Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19

ished, and in the thirties. before the Balti-
more and Ohio was extended to Washing
ton, stage connection was made at the Relay
House. A feature Of staging was the stop
ping places. where horses were exchanged
and .refreshment was to be had. Between
this city and Baltimore there were the Wa
terloo tavern, near JessupS' Cut, and Van S,
near Beltsville.
Early IN the century a closer union with
Alexandria by bridging the Potomac was
agitated. In 1901 meetings were held at
stelle's Hotel, and books opened for sub
scriptions for that purpose. 1t was not.
however, till February, 1903, that COM
pany was incorporated to build what has
long been known as the Long bridge, which
was opened for business the followin. year.
The commission to carry this act into effect
was Robert Brent, Daniel Carroll OF Dud-
ington, Thomas Monroe. James D. Barry,
Frederick May 8. H. Smith, Jonah Thomp-
son, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Vowel. Cuth-
bert Powell, Elisha Janney and Charles
Alexander. The capital stock was fixed at
5000, OOO in 500 shares, and authority given
to construct a bridge between the termfna-
ton of Maryland avenue and Alexanders
Island. A width Of thirty-six feet draw or
thirty-fve feet and wharf on each side OF
the bridge were prescribed. The tolls were
based on the Zip and levy" currency or
that day. The value Of ftp. charged for
a foot passenger, was 6N cents; three fps
for a person and horse and for q two-horse
coach or stage, 100 cents. Soon afterward
turnpike road between Alexandra ana
Bridgepoint, or Alexandria Island, and a
toll bridge over Four Mile run were con-
struoted by a turnpike company. opening
up a new route. Independent OF packet or
ferry, and 1t was soon an artery Tor the
trade of Washington and Alexandra. The
latter town was competitor OF George
town for washington business. and daily
goods were forwarded by wagon There Is
ample evidence that this has proved to pc
a most important link between the north
and south. It has not, however 3roveo
foofnr IN Cif
tempt to erect q vis-a-vis city to Washing
ton near the second end OF the bridge
about 1890 when, with great eclat, corner
stone was laid by Gen. JACKSON. provsa 70
ha a failure The site was named jackson
City, which subsequently became locality
famous in policy circles.
Introduction Of Steamboats,.
NOT long after the war Of 1872 Capt. Joe
Johnson, residing near the south end OF
South Capitol street, was running ferry
or racket between Washington and Alexan-
dria, An old inhabitant gives the following
account Of the introduction OF steamboats,
on the Potomac by Capt Johnson:
an 1919 great improvement had taken
place in the city Of Washington, George
town and Alexandria. The honor OF TINS
change may be ascribed to the merchants
of Alexandria, Va, who had witnessed the
great effects of the steamboat in Baltimore.
They had seen it's beneficial effects both In
trade and commerce, which had Kept In &C,
tive operation from the most distant perioo
of the history of that city.
"A ferry had long been plying on the Po-
tomac river between Washington and Alex
andria. and no change had ever taken place
in this boat until 1915 either in the hours
of leaving or arriving, or even In the fare
for passengers.
"Capt. Joe Johnson lived on Buzzard's
Point at the mouth Of the Eastern branch,
and ran the ferry boat from the Long
bridge to Alexandria He left Washington
at 8 O'Clock in the morning, arriving at
Alexandria at II; then started on the re-
turn trip, stopping at Buzzard's Point to.
get his dinner, letting the passengers re-
main on the boat during the dinner hour.
He made but two trips day.
Wagons Abolished.
1.-THE use Of wagons, which they had ern-
ployed from time to time. was soon abolish
ed as slow means OF transporting their
goods. They had in view Johnson's ferry
boat for that purpose. although 1t was
found to be very hard task to induce the
captain to make a change in his long-con-
flrmed habits. The agreement with him
X. L. lD. <,