The Washington herald., 1909-07-25


washington Herald on Monday last, Mr..
Nat Thomas justly compliments the pa
per on its wise and timely criticism on
'ul-paved and Unkept Streets" and on
The HeraId's unceasing efforts 70 rouse
those in command 70 an appreciation Of
the possibilities Of this beautiful city.
While It is certainly true that the con-
ditions OF our miles Of streets need caus-
ito comment, and often receive II from
those whose perceptions are not dull and
who use their eyes to look about, still
the dear old burgh has done such great
things even in the memory Of those who
have not reached the half-century mark
in rising out OF the swamp on which It
was plated, that It may be encouraging
to look back a bit and try TO realize
what the town looked Ike in the begin
ming, as 10 the streets and waterways.
II Is little more than a century since
President Washington approved the bill
directing the acceptance OF ten miles
square for the permanent seat Of the
government between the mouths
OF the Eastern Branch and Conogo-
cheague" The River Of Swans cut this
area in irregular halves and creeks and
morass. Fens and rivulet disputed pos
session with frIner ground all through
the-city site.
One OF the earliest distinguished visitors
10 Washington. as is probably pretty gem
orally known, was the poet Moore He
was the guest OF Mr. Merry, British Min
lister, and also of old Mr. Burns, "Crusty
Davy." whose farm spread from the Po-
tomac 10 the Patent once. and who had
many a tilt with Gen. Washington during
the plotting OF the city Mr. Merry also
had a grievance. for President Jefferson
had affronted him unconsciOusly by his
democratic simplicity. receiving the min
lister, who wore court dress IN calling 70
present MS credentials 20 the President,
attired in old clothes and carpet slippers
Tom Moore, the impressiOnable. caught
the spirit OF his hosts, and echoed II
cleverly. but cruelty, IN his famous let
ter TO Hume and rhymes upon the Capi-
tai City OF 1904 He includes the Serpen-
tine Creek, known TO the last generation
OF Washlngtonians. but now safely COW
cred over and incorporated In the sewer
age system. In his scOrnful comment on
The Second Rome" And what was
Goose Creek once is Tiber now. But
though a poet might scoff at this water
way which entered from the East OF
North Capitol street almost to George
town, in a zigzag passage. It was very
serious problem for the engineers Of the
city to deal with.
The heights OF Washington, which add
50 much 10 the beauty Of the town. had
much to DO with the marshy ground
which belted the city at the base Of the
hills from east TO west. for there was
a high ridge OF land between the river
called the street ridge, extending along
where Lafayette Square IS now, and the
streams IN many cases drained 10 the
north, instead OF into the Potomac. The
first roadway made on the avenue was
formed by cutting down the bushes and
briers with scythes and carting chips Of
freestone and refuse from the new build
ings. with gravel. filing IN for the width
OF a footway. II Is said that the foot
ways were made first, and the middle OF
/ the street filed or leveled-as required
! by the grade-afterward.
The Avenue route crossed Tiber Creek
/ by bridge near Eleventh; some parts OF
/ this stream were really beautiful. not
/ withstanding the poets contrary opinion
/ deep and wide. and slowly winding
/ through groves OF splendid trees Water
fowl were abundant, and one Of the Dis
trlct blue laws forbids the firing Of guns
on Sunday. except to kill ducks IN Tiber
and Eastern Branch.
Beautiful Tiber was a capriciOus creek,
/ and sometimes held IN security the scows
/ ladened with marble and stone which
| had been towed In from the more active
waterways and tied 20 the roots OF the
/ great sycamore trees extending their
I length beyond the banks, and sometimes
/ Il would sympathize with a rise in the
| Potomac and storms In the heights above
I the plain, then II was a stream really
TO be feared
/ There IS a weTl-founded tradition that
/ during Mr.. Jefferson's first administration
/ the rise In the creek was so great as to
/ flood Pennsylvania avenue from the Cap
itol TO Sixth street, and became q real
/ river on the south side Of the avenue
Laborers on the Capitol Building wishing
\ 20 get 10 their homes attempted 70 wade
/ this torrent, and were carried or theli
! feet and foated down the stream. where
/ they were caught IN the bushes and
| branches OF trees, and held on periously
I all the live-long night. At dawn, Mr.
! Jefferson rode down 10 the spot on his
/ favorite horse, and offered S15 for each
man saved. with the use OF his horse
IN the rescue.
! After this the Tiber was erted into
canal and confined within -.-one coping
serving a good purpose for quite a while
/ The Center Market was placed so near
its edge so as to facilitate the landing
! OF fOOdstufr. and was run UP IN such 8
/ hurry that before the roof was on q
came down splash into the canal one
fine night. and had 10 be built all over
again, and the material fished out or the
stream. where II tied up traffic. All N,
/ land below the canal was called The
Island, and the marshy ground near the
head OF TIber Greek toward II street
northeast was called Swampoodle. This
gives a slight idea OF the consistency OF
a large section Of the ground Of the city
| as late as the war times.
I Nearly every kind OF material has beer
| used on the streets. From wooden blocks
to the present velvet kind" miles OF
roads were macadanized in the fifties
and the traffic being heavy. as much
building was going on, the granite and
bits Of sandstone used in this process
were soon crushed to powder. and when
lusty March breeze tore down the Ave
nue. one could not see from one side tC
the other for the thickness Of the dust
An old Washingtonian tells OF a bad car
rage accident caused by nothing but the
| binding dust frightening the horses al
the moment the pain Of the dust IN his
| eyes caused the coachman to drop the
! ribbons.
This dust frightened the citizens. who
thought II caused diseases Of the eyes
and lungs, so the streets were turned
under, and then came a period OF holes
and ridges nearly as bad as during tho
| first decade.
Then came the war, and Washington
was the highway between North and
South. and thousands OF men. and prob,
ably thousands Of horses. too. added theli