Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03
COURSE OF SLASH RUN
Stream Traversed important
Section Years Ago.
GREAT CHANGE EFFECTED
Territory South of Florida Avenue
Now Solid Blocks.
ONCE LARGELY A WILDERNESS
Slaughter Houses at Intervals, With
Water Courses as Sewers
Conditions Now.

1t is not beyond the recollection of the
oldest inhabitants that what is now known
as the leading neighborhood of the north
west section of Washington was once trav-
ersed by a small stream of water called
Slash run. There was appropriateness in
that name because of the Doggy ground
skirting it. but the title of zigzag would
have suited better.
This run is. however, out of sight, the
modern sewer having superseded 1t to carry
off the drainage by more direct route, and
the question of suitable name is no longer
of Importance. Few IL any parts of the
city can be said to have undergone such a
complete metamorphosis as that portion
drained by Slash run in antebellum days.
The stream entered the city limits at Flor
ida avenue between 18th and 18th streets,
crossed the avenue and coursed southwark
to a point near L street: thence westward
to New Hampshire avenue; thence north
and northwestward to Rock creek, entering
the latter stream west of the head CT 23d
street.
drained much of what is now beauty spot
of the metropolis, and many of the Old men
of today feel young when recalling adyen-
lures in the tangled growth along its banks.
Along the stream, near the city limits,
there was a profuson of blackberry bushes
which in season attracted large numbers OF
'pickers; and though the water was clear,
and ran over hard bottom, with firm ground
on either s1de there was considerable marsh
to. be found. In more than one stretch the
bushes and vines, with other growth, were
almost impenetrable. There was small
game to be found, and the man with dog
and gun often enjoyed days hunting in
that portion of the city. Boys were wont
to spend hours in exploring the mysteries
of the section, fishing for suckers and other
small fish; catching frogs or ''bludnouns,
or hunting birds and snakes.
AS the stream coursed southwark some
little springs added their waters to the gen.
eral volume Among these We're what in the
beginning of the last century was known us
Browns spring, near Florida avenue and
east of 18th street; one on the south side of
Rhode Island avenue, east of Connecticut
avenue, and from what are now the
grounds of the Louise Horne, on Massachu-
sets avenue between 18th and 10th streets.
South of Florida Avenue.
The territory south of Florida avenue,
bounded by the stream, where now are
beautiful parks, improved streets and
buildings of a palatial character, was i'm
proved in spots by the erection of a dwell
Ing house here and there, slaughter pens
and in other ways by the tiller of the soil.
Possibly however the aggregate of build
ings of all classes did not exceed score.
1t will readily be understood from this de-
scription how difficult it was seventy
years ago to obtain a bid at public auction
of a mill per foot on ground within a
stones throw of Dupont Circle. for with
the exception of a wagon road or two. and
perhaps half a dozen winding footpaths
leading to some isolated dwelling, garden or
slaughter house, many places were nearly
inaccessible. Now within this territory are
located the British embassy, the Blaine
house and any number of apartment houses
some of which are of towering height.
Among these are the Cairo, the Louisiana,
the Connecticut, the Wyoming, the Men
dota, the Portner, the Highlands, the Ro-
maine, the Sheridan. the Grafton, the Ports
mouth, the Dupont, the Don Carlos, the Al
bemarle and the Decatur.
In the early years of the century the mar
ket was supplied with home-klied beef and
pork, and seldom was it that the consumer
was supplied by other than those who
killed and dressed their own meat. perhaps
within few hundred yards of their homes.
The open runs or streams were often util-
lied to carry off the offal, well as to
furnish water to- the slaughter houses.
Slash run was at an early day one such
stream, and in the course of time there
was a number Of slaughter houses built
upon it.
One of the earliest butchering establish
ments the run was that of George