Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-05

secured the eastern portion of reservation
II. fronting Pennsylvania ave lue west of
I'd street. or Tiber creek. lots l and and
parts of l6 and II, extending to street. as
site for q depot. with the square on
which is the present depot. for engine
house. The Tiber near the avenue ordi-
narily gently flowed as wide stream few
feet in depth over a bed of white gravel,
and IL was a favorite place for the hack
men to water their horses 1t not.
however. entirely safe. as was proven by
the drowning therein of a hackman and
his horses about seventy-two years ago. the
team getting in a hole, and there were
more instances than one. after storms. of
the turbulent waters wrecking the bridge
or archway on the avenue. as well as
houses. the Jackson Tavern on the ave
nue. about 1889 and Foys Hotel on { street
In the fifties man slipped in the creek and
was drowned in eighteen inches of water.
but whisky had much to do with 1t. For
many years there was barely room betwes n
the railroad buildings and the stream for
by barrier. AS result now and then some
one fell in the water. but it being shallow
few fatalities occurred.
The avenue had been improved a year
or two before and part OF the wooden bridge
damaged in a recent flood had been repiac. d
by arch.
Little of the reservation opposite the sta
ton had been used as the Botanic Garden.
an open stream passing through II. On the
avenue between the Tiber and the Capitol
grounds there were few improvements other
than the Andrew Jackson tavern and j. I.
kellmon's grocery. West of the depot site
were several three-story bricks owned by
Elexius Simms. D. D. Arden and others.
most of them occupied as boarding houses
On the depot property was three-story
brick structure, which had been a boarding
house, and a few minor improvements.
shops. etc. In a short time this property
was fitted for depot purposes, the brlck
building for offices and living rooms. and in
place of the shops a waiting-room. north of
which were the car sheds. A bell surmount-
ing the brick structure gave ten minutes
notice of the departure Of trains on their
two daily trips to Baltimore. distance OF
forty miles accomplished in little more
than two hours, the usual speed being
eighteen miles an hour Mr.. George Sweeny
was the first agent Of the railroad here, and
in his day with force OF less than half
dozen managed the passenger baggage and
freight business. After Mr.. Sweeny, John
Stettinus was the agent and later Thomas
H. Parsons. He was followed by George
Gilbert, and, In war times, by George s.
Koontz.
Visit of Military Companies.
Among the most notable events in con-
Bection with the depot at the original To-
cation was the visit Of the military COM
panies September Il. 1885. and for many
years 1t was regarded the time the
Washington branch went into service. The
fact that the first parade Of the Washing
ton Light Infantry was then made, and
the further fact that it was about that
date the main stem was completed to Har-
perS Ferry. then connecting with road
to Winchester. being responsible for the
impression. AS stated. the Maryland troops
had performed service for the railroad in
putting down riots and preserving order.
For appreciation of the services the COM
pany rendered them an excursion to the
capital on any day they should select. and
September u was chosen. In that year
the military spirit in the District was at
a low ebb and there were no uniformed
volunteer companies to honor and escort
the visitors. A new company was how
ever. in process Of organization. and when
set for the excursion the new company.
the Washington Light Infantry. de-
termined to receive and pay honors to the
visitors. and efforts were made to that
end. The uniforms were being made, but
1t was found that they could not be COM
pany requested the work to be confined to
the coats. with which the members could
wear white linen instead OF the sky blue
cloth trousers. By that course the COM
pany, under command OF Capt. John A.
Blake, was enabled to make its initial pa
rade and receive the visitors. On landing
at the depot the visitors were escorted to
the east front Of the Capitol. where a dress
parade wc3 given. followed by a march
through the principal streets. The trip
was described in Baltimore paper as
follows:
"A number of volunteer companies of
Baltimore and the adjacent counties,
amounting to more than 1000 citizen SOL
diers. were conveyed to Washington and
back by four locomotive engines. one of