Evening star., 1909-04-17

ing up section of country is graphically
illustrated by the Rhode Island avenue
line of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. More commonly this
portion of the street railway system is
known as the Maryland line. for the rea-
son that it uses Rhode Island avenue as
a means of exit from the District into
Maryland, where it extends a distance of
twenty miles or so to Berwyn and Laurel,
Md. The road is one of the long arms OF
the city's progress that is stretched out
beyond the borders of the District itself,
and reaches an important section of ter
ritory contiguous to the District.
But the system of charging one fare
from any point in the city to the District
line naturally makes the latter point Of
distinction on such a road. In this To-
cality the District line is something over
four miles from the center of the city
or the White House. and its radius is
about the same as that of Brightwood
and Of Tenleytown.
Deeloping a New Section.
In many respects the section Is new
one, as 1t has been only a few years
since Rhode Island avenue was opened
and, the electric cars began to run out
that way. The car line gave the develop
ment new direction. as 1t was originally
planned to go out 4th street east to the
Bunker Hill road and the Catholic Uni
versity section. However. the North Cap
itol street line gave the street railway
connection with the Brookland neighbor-
hood that was needed, and the 4th street
line is awaiting apparently further
growth toward the north from Ecking-
ton before 1t resumes its active place in
the schedule of the car line system.
lexington, lying on the borders OF the
original limits Of the city at the head OF
New York avenue and North Capitol
street, has been invaded on the east side
by a portion of the great railroad ter
minal, and the freight yards and other
facilities at this point have led to
change in the uses of property, SO that
a residence locality is now occupied with
business establishments that need 70 be
near railway tracks.
However, the railway plans are now
executed, and what will be needed for
years to come has been provided. The
northern limit of such territory is some
distance south of Rhode Island avenue,
while the extension OF New York avenue
lies along. In part, the southern boundary
of the railway property.
The street railway winds through Eek
ington and then out 4th street to the
line Of Rhode Island avenue, where 1t
starts on its straightaway course of
twenty miles. At first there are to be
seen only the fields Of the old-time farms.
with the buildings of st. Vincent's Or
phan Asylum to the north. commanding
the view. and on the south the. busy re-
gton OF the railroad terminal. A short
distance. however, farther to the east
one sees groups of houses and comes
upon suburban settlement, which Is a
part Of that large center known as Brook
land and which has had addition after
addition to the original subdivision, un-
til at the present time the entire area
extends from the Bunker Hill road, that
passes to the east of the Catholic Uni
versity, as far south as Rhode Island
avenue.
Comforts and Luxuries.
In the beginning Brookiand grew up as
station on the Metropolitan branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. and
also because of the center established by
the Catholic University and its associat-
ed institutions. Then came the trolley out
4th street and later the newer line on
North Capitol street. The place has
gone on growing and growing. SO that
now it covers a large area. Within its
borders are to be found concrete side
walks and sewers and gas and other
comforts of life. to say nothing OF such
luxuries to city dwellers as roOmy houses
Then comes Langdon, on the south side
of the railway for the most part, as is
natural, for Langdon was started in the
days before the trolley was known. as a
station on the Baltimore line Of the Bal
timore and Ohio railway. 1t is still that,
but a good deal more, as 1t has long since
climbed toward the north, and a fair pro-
portion of the houses are now to be found
in the vicinity of Rhode Island avenue
South Dakota avenue and another north
and south street In the vicinity oe path
street east. to use the city street sys-
tenn, connects the older portion with the
new section. and the grading that Is being
done is leaving some Of the householder
high up in the air. but that is evidently
looked upon as part of the progress of
modern Improvements.
At any rate, the place wears flourish
ing air. and is apparently proud of its
fire engine house, which
occupies a commanding position, SO that
its half-timbered walls in the English
style show to advantage. and while the
design Of the building does not proclaim
It's use from afar. yet 1t 10 a comely piece
Of architecture and adorns the locality,
which is perhaps better than II II con-
formed to that canon which requires the
outward form of a building to suggest its
uses.
A Growing Locality.
Still farther to the east are the SUBJ
divisions Of woodbridge and Sherwood