duell" spoke UP
Georges, with a cold-blooded little laugh.
'Stop, nowI I cried. "You seem to be
both in earnest. Tell me frankly. You in
tend to shoot at Henri X"
"-and hit him. interrupted Georges.
I picked up one of the cartridges Obvi-
ously 1t was intended for one Of the re-
volvers with which Georges practices at
Gastinne-R enette's shooting gallery. l ex-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

Georges holds his pointed to the ground.
These are the only positions permitted.
Attention.
The two men gather themselves together,
"Firer They aimed their weapons.
"Oner
Bangl
"Twor Bangi "Threep'
The two reports were almost simulta-
to task for being too deliberate.
Il advise you to learn to fire as soon
as possible after the command to ''firei''
II Is your right. You are not obliged to
wait for the word 'one," but on the other
hand, you are forbidden to pull the trig
ger after the word "threew In dueling.
as In street fighting II is the first hit that
counts mostl Voyons! you know we had
agreed on the quick cadence for the COM
mand. l40 beats of the metronome to the
minute, the maximum permitted in the
duel"
A Palpable Hit.
But Henri was engaged in rubbing his
stomach He scarcely listened.
"My?' he said THAT was a rude tap.
A little more and 1t would have gone
through my clothes. The bullets are hard
ening today
Had you not best warm them a Hitler
/ asked.
1t was because the revolvers had not
been fired before. In order not to soften
tho balls to the point of robbing them
OF their straight carrying. we must not
nre more than three consecutive shots
from the same pistol
Under what circumstances do they be-
come really dangerous3' 1 asked
They must not be allowed to freeze In
winter. that is ALL" replied the director
of the combat. Yes, freezing would
change them into ordinary projectiles. But
ordinary cool weather. no. It only hard
ems them a little"
Only littlei Huml hum!
Yet they have had plenty OF trial. The
first semi-public demonstration of their
harmlessness was made almost a year ago.
at the grounds of the Society of the Pts
tol, on the Isle Seguin. while last winter
they were used daily by members of the
Military Club of st. Sebastien. in the ex-
treme south of France. where 1t is still
warm in January
In the Paris of the present hour II Is as
tonishing to note the vogue of the new
game of shooting your neighbor. At CAS-
unne-Renette's arfstocratic shooting gal
lery and emporium they showed me car
tridges fitting not only the favorites of the
revolver amateurs of Paris. but also the
sinister long-barreled single-cartridge Gar
tinne-Renette pistol. that resembles the
true dueling pistol in all things except its
muzzle- loading.
The frequenters of the gallery, It ought
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

Copyright. 1903. by j. II. Wilson Ma-riottl
Ten miles northwest of the Capitol and
seven miles from Georgetown. upon the
Conduit road-the most beautiful driveway
out of Westinghouse one of the most i'm
posing and wonderful structures that engi-
neering skill could devise-Cabin John
Bridge.
Aside from the bridge itself. the creek
that 1t crosses, the ravines and hills. the
deep. shadowy glens and tangled wildwoods
are in themselves objects of interest and
beauty.
Years have rolled by since the erection of
the bridge, but it is solid and mmovable
as the everlasting hills surrounding it, and
as so aptly inscribed on its eastern abut-
ment. Esto Perpetua, it will last forever as
monument to the genius and inspiration of
its engineer Montgomery c. Meigs. In the
official records of the War Department il is
known as Union ARCH by reason Of
having been erected about the time of the
civil war. and it is so inscribed upon the
tablet on its east abutment. but it is best
known as Cabin John Bridge" taking its
name from the creek or run which it spans.
The origin of the title Cabin John is
somewhat traditionary. The generally ac-
cepted version of the origin of the odd
name reads like a legend out of the olden
time History, 1t seems, has not recorded
the exact date at which the remarkable
character of this name made his first ap-
pearance and settled down in this vicinity
but old residents are of the opinion (having
heard the story from their ancestors) that
1t was a short time before the revolution
when he first took up his abode along the
run that has ever since borne his name.
No one ever seems to have known whence
he came or where he went after several
years sojourn in this romantic spot lie
was known only as John" or John of the
Cabin and also as Captain John" Upon
some of the old records of Montgomery
county. Nd, the name of the creek is given
as Captain John"
John of the Cabin
The present name Cabin john is either
a corruption of Captain John or was de-
rived from John of the Cabin" This no
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

