Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

The discussion OF Pennsylvania ave-
nue. railroad line occupied public attention
fifty years ago to a con-
avenue siderable extent. and The
Ra;1rood Star took occasion in the
issue of December Is, 1853,
to deprecate the proposition to construct
such a road as municipal enterprise:
1.-THE probability that Congress will at
Its present session authorize the construc-
ton Of the proposed railroad along Penn
sylvania avenue and Bridge street.
Georgetown. from the west gate Of the
Capitol grounds to High street, in George
town. causes much excitement just now
among various parties DESTROYS Of being
interested in 1t in some way or other.
and, Of course, gives rise to the circula-
ton of, a multitude Of monstrous stories
and the airing of any number Of
schemes connected with the subject
councils to obtain the privilege for the
Corporation Of Washington, of which We
have no favorable opinion: because, il so
undertaken, the work cannot fail to be-
come mere 5obbing affair for specula-
tors In municipal plumber. Such has been
the case with similar works when in the
hands of municipal corporations every
where; and there is certainly no reason
to suppose that the fate of similar I'M
dertaking in this city in such hands will
be any better. Besides costing far more
than when constructed by individuals.
city railroads when SO constructed and
managed have been a never-failing source
of increased taxation rather than Of the
profit predicted from them: for from be-
ginning to end they are but the pasture
grounds on which the politicians of each
party In power may in turn browse, thus
tending amazingly to permanent corrup-
ton IN municipal affairs. We believe that
large majority Of our fellow citizens of
the District. and especially property
holders on either side Of the streets
through which it is proposed that 1t shall
be constructed. are in favor Of its being
built.
1--WE further believe that the great mass
Of the people of the District take no in
terest whatever in the ques-
Rival ton as to whom Congress
por+;as shall delegate the power to
make the railroad. provid-
ed they be parties likely to prosecute the
work vigorously, to manage it in bust
nesslike way and with an eye to the pub
lie accommodation; and provided further
that due care be taken to subject it to the
control of the municipal authorities as
parties owning it shall be subjected for
municipal purposes. and the rates Of fare
they shall be entitled to charge 1t is but
just that whoever may eventually OBJ
tain the right to construct and operate
the work shall pay the public fairly for
the privilege Of so doing: while it is no
less proper that Congress shall take due
care to put it wholly out of their power
to charge the public exorbitant rates"
9ftemnfS a charter
character from Congress failed until in
May, 1862. the Washington and George
town Street Railway Company was incor-
porated. The original line was only a
trifle more than a mile in length. extend
ing from the west gate of the Capitol to
the White House.
A paragraph printed in The Star of De-
cember 16, 1858. is a reminder Of the days
when Washington was not
Land well developed in the
c1o;ro northern section and when
titles to some of the land
in the District were more or less clouded
by claims dating back to municipality pre-
historic times:
Something of furry has been created
among the property holders in the north
ern portion of the city east of 7th street
by rumors that a person belonging to New
York has laid claim to some sixty or sew
enty acres of land north of the avenue be-
tween the Capitol and 7th street, dating
his title as far back as when the land
thereabout was a farm. We hear that the
case, with q contingent fee. was offered to
Mr.. Norris lawyer Of this city, but was
declined by him: from which it is to be in
ferred he considered the claim as one not
likely to amount to anything. In any
event the government would doubtless be
bound to secure the present owners
against loss
Modern critics of congressional manners
are prone to aver that craftsmanship "in
the good old times was
statesmen always dignified and
r;oh+ seemly In personal bear
ing. The following para
graph printed in The Star of December
Is. 1853, suggests that congressional man
ners were not especially better than those
Of today:
can unfortunate collision occurred this
morning on Pennsylvania avenue near
18th street between Mr.. English of In
diana and Mr.. Montgomery of Pennsylva-
mia. The statement we have heard of the
affair is that the former spoke to the lat
gomery returned an insulting answer
Upon this Mr.. English struck him in the
face with his cane and knocked him off
the pavement and then walked off AS he
was walking away Montgomery threw q
brick at him, which did not, however, take
effect
The local merchants were advertising
holiday attractions at this time fifty years
ago just as they are now
Holiday The announcements of the
pool. book stores of Washing
ton printed in The Star of
those dates make interesting reading and
bring to mind books and periodicals. some
of which have been long forgotten. D. ].
Bishop & Co. of 216 and 23S Pennsylvania
avenue announced the following list of
Juvenile books: ''Oli Wonder Eyes"
"Aunty Wonder Stories," "Motherless
Children "Play and Study" Howard
and His Teacher" Might Caps" "A Will
and Way" THE Pleasure Book" 1.-The
Story of Mr.. Fox" The Ugly Ducklings,"
History of Little 30 Peep" THE Tom
Thumb Library and "Seedtime and Har-
vest" Joseph Shillingtpn. whose store in
the OdeOn building. corner of Pennsylva-
MIA avenue and ~ street. was famous
resort for the literary people of Washing
ton. offered special rates on such periodi-
Gals as Harpers. Godey's Ladies' Book,
Grahan's, Leslie's Magazine Of Fashion,
BlackwoOd's. Household Words, Knicker-
booker and the Great Republic Magazine