Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

xAv , AL ~ AAAN
Although President Buchanan had held
some Informal ievees during the spring
and autumn Of 1857. few
New Year Washingtonians had had .
Rec.nt,or chance to meet the new
chief executive face to
face when New Year day brought its
was improved is related In the following
paragraph in The Star Of January !.
1858:
AT noon the great gates Of the grounds
surrounding the mansion were duly
thrown open. and the impatient crowd
that had long been waiting to obtain
early entrance rushed up to the vestibule
ARA nged for their admittance, and at
once pouring into the mansion, for nearly
thousands. some on foot and others al!ght-
ing from carriages. was swept Ave or six
abreast gradually into the entrance hall
Of the mansion, where the Marine Band,
i'm full. regalia, were as usual discoursing
1sss best be music from thence into the
dueed to President Buchanan and the
ladies to, his accomplished and dignifled
niece. the mistress OF the household.
Thence tho pressure Of others entering
SWCpS tflS UuuldH wave 1utO tIlS Vast
and gorgeous East room. from whence.
after remaining at will. they proceeded
to the passage by which their exit was
made from the mansion. In the East
room the visitor for the first time had
an opportunity to comprehend the extent
teger. On the whole tne day was q
most interesting and exciting one. and
will long be remembered as~perhaps the
gayest New Year occasion 50 far oc-
N hA God ~lVr
X y
An idea Of the lamentable lack Of sys-
tematic work in the development Of
Washington as the Ma
improvements tional capital which was
,, observable fifty years
from the following extract from the an
Of public buildings. printed In The Star
of January 2, 1858:
Recommendation are made for the
removal of the county jail'--then and for
many years following located on the
northern portion Of judiciary square
tor the extension of the city hall to at
ford accommodations for the Criminal
Wills. for the further Improvement OF
ment of FRANKLIN SQUARE. OF the trianru-
lar spaces formed by the Intersection of
New York and Massachusetts avenues
ana 10Th ana lIth streets: OF the TRAN
between 18th and 10th streets. and Of
the space on the south SIDE OF Pennsyl-
vania avenue between 10th and 21st
stree.s' the eraMng OF !.orth capitol
street. -Wnicn feinaahs unhnisheo 70 tnis
Clay OF ioth stTeet west and ot pela,
monument from the Capitol grounds; the
purchase 81 10Y ana the erection OF
nouse tor tne Keeper q tae upper eastern
tI DIiase. ana tue Tsofsan.1auon OF
Lnis ONCE: the granihg anq eraveAng OF
East Capltoi street, and the opening and
gra'enhg % nounaaTy street-new Flor-
msnced az soon &C trs sn,;naS r rs oon =.
construct further sewerage. and to make
an Increased appropriation for the Wash.
'hs'on ann9mars'
,,ttle NOR. than hole o.nt,~
an American shin names .hs I,sha,,ss
was wrecked IN far east.
Search for ern waters Yer raw
- month. aver r,,mor. came
PRISONERS. IN thesa show, thst srr-
yiVOrS Of the vessel had found rafisea m
the island NJ, sornosa IN III. c..- ~
I.n,o = .ese :" -. "
,aa ~ aeoo, ~. ~ tne .o'to"'hs paFa'
ei"pn oSSams III .als supJset'
loo. $500 Depat"'C.t FscSIsso teIS
S.ron aron Soma'iouole AtH-
sh ~ coiliiiana vi our sqaaoron IN
. .ne G ;a.n seas. ne eVSs an account OF
tne iate tnorousn search Ior european
anu Aihe|icah PRISONERS m tne lsiand OF
.u OH iosa, concerhihs whose existence
.NelsI ~ Daruarous capt'sny. we nave
preViousiy puohsned not rev accounts.
no search that mas iateiy taken place I'M
a fSsa the si auspices OF commodore A.. mas sat.
i .h MN .hat tners are no SURVIVORS OF
mere, as aieged. put also no European
captiVes on the Island.
-
The scene described in the following
paraeranh printed IN Tho st., cr Ter,
raru 1a,a ,e,,,s ~.
p., - !ooo' Soo'u mot now
oesSars De enacted, there being no
49,. place of public detention
ia, -. .-,..-.
o'hel large Hooelh cits'-"nere PRISONERS
and waits are herded together IN the
manner here described:
..on SATURDAY. night the cal,s and ,over
LoT .,s cs-..na1 -,,,-shs,,.e - en-
haii VI 'iie Ne".'@ su.tai'ouse "efe iiiieu
with perhaps the 5elliest crowd OF hard
cases ever congregated lnere, They were
determined, apparently, to have q good
1 sba ana
serves az the Dig tAe!e, Where dead oodfes,