Evening star., 1909-06-20
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

tloHs, having Deen formed
Fotomac just half century ago
cluh under tie name of the
Potomac Barge Club. In
The Star Of June 13, 1850. is the follow
ing news paragraph relative to the
origin of this organiza ton:
A number of our citizens have
formed themselves into club under
the title of the Potomac Barge Club for
the purpose of aquatic exercise and
pleasure. They have purchased beau
tiful barge of forty feet in length with
six oars and finished and furnished III
most superb style. She arrived this
morning at Georgetown, from which
place the club will embark in her this
afternoon at o'clock and proceed to
their new boathouse at the 10th street
canal bridge under the escort Of the
Falcon Boat Club in their beautiful
barge. which has so long been the
champion and pride of our waters. rhe
Potomac club barge was built by Mr.
A Luffbarry of Philadelphia, who is
well known AS the builder of some of
the fastest boats which ply on the
bosom of the beautiful Schuylkill river,
where boating is carried to such an eX-
tent by it's numerous clubs, CO nposed
influential citizens of Philadelphia
We are glad to know that some of our
prominent citizens have turned their
attention to this pleasant and healthy
exercise; for certainly there Is no city
in the Union where this exercise is
more needed and can be so successfully
prosecuted in this, where there are
SO many engaged i'm sedentary pur-
suits and where We have such a mag
nihcent stream as our broad Potomac.
h.Nn DNfn
numerously dotted over with these
graceful craft as may be witnessed any
afternoon on the Schuylkill river, where
they have established regular navy
of rowboats. The ceremony of naming
the barge will take place in George
town.
Washington has always been a musical
city, its residents being enthusiastic pat
rons of all forms OF musical
Musical entertainment and supporters
of organizations. Judging from
oooS' the following paragraph in
The Star of June IA, 1859, the capital had
developed a decidedly musical taste In
those days:
Upon a walk in the streets during any
pleasant evening the rambler may enjoy
the performance of a great variety Of
music, vocal and instrumental. and Of a
character to indicate that the musical
taste of the amateurs has improved con-
siderably within a year or two. The pop
ular music OF az and IS was limited to
the range of 'Picayune Butler and Annie
Laurie. But this season has witnessed
the formation of numerous quartet clubs,
glee clubs. chorus parties and larger or
ganizations meeting every evening during
the week to the qualification of their
friends, and performing music which a
few years ago was thought far beyond the
capacity Of Washington amateurs. a
rambler in Washington, acquainted with
the music OF the most noted masters, dur
ing single evenings walk lately recog-
nized the compositions of Handel, Hayden,
Rossini, Verdi, Mercadante, Chapple,
Webbe, Colcott, Spohr and others, per-
formed by different parties. and some Of
them in a manner that would do credit 20
professional musicians"
Owing to the fact that the streets OF
Washington were in the main unpaved
half a century ago. the
Avenue dust was at times a
source of great annoy
Oos'' ance and discomfort
Pennsylvania avenue was covered with
the dust were not at all times success
full. as the following paragraph in The
Star Of June Is, 1859, indicates:
Much complaint having been made by
those interested in the dust question
the apparent failure of Mr.. Reese to
keep it down according to agreement
with him, Mr.. Reese states that every
exertion is being made by them to place
to perform his agreement with them
The old fire plugs having been in use
for number of years have become weak
and the force Of the water supplied to
them from the Potomac water works is
continually bursting and destroying them.
ings is unable. by reason of the small
appropriation made by Congress at its
last session for necessary repairs on
Pennsylvania avenue (only $1,000, to do
plugs by new hydrant plugs. To obviate
this difficulty. Mr. Reese is endeavoring
to use the old fire plug castings with the
new interior works, which he is introduce
days will doubtless be prepared to con-
tinue the sprnklng so ardently desired
by everybody"
notwithstanding the enterprise Of the
counterfeiters In this country, few at
tempts have ever been
No Stamp made to initiate the post
age stamps issued by the
mita'ioAs- government That such
thing was considered improbable half a
century ago is suggested in the following
paragraph in The Star OF June Is, 1859:
IAN article on the subject of the forgery
of postage stamps appears in the Consti-
tuition Of this morning, in which the writ
er says that having been led by the vari-
Gus rumors respecting an extensive use Of
alleged counterfeit and reissued stamps
to examine into the correctness of the
charge he has become convinced that
such statements are not worthy of Gre
dence. There are many important and In
deed almost insuperable difficulties pre-
sented to the stamp counterfeiter that
nothing but a very handsome and safe
surmount them: and as 1t necessitates an
improbable combination Of unusually
favorable circumstances he can never
realize his profit. The writer proceeds
to give in detail the various processes to
which the stamp is subjected during its
manufacture, requiring the best artistic
skill and mechanical ingenuity. He also
shows conclusively the falsity of the
charge that photography has been profit
ably applied TO the stamped envelope In
regard TO reused stamps he adds that
many Of the suboff1cers and clerks In the
Post Office Department are often careless
In canceling the stamp; that a little more
attention to this matter would dispose of
any possible reissue
THE h.ACk HAND