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

pot and tracks west of New Jersey avenue
anu locating in a new place the railroad
company could secure sufficient ground
for its uses in the growing business sites
Tor "A more modern passenger depot
freight denots engine houses etc That
was done, and the present New Jersey
business in 1852
Before Gov. Shepherds regime. when
the grades of New Jersey avenue and &
street were raised half burying the depot
from view. II was regarded as a most
beautiful structure. and Cor a few years
was seldom taxed to it's capacity
me square was purchased in 1885 by The
railroad company and had been partially
used as the location of the engine house
On the banks of the Tiber safe founda-
tion for a building OF the size and for
heavy trains was questionable and many
piles were driven
After the removal of the II eight building
on the site of the census Office the ground
went into possession OF NJ @ Emery and
Tor many years was used by him in the
stone-cutting business The old depot
building, now 28 Pennsylvania venue be-
came saloon. and the sheds. now covered
by 2ol and POS, were converted into a place
OF amusement. at which Matt O'Brien and
Ham Duvall, the first a fine sentimental
vocalist and the latter noted as a delineator
IN negro character, afterward appeared In
1851 the Mechanical Rifles. Capt. 4. Ruth
erford. were organized and drilled in the
sheds, going into the United States service
in April.
Gen. Pierce Greeted
One OF the first instances OF a crowd here
was when Gen. Pierce arrived few days
before his Inauguration. in March. 1853.
seeing the President come in being an
epoch in the life of a Washington boy of
that period. and frequently the boys out
numbered the grown people. During the
war when troops were arriving and depart
Ing by thousands. and ofttimes mid the
panoply of war were scenes of suffering
w cd in he 1rrit ~
trainloads of wounded soldiers. There were
near the tracks two large frame buildings.
one of which had been used By Mr.. James
p. Crutchett the Mount Vernon cane fac
masters department. There also was
depot of the sanitary commission. and
through the many thousands OF soldiers
who obtained shelter and warm meals the
Soldiers Rest and Soldiers Retreat in
Washington were known throughout the
land.
The exigencies of the war after the
army had entered Virginia led to the ex-
tension OF the railroad across the Long
bridge. and In 1852 there were not only
railroad tracks into the city in Maryland
avenue between 9th and 10th streets
southwest. but along Maryland avenue. LIST
and c streets to the Baltimore and Ohio
depot. A. Maryland avenue and 9th street
was the local depot. used by the govern
ment and the Alexandria railroads. frame
building which was with that road after
ward acquired by the Baltimore and Poto-
mac railroad. included in the Pennsylvania
system. In war times 1t was not an infre-
quent occurrence for troop trains coming
through Baltimore by the Northern Central
and the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Ball
timOre railroads to be landed on Virginia
soil There were. however. occasions when
the Maryland avenue depot was the scene
OF much activity in its early history, az
when troops were embarked or land d. and
when loads of sick and wounded soldiers
were brought in from the battlefie DIS and
sent to the many hospitals Not infre-
quently at inaugurations other gala
times the capacity OF the roads was taxed.
Entry Of Baltimore and Potomac.
The Baltimore and Potomac railroad. con-
structed under an act of the legislature Of
Maryland for a road from Baltimore to the
Potomac river. in Charles county. had au.
thority to build a lateral branch to the
District line. In 1870 authority was given
to enter this city, and the track was laid In
Virginia avenue to near 9Th street south
west. The west end OF square 4s3 with
fronts on C. D and 9th streets. was 40.
quired by the company for engine house.
officers. etc. There were on that ground .
few frame houses and q four-room brick
uses Of the superintendent. Mr.. e. L. Dq.
Barry and the engineer. Joseph c. WOOD
The other buildings gave way for engine
opened for business July 2. 1872. but Il
neither the Baltimore nor the Washington
end had a permanent station. Lafayette ave-
nue. being the Baltimore terminus for many
years. Application had been made to Conc
gress q few years before for authority to
erect a permanent depot~on the Mall at the
southwest corner OF 9Th and streets tho
present site. II was antagonised by rival
interests and by a goodly portion Of the
community, but without success. for In
May, 1871, the municipal authorities eK.
pressed approval of the site. and year
later authority was given by Congress for
its use. In the early part OF the century
Tfber creek covered the whole site. as well
as the beds of 9Th and B streets, and the
site was mostly of made ground and pre-
scented difficulties to the erection or any
substa initial building. Between 9Th street
and the canal there had been few wood
most important feature Of the projected
building. To make the foundation OF sur
ficient strength for the massive building
the driving Of piles was resorted 70; ana
many of these went to depth of thirty
Ave feet and more. The building. as Is
well known. Is a three-story brick structure
on stone foundation. and at the time OF its
erection was regarded as the most completo
building Of tue kind. While this building
was in course of erection, until the spring
of 1873. temporary platforms were In use
for the trains.
Interested the Community.
That this work interested the community
was easily seen by the number who watched
1t. Mechanics especially looked to the
hanging of the floors by iron rods, winch
main floor to roof, and there was much
conjecture as to the sufficiency OF that por-
ton beneath the ground.
Then there were six trains each way
daily the conductors being George W.
Hambright A. c. Irvine c. r. Giest. James
McComb, C. Miles. James Mclean. John
T West and on the Alexandria railroad.
connecting with the A. and F., were Patrick
Keegan and w. l.. Phillips. The Washing
ton and Alexandria railroad, having been
the subject of litigation some years and in
the hands of a receiver. had been leased TO
Oscar A. Stevens and A. ]. Phelps. The
control was acquired by the b. and +. ana
Mr. Stevens became connected Herewith as
general agent.
The opening OF this depot and new path
of travel caused rivalry between the roads,
which at times resulted in profit to the pub
lic besides occasioning much amusement.
At one time q rate war severed all amicable
feeling for several weeks. The single fare
between Baltimore and Washington had
been 81 20, with 81 for a two-day round
trip One road dropped the price to 81
single and 81. 50 double. and was met by
75-cent and 81 % rate for limited use. Next
round trips fell to 81 on one road, good for
ten days. and the other road issued UNI
limited tickets for 80 cents. Many looked
hoip of q hottOm and for