The Morris County chronicle., 1908-10-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
[specIal corregpondence.l

An interesting relic of bygone days
is soon to be presented to Uncle Sam
for exhibition in one of the Washing
ton museums. 1t is the old fashioned
coach which was used by Salmon p.
Chase back In the fifties. For twenty
four years the vehicle has occupied an
inconspicuous place in the show rooms
I of a Pennsylvania avenue carriage
dealer.
The venerable coach was probably
\ Constructed about sixty years ago. It
Is still in good state of preservation,
for in those olden times vehicles and
other things were constructed solidly
and to withstand the ravages of time.
Handsomest Carriage In 1862.
In 1862 the old coach was said to be
the handsomest equipage in Washing
ton. 1t transported through the streets
the reigning society queen of that time,
the daughter of Salmon p. Chase, or,
as she is remembered Mrs. Kate Chase
Sprague.
The vehicle is quaint and bulky and
sadly out of date. But it bears many
| traces of departed elegance. A well
worn footboard in it's rear was for the
liveried footmen in their buff and
green suits. They held on by two
thick strap handles.
The front box seat for the driver is
draped like that of a hearse of today.
The interior of the coach is lined with
heavy lilac satin, which IS likewise
well preserved. The carriage has
seating capacity for six people.
Chase when secretary of the treas
ury in 1861 rode in the coach back and
forth from his Office. Many distin-
guished men Of that time on occasions
rode with him. 1t is related that no
less a parsonage than Abraham Lin
coin. who had an aversion to carriages,
rode with Chase in the old coach more
than once.
"reminiscences Of an Old Timer.
William II. Pyles, who died recently
at the age of ninety-eight, possessed
an excellent memory and had fund
of anecdotes and interesting reminis-
cences that he enjoyed relating. In
1854 Mr.. Pyles had charge of the gang
of laborers that cleared the way for
the construction of the Conduit road
and the now famous Cabin John
bridge. While this work was under
way a prominent citizen of Montgom-
cry county asked him to allow his men
to vote at an election soon to be held.
OuarreIed With Jeff Davis.
The request was refused, and con-
troversy followed, with the result that
Mr.. Pyles was summoned before JEFF
ferson Davis, then secretary of war
Becoming incensed at remark made
by the secretary, Mr.. Pyles used some
very sharp language, whereupon Mr.
Davis threatened to slap his jaws.
Pyles dared him to do it. The two
afterward became friends, and Mr..
Pyles remained a long time in the gov
ernment service.
On another occasion, when Mr.. Pyles
was experimenting government work
on the Conduit, President Lincoln hap
pened along and without disclosing his
identity began questioning Pyles about
the work he was having done.
Mr.. Pyles was very busy and not
being in a very good humor gave blunt
and unsatisfactory replies. Mr.. Lin
coin said nothing and drove away. Mr..
Pyles learned that evening that the
stranger was the president, and a few
days later, when Mr.. Lincoln drove out
the Conduit road again, Mr.. Pyles took
occasion to apologize. The president
said it was all right, and he and Pyles
there formed friendship which last
ed until Mr.. Lincoln's death.
Saw j. @. Adams Weld Shovel.
Mr. Pyles used to like to tell about
being present when the construction
of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal was
started. He said the work was begun
In 1924 near an old magazine close to
the line between the District of Co
lumbia and Maryland and that the
first shovelful of dirt was taken out by
President John Quincy Adams. 1t was
no perfunctory performance, Presi-
dent Adams, he said, took off his col
lar and necktie, pushed the shovel into
the ground and threw the earth over
his shoulder
Fiction Losing Ground.
Washington's reading public-or, at
least that part of it which patronizes
the public library-is rapidly turning
it's attention from works of fiction to
nonfctional literature. The percent
age of fiction circulated in the District
of Columbia is being reduced with EACH
succeeding year.
According to George f. Bowerman,
librarian of the District Public library,
the percentage Of fiction has been re-
duced to 65 per cent in the past four
years.
Loan Sharks at Capital
Loan sharks will come IN for great
deal Of attention during the next ses-