Evening star., 1909-09-12
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

XN ILL OXQXA
Although it was before the days of
trades unionism as 1t is known today.
there was prevailing at this
London time fifty years ago one of
S4-;S the greatest strikes ever
known in England. Over
10000 artisans and laborers engaged in
building were out Of employment, depriv-
ing fully 100000 people of their usual
means of support. In The Star of Sep
tember g. 1859, is review of the situ-
alton based upon the recently received
London papers. concluding as follows:
1T is not to be expected that the en-
ployers would consent. to give, the prac-
ticai increase of 10 per cent Of wages in
finishing their contracts made before the
strike, as that would destroy all hopes of
any profits whatever, If not bankrupt most
of them. Yet 1t is sincerely to- be hoped
that the end may be the arrangement of
some Important ameliorations of the con-
dition of labor in England in all callings,
which is generally but poorly remu-
nerated when compared with its remu-
neration on this side of the Atlantic.
We doubt not that the employed are un-
justly suffering; that their demands for
better circumstances are reasonable and
proper. The only question in our minds
Is whether they struck the right lead
in their movement in insisting ON an in
crease OF wages rather than taking means
to exact from the government decrease
of taxation. If they obtain the relief
they seek their movement will surely be
employed in other callings: to end in very
general changes throughout Great Brit
ain.'
AN old and intelligent citizen for
years connected with the Post Office De-
partment,'' says The Star of
Islands September Z, 1859. suggests
u.A,. the propriety of calling the
southern portion of our city
by some other title than the Island.
AS a reason he says that letters ad-
dressed to the Island from post offices
in other states have frequently been
mailed to Ireland and returned to this
post office. The Island does not COM
prise the seventh ward only. but several
other wards take in portions of that sec
ton of the city. Would it not baU well to
call that section South Washington In
the direction Of letters by persons who
are not acquainted with the streets and
the numbers of the houses? That is the
distinction made in the streets them
selves; those north or south Of the canal
being called B. c. D streets, north or
south. as they are located"
Until that eccentric piece Of mechanism
the clock In the post off1ce tower, was
installed Washington hat
Town no large-sized ''towr
o, clock" 1t had severa
good-sized timepieces II
front of stores, and one or two on build
ings. Fifty years ago there was de
mand for a town clock" as indicated II
the following paragraph in The Star OF
September Z. 1850:
that at last a movement. is being made
in the city councils in reference to the
establishment of a town clock. Last Mon
day evening Mr.. Fisher introduced in the
board of aldermen a bill for the pur
chase of a clock and alarm bell, to bt
placed on the top Of the proposed new
guardhouse. The bill contemplates the
purchase of a clock made by the late
William A. Voss. whose skill as a clock
maker is we'll and favorably known II
Europe and this country. The clock ir
question Is of the very best materia
and workmanship and was made at the
price of 5000. 1t Is now offered the cor
poration at the low sum Of 5000.
ITO disabuse the minds of those neal
the site of the proposed new guardhouse
whose nerves cannot Withstand the per
petual ringing of fire bell, it may be
proper to state, in reference to the pro-
posed fire alarm bell that it Is not de-
signed to be rung at all, but simply tap.
ped by the officer in charge, to indicate
the direction OF fire. Therefore no feas-
ible objection can be raised. and in point
of economy no better argument can be
made in its favor than to state that the
proposed bell is already owned by the
corporation, being the one now hanging in
the loft Of the late Northern Liberty's en-
gine house"
The Rockville fair is an ancient and
honorable institution, having been con-
Quoted for many years as
Rockville regularly as the seasons
Fair. nasrs .an :, wos ona - tss
chief forms of annual entertainment for
dwellers in this neighborhood In The
Star of September. 8, 1859, is news
article thus descriptive of the fair:
'The annual fair of the Montgomery
County Agricultural Society commenced
at Rockville yesterday, to be holden two
days. The gathering Of people at the
fair grounds was very large and a feel
ing of general good humor and sociability
seemed to prevail. Quite a number of
our citizens. embracing some of the most
gallant men and most beautiful and ac-
complished women Of the metropolis. The
orator of the day was Joseph H. Brad
ley, ESQ.,, who spoke principally on the
agriculture of Montgomery county at
present. in contrast to what 1t was only
ten or twelve years ago. The exhibitions
of farm products were about on an aver
age with those of previous late years.
Some specimens of vegetables were unus-
ually fine. The product of female indus
try compared favorably with that of their
outdoor lords. Capt. Hollingsworth' s
Georgetown Company Of Light Infantry
was present on the ground and gratifed
the people by going through a number of
military evolutions. They were accom-
panied by a portion of the Marine Band
from the navy yard. Another band was
also present. The trotting and other
equestrian exercises in the ring, usual on
the afternoon of the first day. were re-
served for today. The accommodations
have been much improved since last year,
and the difficulty of procuring water. for
merly so troublesome, almost wholly re-
moved by better regulations at the
spring. The exhibition OF agricultural
implements was more than usually good,
our enterprising friend, Mr.. Bartholow,
making a very extensive display of i'm
plements from his establishment In this
city,
POLAR CONTROVERSY.