Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-11

The portion Of the city within the limits
OF the original bounds which has been
the least touched by the changes OF re-
cent years lies directly south of the Capt.
tol. Strangely enough, as one would
think, when looking at that impressive
structure in its beautiful sett ng Of lawn
and shrubbery and foliage. this region
of vacant ground. Indifferent buildings
and stretch of commons starts right at
the borders Of the grounds of the Capt.
tol.
In spite of the attractiveness of the
outlook or the landscape effects Of the
Capitol Park, the range of lots along b
street and on each side of South Capt.
lol is for the most part unimproved. or
else not in a modern and substantial
fashion. One would suppose that there
would be found the most eligible resi-
dence sites in the city, for certainly no
where else in the city are to be found
public grounds that have the beauty
and var ETY. which are to be seen about
the Capitol building.
: Whatever may be the Judgment which
might be formed from merely looking at
the surroundings. there is no doubt about
the actual conditions, and these are that
the locality is not at present nor has 1t
ever been in recent times looked upon
as desirable place to have ones home
1T IS difficult to understand why such
should be the case, but that does not
alter the fact. The same conditions as
to improvements is more or less true
all the way along South Capitol street
from its beginning, south of the Capitol
grounds. to its terminus on the banks
IF the Eastern branch.
Belt Of Varying Width.
width. but as rule 1t extends the
length Of the street for a distance OF
several blocks both east and west The
same is largely true of New Jersey ave-
nue., but more especially in the case of
the latter after il passes Virginia avenue,
where 1t intersects with f street.
This latter section is an important one,
Tor 1t Is ABOUT in that locanty that the
steam railroad tracks leave the man line
IN Virginia avenue and enter the tunnel
that ends at the Union station. A little
farther to the east, on Virginia avenue. Is
he beginning OF what is known as the
navy yard tunnel, while on the south
side or Virginia avenue is quite a large
tract OF land which extends to / street
south and which Is used for railroad
freight yards.
4 handsome concrete bridge carries
New Jersey avenue over the railroad
tracks and the freight yard. which on the
west Is lower in grade than the embank-
ments along which that tnorougnfare
passes. On the east side of the bridge and
The north side of the railroad tracks is the
portion of the large tract of land which
nas come to be known In late years as
Garfield Park. ana winch In part is still
Used for park purposes.
The section or this reservation west Of
New Jersey avenue and north of the rail-
road trachs Is occupied for the most part
by the new building for the heating ana
lighting plant which IS being provioeo by
the government for the purpose of sup
ply ng those necessary faculties to the
apitoi building and the group of publ
structures that stand about it.
Inc freight yard on the south side Of
Inc main tracks IL not IN shape as yet,
and It is quite likely that it Will never be
very slightly place as such things go.
At the present time the place has the un.
kempt and disordered appearance that a
medley OF surface tracks commonly has
ana SO II seems to he in keeping that the
surrounding property should be indiffer.
entity and sparseiy improved But II Is
not only the immediate vicinity OF the
railroad where such a condition In found,
out II Is true OF the entire section that
extends from that pc mt to the river and
9 several blocks in width
Sparsely Settled.
Tie houses are scattered and MANY OF
them are old, and along the frLnt OF quite
number of the squares there Ia but lit
tie suggestion of houses in rows There
are lumber yards ard material yards and
manufacturing plants. and even a biick
plant. but for quite a stretch both east
and west the streets run by squares,
which are only partially improved. and
Tor the most part there Is not even the
suggestion CT a pavement. This L, tn ,
region Of dirt roads. There are, h wevei,
sidewalks and street lamps. but many Of
them are supp.ied with gasoline, which
shows the gas C, mpaLy has MT yet pene-
trated one Of the Oldest sections of the
city.
The locality is interesting to pee pie VIII j
remember the commons of the on lying
portions Of the city as they sted be-
fore the city began to forge ahead s.
rapidly. Here is quite a sire tea of COM
mons still In the state, where Il has been
left. as the tide Gf p pulaticn SWEET by
and around it. But II IS not sur, rising
that this section fingers somewhat be-
hind the rest OF the city, FIR thr ugh 1t
once ran quite up to Virginia avenue the
remnants OF the cd city canal. which be-
came In It's later days only an open sewer
and not fragrant as a neighbor or even
slightly CIR heal ny. But TIE James
Creek canal. as II Is termed. has gradual
Iy dufudled I'm IT'S length NATL now there