Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-09
THE OLD LEEsBURG PIKE.

A special despatcn 10 the new lOtK
Herald from Winchester, dated Tuesday,
says. Through one OF the most beautiful
and one of the most historic sections of
Virginia the scout csrs of the New York
Herald and the Atlanta Journal passed
today on their way from the national
cspitsl to Winchester, Va The route
lay through Fairfsx, LoudOuu and
Clarke counties. In the delightful
character of the scenery and in the
generous hospitality extended todaY's
run was one of the most enjoyable which
the good roads champions have expe-
rieucsd.
Departing from Washington, the scout
cars ran over the old Georgetown Pike
and then over the Alexandra and Lees
burg roads, both OF which were given
solid foundation of rock tallssting some
thiog more than a century ago. The
rock bottom of these old State pixies is IS
firm today as ever, but the top dressing
has long ago been washed out and years
of neglect have left the roads dry but
extremely rough.
Probably the worst part of the ola pike
is the stretch between Drainsvile and
Leesburg, bat John Guthrie Hopkins, q
weslthy resident who has recently pur-
chssed an estate of 1000 acres uesr
Drsnesville, has bscoms so inleresle1si in
the good roads movement that he stands
resdy to cover from his personal fortune
dollar of his own for every dollar raised
from other sources in the effort to redeem
the once fine old highway connecting
Washington with the Shenandoah Val
lev. The counties tTaverssd to-day iO-
clude the historic homes of many OF the
first families OF Virginia, such as the
WsshiDgtons, the Lees, the Fsirisxes,
and other names iuseparsbly connected
with colonial, revolutionary and civil
war times, 1t was In this same char m
log section of the Old Dominion that
Thsckery laid many of the scenes of his
novels "The Newcomes" and "The
Virginisus."
Not far from Dranesville the scouts
met fox hunter surrounded by bis hand
some pack of dog', which reminded them
that this is one of the most famous hunt
ing sections of the S)uth. The hunter,
Samuel l.. Jenkins, q well known farm
er, halted his pack in front of the
automobile long enough to be photo
grapbed,
This part OF Virginia is anxious for
the establishment of modern highway
from Washington, not only because OF
the aid to agriculture, but because the
LoudounVsliey has become q fashionable
country surburb OF the nstionai capital.
The beautiful rolling country stretching
south from Leesburg is known IS lhs
best fox hunting grou nd in America.
The absence Of first clsss highway to
Washington is the one thing lacking 10
make the Loudoun Vslley to Washiug-
ton what the Green Spring Valley is to
Baltimore and Long Island to New
York. q
There are probably few Americans
who now recall the fsct that this foe old
Virginia town enjoyed the brief distinc
ton of serving rs the national capital
during the war of 1912, when the Brit
ish troops for a short time occupied
Washington.
Ia the Leesburg Inn the scouts we're
entertained at dinner as the guests of
Mayor Garrett aud other gentlemen,
Charles h. Januey acting IS toaslmss-
ter. The mayor, 10 hearty address,
welcomed the good roads pilgrims 10
Lsesburg.
The escoriing cars accompanied the
scouts several miles out Of town when
the departure from Leesbnrg was made
at ten minutes before three o'clock, after
2 stop of more than two hOurs, every
minute of which was delightfully."- passed.
From Leesburg to Bluemont the road
| is fine. 1t lies through the besuliiul
Loudoun Valley, which was the path of
many war time raid by Mosby's fa-
NOUS guerillas, who often forced their
cavslry dasbes almost TO the boundaries
of the national capital. Bluemont is
the terminal of branch Of the South
ren Railway and lies at the mouth ol
lSoicker's Gsp, picturesque notch in
| B.ue Ridge.
After a STEADY climb up grade the
scouts reached the beautiful estate o.
four thousand acres known as Whit'
| Hall, which is the valley home Of Col
James Hooe, Washington lawyer, WHIT
pssses his summers theIe in one OF Viz
pinia's most besutiful spots. in charm
iug house, the rooms OF which ar
graced by the portraits of many mel
lemons in statesmsnshiP, journalism
literature and art, whom Colonel Hoo