The Washington herald., 1908-03-29

That railroads benefit a city IS an
economic principle as true as il is trite.
The degree Of this benefit ranges all the
way between the impulse given by the
crossing Of tracks in a desert where 4
city Immediately follows. and the aid
given 10 great centers OF industry and
trade that divide the gathering OF com
modites and their subsequent distribu-
ton between railroads and water trans
portation- How the railroads have con-
tributed and are prepared 10 contribute
to the growth OF Washington will be set
forth here.
Washington is fortunately situated geo
graphically, not only for the Capital and
political center OF the United States. but.
N tine, for a great Industrial and com
mereiaI center. In point Of fact includ-
ing Georgetown and Alexandra. which
were both part Of the original District OF
Columbia. the Federal District had gain
ed considerable prominence in the com
mercial sense before it was thought OF as
the Capital Of the nation.
At the Head of Tidewater.
Washington is at the head of tidewater
on the Potomac. which gives il the nat
ural advantages OF a river city. accessi-
bic TO Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean. placing It in direct communication
with the great coastwise tide Of train,
which sweeps the eastern shores OF the
country and accessible by water 10 all
the ports OF the world. This at least. VIII
be literally true when the improvement
Of the river channel. already begun, shall
have been completed and deep-draft yes
sels can tie up at the wharves in the
Washington or Georgetown channels.
Washington is geographically the gate
way between the North and the South.
II is here that the Southern lines of ksjl-
way converge and cross the steel b.
over the Potomac Whatever goes NoS
whatever goes South in the way Of traffic
must pass this way. This makes the
Capital City the natural distributing point
for the Southern States east OF the Ms
sissippi and south Of the Ohio. With
good railroad map on the table and the
topography OF the eastern half Of the
United States well understood. the ex-
picded idea that Washington Is 10 remain
Tor all time only a political center. the
home OF rich persons retired from bust
ness cares and without mills. factories.
coInnerciahsn, and industry. IS absurd
Ideal Place, for Factories.
Betting the eastern half OF the District
Of Columbia IS the Anacostia River. now
hLled with mud, its flats a noisome waste.
simmering in the sun and breeding pesti-
lence. but pre-ordained from The begin
ming as the ground for large and profit
able industry. On the Virginia side OF the
Potomac. within the old lines OF the
District. and on either side below. IS
room for an industrial field OF operations
second 10 none in the country Ii is not
50 significant that these factory sites
have not been occupied. as that the ad-
vantases stil wait and that a beginning
has been made in a large way by the
establishment Of the Firth-Sterling Steel
Works ard The inauguration Of the great
distributing freight yards for the South
ern railway lines between Alexandria
and the south end OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad bridge-two fnger-pointers OF
destiny which any weIl-informed person
may read These. with the SlSomWo ter
minais which have gone into use this
year. are the groundwork OF an indus
trialism on the banks Of the Potomac
which is already here
First Railroad in 1895.
A few aged men are sun living who
went down TO a point opposite the Botan-
ic Gardens. at noon. August g. ISIS,
and saw the first railroad train steam
into Washington and discharge its load
Of passengers on the platform then stand
ing there, fanked by a crude shed. which
served the double purpose Of a freight
and passenger depot It was d great
occasion-greater than any one thought
then. though in the general expression
OF views in the brief speeches made thar
day there was some faint conception OF
the great progress in railroad develop
ment 10 come in after years.
Col. ". A Bradley. then mayor OF
Washington, with members Of the com
ellis. welcomed P. E. Thomas. president
OF the railroad company. and others who
had come in on the train from Ralti
more Mayor Bradley expressed the hone
that New Orleans might some dav be as
near Washington by means Of improved
transportation as Boston was 20 New
York. and President Thomas said. among
other things. that he expected the time
10 come when a person could take a
train on the Atlantic seaboard at dawn
and see the sun set in the middle Of the
Mississippi Valley
City Was small Then.
That day Washington had about so 90
inhabitants It did not have paved
street The Capitol was only about haif
as big as il is now, none OF sts terraces
had been built. the Washington Monument
stood an unfinished pile. less than hsIf
way Up. Only a few Of the present quota
OF public buildings had been erected then.
and none Of the fine business blocks and
mansions which adoTn the city to-day.
Later an old boarding house was 20 co
duty for several years as a depot for the
new railroad. and il was not until $50
that Boss" Shepherd went forth, rooted
Up the tracks in the bed OF First street.
cut the iron band which bound the city
between the Capitol and the White House.
and relegated the railroads 10 entrance
upon the two sides Of the city-a condition
which was not changed until recently BY
Continued on Page 8. Column q