Evening star., 1909-09-05
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Visitors to the National Museum are al
ways interested in a great plaster statue
in the rotunda Of the
Crawford's building which is labeled
the model of the figure OF
Freedom on the dome OF
the Capitol This figure has always been
known popularity as the Goddess OF LID
erty. 1t was thus known fifty years ago,
before its emplacement. as suggested IN
the following paragraph in The Star OF
August g. 1859:
"Since the late fire which consumed the
shops belonging to the Capitol extension
ii has been thought proper to have the
various models for the Captoi statudIs
removed from the temporary SHEDS III
which they were placed to places OF
greater safety Among these models is
the great Crawford model in plaster ol
the Goddess of Liberty, from which the
statue for surmounting the dome wnen
otherwise completed is to be cast. inns
plaster case is twenty-four feet hish ana
is cast in sections. the aggregate weight
OF which amounts to upward OF four tors:
This model has never been unpacKeo
from the boxes in which it was conveyed
into this country until now. Cnfortu
nately for it. it was somewhat broken and
salt water of the ocean. in Which II wds
twice shipwrecked and twice saved. But
tie skill of the artists attached to the
Capitol ii is likely, will be sufHcient 10
supply any part which may De waning. ,
4 pedestal is being constructed IN the
hall OF the old House of representatives
on which this model is now being put
together for safety until such time as the
government shall see fit to make an ap-
preparation for the bronze statue
X X
Notwithstanding the failure of the first
Atlantic cable hopes were still entertain
ed that the continents
Atlantic might be linked together
by means Of a submarine
CaOle. wire In The Star OF Au-
gust 81, 1859, is a paragraph regarHns
scheme then under way to this end:
"The bark Wyman, Captain Baker
sailed from Boston on Tuesday with the
view OF determining by actual survey and
sounding the feasibility Of Tai. P. Schan-
n.r.s teIegraphic enterprise. The Wyrnan
has on board Col. Schaffner and family
and Messrs Sibley and Putnam. assist
ants Col. Schaffner proposes to start FOR
the Gulf of st. Lawrence, then coastns
along the coast Of Labrador to- Hopedaie
or about 56 degrees north latitude. Souno-
ing occasionally to find deep bay for the
American terminus of the cable. Thence
past to south Greenland, sounding there
and examining the country for an unner-
ground line, In case 1t should be neces-
sary to have line across Greenland.
Thence the route will lead to Iceland,
where bays will be sounded ana snores
examined for land line. The expedition Will
then go to Faro Islands, where the wires
will branch one line running south"aro
to Scotland to reach England, the other
nd longest
will be from Labrador to Greeniapd'
about SEQ miles: from thence 10 Iceland
between 800 and 800 miles. according 10
the points touched: from Iceland 10 r aro
Isles, 27O miles: from Faro to Scotiand, no
AO miles; from Faro to Norway, aO
miles.
It is needless to say that this combina-
ton OF cable and land line was never
laid.
The following paragraph in The star
of August 81, 1859, has such familiar
sound that 1t might &C
Venezuelan tually have been printed
very few months ago
Late advices from Ven,
ezuela state that President Castro has
been seized and compelled to surrender
Inc presidency BY the constitutional
party. after which he was thrown into
prison and close guard of 100 men sci
over him to watch his movements some
severe fighting has occurred, resulting a.
most altogether in favor OF the constitu-
tionalists The utmost alarm prevailed In
the country, and the general expectation
was that very sanguinary engagements
were about to occur. Three thousand men
were under arms at Caracas. resolved to
deliver their country from the federalists
ir he at
Citizens Of the present day who occa-
sionally feel neglected by the District gov
ernment in the matter OF
Seventh street improvements may
eA. find soace in the old files OF
The Star where they will oc-
casionally encounter paragraphs in the
issue OF September l, 1859. indicating that
the local thoroughfares were in state at
that time leaving much to be desired.
Some four or five weeks ago bill was
passed by the city councils making pro-
vision for paving the carriage way on
1th stree. between II and l. streets. The
bill was approved by the mayor at once:
since when no further action has been
taken in the matter. The water mains
are now being laid through this street.
and as travel is Interrupted there by this
cause, and is likely TO be for some time
longer. the present seems TO be the time
for laying the paving stones, that the
street may not be turned upside down
any oftener than can be helped. An ad-
ditional reason for immediate action in
respect of this needful Improvement IS
the fact that it will cost the corporation
nothing the expense of the work being as
sessed on the property owners fronting
the street, large majority of whom are
anxious to have it executed without delay
Those who remember the wretched con-
dtion of this street during last winter
and uD to a few weeks prior to the June
election, the man traps, the wagon traps
stagnant pools of water, the frog con-
certs and boating excursions which took
place there during that time, will see a
still stronger reason for having the pave
ment without further delay"