Evening star., 1909-06-27
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

IN THE STAR
Half a century ago there were very
few survivors of the war OF the revolu-
ton. There were, however,
Veterans numerous survivors of the
100 war Of 1872. and even more
of the veterans Of the Mex
ican war. The veterans of 1912 had their
organization, corresponding with the G.
A. r. and the Confederate Veterans to-
day. In The Star OF June 20. 1850. is the
following news paragraph telling OF a
meeting OF these old soldiers:
THE Association of the Survivors Of
the War OF 1912 held it's anniversary
meeting In the city hail on Saturday. on
which occasion an address was delivered
by Col. W. W. Seaton the president
RESOLUTIONS of coincidence with the fami-
lies Of Isaac Holland. Henry B. Robertson
and Paul Stevens. members deceased dur
ing the past year. were passed. The
treasurer'S annual report having been
read and adopted, the following officers
were elected for the ensuing year:
Col. John s. williams. first Vice president:
Gen. st. John r. l.. Skinner, second vice
president. James Lawrenson, secretary:
James A. Kennedy. treasurer; Col. VII
liam p Young. marshal: DR.. William
Jones. surgeon: Edward Simms, Richard
Burgess and Peter Bergman, executive
committee. On motion 1t was unanimous
ly resolved that the association fire a ma
tional salute from the armory grounds
at meridian on the Fourth Of July next
and that the members meet there at II
am. on that day
There was trouble between the market
men and the authorities half a century
ago, and in discussion Of
Market the matter The Star in its
p4.,. issue Of Juns %, 1850. said
THE renters of stalls
and stands in the Center market are In
state Of excitement just now over the
act OF the commissioners and master Of
the market in demanding the very heavy
advance in the cost of the facilities they
enjoy from the capital corporation In
the matter of supplying people with food.
In some cases the advance charged being
more than 100 per cent. Almost all the
improvements the renters claim to have
made at their own expense. They fur
ther allege that there is nothing whatever
in the condition OF their business at this
time to Justify any increase In the taxes
IVNACu oii tHcuI. we lliO lIldl THESE IlSIl
have good reason thus to complain Of
being made the instruments Of heavier
exactions for the benefit Of the corpora
ton upon the public at large for. as a
matter of course. In ,self-defense they
must charge the increase to those deal
Ing with them. We hear 1t is the pur-
pose to get the citys revenue from the
Center market up to $4,000 this year. To
DO this 1t Is necessary to charge the stall
rents enormously; indeed, quite as much
front n foa 81 fn h0
ground covered by the stalls. or OF any
private property In that vicinity. would
bring at auction-say $40 per front foot"
It has been many q day since the old
Piney Branch race course was used for
the entertainment OF the
Trotting horse-loving public OF this
No.. District. Fifty years ago
that course was opened
the following paragraph In The Star of
June %. 1859. telling OF the occasion:
Yesterday the Piney Branch trotting
course was opened with two trotting
matches the first by two green fillies four
years old: unframed and neither being
trotted on a track before. The time made
was uncommonly good for the new track.
and the race was closely contested. the
winner having nothing to boast Of In
deed. so questionable is 1t as to which Is
the fastest that there is an universal
desire to see 1t repeated at an early day.
and we hope the public will be INDUCED
by the spectacle Of a new match. The
second race was not SO interesting. az the
horses we're not closely matched. The
company was large and respectable. and
everything was conducted In most or
derly manner. We learn that this track
is entirely under the control of an asso-
citation: that they have adopted the most
stringent rules, SO that all who visit the
track will have pleasant time No gam
bling Is allowed on the track, and 1t is
closed against every one on the Sabbath
day. Whilst the track Is a private one,
occasionally there will he public trot
for the recreation of our citizens; and as
1t Is the most pleasant drive near Wash
1ngton, we hope our citizens will patronize
1t by subscribing thereto"
4
Ballooning was regarded as distinctly
novel sport fifty years ago, aeroplanes
not having then been
Acknowledgements Of. and dlrigibles
u Deing quite out Of the
range Of public imagina
ton. In The Star OF June "A, 1859. there is
an article descriptive of q projected balloon
trip from st. Louis to the Atlantic seaboard
q distance OF over a thousand miles. 1t
was expected that the hazardous UNDER
taking would be made during the week
Of the publication, or that folio wing.
Those engaged In the enterprise were
Prof. John Wise, q well-known aeronaut,
and Messrs. C. II. Gaeger and John La
montain. their balloon being named the
Atlantic. The Star. quoting from the st.
Louis Republican, said:
Prof. Wise Is an unassuming and
agreeable gentleman. very reasonable In
his views. and quite competent to sustain
them on scientific principles. He contends
that at distance of from three to four
miles from the earth there is q current Of
wind blowing from west to east which is
constantly the same. never varying In It's
direction. and rarely In the rate of veloc-
tty. On this proposition he has expert
mented for years, and has not failed once
to observe the invariable feature. AS
soon as he discovered this phenomenon
seventeen years ago he conceived the
idea that 1t was not Impossible to navi-
gate the air from America to Europe. In
furtherance OF this purpose he applied to
his friends for assistance. but they hooted
at the project as crack-brain. He next
petitioned Congress for aid. but that body
was too much engTossed with everyday
affairs. And thus the balloonist was
forced to forego his cherished idea until
some months ago. when he associated
with him Messrs. Gaeger and Lamontain,
49, - AtH IrAA