Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

In ILL OlAU
Washingtonians were earnestly discuss
ing the improvement OF the Potomac
river as channel OF trade
fotomac half a century ago, but
Channel there was difficulty in bring
ing about an agreement be-
tween the two cities of Washington and
Georgetown as to the best method. In
The Star of November !. 1859. the sub
ject is discussed with particular ref
erence to the proposition to dredge a
channel along the Washington shore
from the western wharves to deep water
below the arsenal. The Star said:
suppose We now enjoyed the benefit
OF even one such channel and that the
oDstructions were removed so as to al
low boats from the canal to pass down
into the river at the junction of the two
cities. how different would things be
from what they really are The pro-
prietors of the Mt. Vernon, notwith-
standing the difficulties OF navigation at
present. md sufficient inducement to ex-
tend their trips to the western wharyes
II these and the distractions at George
town were removed, business would be
increased many fold. and instead OF one
or two small steamers from New
York others also. and that too, OF
larger class. would be required for It's
accommodation. If this be so why
should there be any unwillingness to an
propriate the requisite means to secure
results of so much value to our entire
city. and. above all, why should the
miserable plea be urged to defeat the
measure that our neighbors will be bene-
flted by it? True. they will with us rear
the fruits OF this great improvement, but
acting in the same liberal spirit with
ourselves. they will doubtless generously
respond to our action and thus manifest
their appreciation of it. Indeed, due
regard to their own interests will lead
them to do this, as the same measures
are necessary for their own prosperity as
now pending, be at once made"
For years the Washington Light In
fantry was widely known as a represent
Light capital. firurine consn,cu.
Infantrv ously in the social life OF
Washington. In The Star
of November 0. 1859. Is a paragraph in
part as follows concerning IL:
This, the oldest of our volunteer CORPS
have taken hall in the building. on
Pennsylvania avenue between ~ and
9Th streets aud are fitting it up for
their ordinary business meetings. etc
They have been assigned a room in the
Columbian Armory as a depository for
their arms and their company and squad
drills will be at that place. This COM
pany. which has been in existence fol
twenty-three years, has always been q
favorite with our citizens. 1t was or
ganized at time when there was nc
military i'm Washington, when the uni.
versal contempt for the existing militia
system had by a general burlesque. the
parade Of the 'Thunderbolt Brigade ef-
fectually ended the 'hat-foot' parades
Its first appearance. on the occasion OF
the arrival OF the first train of cars to
Washington with the brigade Of the Bal
timore Volunteers. was credtable to the
corps and an honor to the city. After.
ward the military spirit revived, and ar
excellent regiment Of the regularly uni
formed and we'll drilled volunteers might
have been established and maintained
but for the want Of proper enactments
which would secure to them competen,
officers and revenue sufficient for theil
ordinary contingent expenses. 1t is not
too late now to effect such an organi
zation, but il requires the energetic CO.
operation of the government. 1t is hoped
that while the present organizations are
In existence system may be devised
which VIII secure a union OF them in G
District of Columbia
81
Business Washington just before the
war was hopeful Of securing direct rail
road connections with the
southern south. In the issue OF
corr..+;.r The Star OF Novembe,
10. 1850. is a discussion
Of nj
the difficulties In the way OF such a con-
summation. in part as follows:
Three or four plans for removing the
difficulty existing here are now doubtless
being earnestly considered by the two com
panies (Orange and Alexandra railroad
and Baltimore and Ohio). one of which
| BODIES no good to the future of the city
That Is the plan Of branching off from
the Baltimore and Washington railroad Al
or near Bladensburg and striking the Poto
mac opposite Alexandria, which the Bal
| timore and Ohio Railroad Company car
lawfully do. The extreme length and
tinuous railroad over the Potomac at the
Three Sisters is evidently viewed as be-
ing well-nigh an insuperable objection tc
that route. while the great expense 81
getting foundation for a railroad bridge
over the site of the present Long bridge
the certainty that its use as railroad
| bridge will almost entirely destroy its
availability as a bridge to be used by or
binary vehicles and the fact that the
chances are at least even that just wher
one or the other draw might be required
to be shut to admit the passenger trains
the requirements of the rivers commerce
would demand them open, are very ssri
Gus drawbacks to the plan OF using tho
Long bridge-cOvenanted by deed to bt
KEEP. UP by the government as a bridge
for ordinary travel. Conside rations such
| as these give rise to the plan of avoiding
this city altogether in making the perma
nent connection that will surely be con
summated in some way in perhaps les:
than six months"
There was more hope OF the early exc
cution of a project OF Immediately loca
interest and importance
Avenue the establishment of q
IT,; street railway on Penn
sylvania avenue. which
had been under discussion for some time
In The Star Of November IL. 1850. is the
| following comment on the project:
1.-THE construction OF this work has al
ready become a question OF time only. and
very short time at that Ii is now evident
that this community is unanimously in ia.
vor OF the improvement, the only Difficult
~ being the conflicting schemes that LED