Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

The electric telegraph had only been in
vogue few years when scientists began
to work to solve the prob
Electric lem Of transmitting writ
1u... ings and drawings in
their original forms by
means of the electric current-an effort
which has not yet been wholly success
full. In The Star Of November 8. 1858. is
the following paragraph bearing upon
this research:
"Abbe Moigns in late number OF Cos
mos gives an account of a telegraph
which transmits drawings or facsimiies
of written dispatches. Senior Bonelli Is
the author Of this adoption. His proc
ess is to write the dispatch or draw the
sketch to be transmitted on a metalized
or conducting paper in non-conducting
ink. 1t is then placed on the transmitting
machine and passed by clockwork under
number of fine conducting wires, ar
ranged in line like the teeth Of comb.
These conducting wires Uhere are sixty
in Bonellis machine) are insulated sep
arately in a gutta percha cable stretched
ton. At the other end they spread out
| in the same comb form. Under this re-
ceiving comb Is passed by means of sim
liar clockwork chemically prepared pa
per. the yellow color of which Is changed
to green by the action of the magnetic
currents. When the wires at the trans
uniting end are passing over the insulat-
Ing ink they Of course convey no huid
and make no change In the color of the
| receiving paper. The message appears
therefore In yellow letters on a green
ground. the letters being composed of
lines the nearness of which depends on
the distance between the wires. Ten
wires would be amply sufficient to convey
photographic writing written at verba-
tim speed. The conducting paper used
by NJ Bonelli has its surface covered
with silver or copper and the ink used
contains OIL The receiving paper is dip
ped in an alkaline cyanuet.'
The average city street fifty years ago
was something to shock the citizen of
fastidious taste and an
Georgetown advanced concept of the
Street. functions of municipal
government. Evidence
| that Georgetown, then separate mu-
nicipality, suffered severely in this re-
spect Is found in the correspondence of
The Star from that city printed on the
9th Of November, 1853:
I'VE had determined to serve no longer
as chairman of the committee on street
complaints, but the opportunities of
some Of our best citizens are SO great
that we have been compelled to violate
this resolution. Several of the property
holders and residents on Fayette street
north of the new road complain that it
has been in a miserable condition for some
two or three years. A commencement
was made to improve it, but the work, in
consequence of misunderstanding be-
tween the contractor and the corporation
officials, has never been completed, and
thus 1T remains sort of quagmire. to
the great annoyance of the property
holders along it's line. They ask us to
beseech the corporation to take hold of
the matter and try and remedy the
grievous evil. Some of the jewellers
along Gay and part Of LIST street are
clamorous about its horrid condition. too,
and we have been requested to make the
proposition to the town authorities to
have Bridge street cleaned, and If the
expense cannot be met in any other way
to try and raise sufficient amount by
subscription
The following paragraph in The Star
of November II, 1858, is a reminder of
the days when stone bat
Stone ties" were fought on the
po++1a. vacant lots Of Washington
between neighborhood gangs
of young rowdies:
1.-The attention of the police has been
several times directed to locality in
this city where two opposing gangs of
lawless boys-one party representing the
muscle Of English Hill and the other
that of the county outside of the city
limits-meet to fight out their boyish
feuds. Every Sunday, and often two or
three days during the week. these half
nedRad r0W0tnS in
question and hold stated battles. which
are maintained with desperate vigor on
both sides until one side or the other
suffers defeat, and thus a new incentive
Is offered for renewal of hOstilities at
the next convenient opportunity. The
location alluded to is the corner of E and
I'd streets, where the jewellers round
about are kept in a state of constant ap-
pfehension from showers Of stones brick
bats. clubs, etc, which are the accented
weapons among these rioters These
little miscreants are also in the constant
habit OF engaging here in the games of
handy and foot ball. in direct violation
of a corporation ordinance and to the
perpetual terror of the residents
1t has been many day since venison
was brought into the local market from
neighboring woods and
virginia fields. In 1858. however, 1t
venison appears that 1t was by no
means uncommon to find
locally produced deer meat in Washing
ton In The Star Of November IS, 1853.
is the following appetizing paragraphs:
I'VE dined yesterday at Hammack's on
ribs of venison shot in the wild hills Dor
dering Four Mile run. within four
or five miles of the city. The subject
was a young buck. scarcely a year old
as fat as butter and as luscious as a
canvasback at the height of it's season.
We mention the fact because at this time
ii is extraordinary to find fine venison in
this market How the deer came to find
it's way unmolt from the glades in the
vicinity of Mount Vernon (where they are
plentiful, in such close proximity to
Washington is a mystery. The fact that
it was found and killed there will doubt
less cause the hills skirting Four Mile run
TO be abundantly hunted Immediately.
Hammack. by the way. is just now dis
playing such a collection of game as we
never before saw in Washington, includ-
ing canvasbacks. which are apparently
ready to melt in the mouth of the gOur-
met. There were hanging in his larder
yesterday some seven different kinds of
wild ducks. cartridges, pheasants, prairie
hens. woodcOcks. snipe, robins, opossums,
rabbits and the venison whose praises we
the delicacies of the season We certainly
stand in imminent danger of never being
forgiven: for we are utterly unable to
cOmDrehend the nhiloSonhy Of being SIR