settlers esionally bring to the survey
nuggets of gold that they have obtained
from the ores on their properties.
The famous Conduit road is largely mac
adamized with this white-veined quartz.
which. It is said. will assay as high as SIG
to the ton. Specimens of this rock can be
found along the roadside and any of
the farms skirting the road.
Built by the Government.
Cabin John Bridge was built by the
United States government part of the
great aqCeduct for conveying the water
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

found. About the most valuable deposits
have been found on what is known the
Harrison farm. which is some distance
above the bridge and near Great Falls. Ore
taken from there ass yeG from $40 to $50 to
the ton. and in some cases very much
higher
In a paper, Gold Deposits of Montgom-
cry County, read before the American In
stitute OF Mining Engineers in 1899. by Mr..
S. f. EI;mons of the United States geo
logical survey. it was stated that up to
that date something over $4,000 worth of
bullion had been taken from the Harrison
farm mines. On this property can still be
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

It was autumn. the autumn after her
tenth season.
"You are as brown as a berry," said her
mirror. but adding. soto voces
'.Elderberry."
Hers was French mirror, too polite
Life.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
Au Fait.

ErOm PUCK
Mrs Waldo-Cecil-"He has barrel Of
money!
Edith waldo-Cecil-"But is he all right
sociallyT'
Mr. Waldo Cecil-"Oh. yes; he hasn't the
least idea how he got itF'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

the water supply having been transferred
from the War Department to the Depart
ment of the Interior. account of the i'm
mense amount of work devolving upon the
former department by reason of the civil
war;, and Mr.. William R. Hutton succeeded
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

First Nighter-"The man who writes the
dramatic criticisms for your paper does
not know good play from a bad one"
Editor-'I know 1t. but what can we dot
He is the only man on the star Who - tall
enough to see over the bonnsto"-NsW
York Weekly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

removal as engineer In charge of the aque-
duct, and desiring to perpetuate his name
as chief engineer, caused the following in
scription to be cut in deep. imperisable let
ters upon two of the arch or ring stones
near the east abutment:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

him as chief engineer, and who held the
position until July. 1868, when he was sue
ceeded by Mr.. Silas Seymour. In 1867 1t
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

seen the remains of the stamping mills,
furnaces etc. 1t is supposed that the crude
methods then employed prevented the sue
ceSSful working of the a paying
basis. Even at the present day some old
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-09-23

municipal water plant. That the cost
furnish you sufficient supply for
CT developing the infiitration bitches
is going to be large and the possible
supply uncertain.
Second-Tnat successful artesian
are probable, but that there is great
doubt about the success OF obtaining
flowing wells with a sufficient guam
tity of water for municipal purposes,
and that the cost Of drilling wells is
going to be very great
Third-That Mill creek is the only
source within reach that carries at all
seasons Of the year a quantity Of
water many times more than the
city of Walla WTalla will require for
many years; that the source OF Mill
creek provides good wholesome
water; that it is possible to filter the
Mill creek water and make It desir-
able as a municipal supply at all sea-
sons of the year, and that plant
using Mill creek as a source, has no
uncertain factors as to quantity or
cost Of the plant to built, and that a
plant from Mill creek will permit the
construction of a gravity system, the
most desirable of all water systems.
For my first choice, AMI the plant |
would advise to be built, if the finan-
cial condition of the city is such as
to permit it. I would recommend tina:
the intake pipe be extended about II
| miles to the foothills Of the Blue
Mountains, taking the water from
| the headwaters Of Mill creek. (See es-
innate No. 81. If this is beyond the
| financial ability Of the city, l would
! then recommend a second choice, that
the point of diversion be placed as far
up stream on Mill creek as possible
| mot less than 6 miles,, and install a
| fltering plant and reservoir on Sec.
| %. (See estimate No. ~
The Thomas ranch scheme and the
artesian we'll proposition, in my
| Judgment do not deserve much con-
sideration. with Mill Creek available
as a source. The large quantity of
water undoubtedly required for the
| fast growing town Of Walla Walla
places any scheme with an uncertain
supply, beyond consideration.
Attached please find estimates OF
probable cost for a complete water
works plant, using Mill creek as a
source of supply.
| Estimate No. 1 embraces a reser-
voir and filter beds, with the point OF
Continued on Page Four).