The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07
Plans of the Company Not
We'll Understood.
NEW TRACK IN BRoOKLAND
Great Improvements Going Forward
In Northeast Suburban Territory.
Mount Rainier Grows Like "a Mush-
rOOm-City Needs Union station for
Suburban Electric Railroads.

and Riggs roads, out in Prince George
County, about two miles the other side Of
the District line in Maryland. a force OF
men is grading railroad. The line heads
for Hyattsville
Some mystery attaches to the line. as
it is not known whether II is the inten-
ton OF the builders TO connect with the
Chesapeake Beach Railway which has
one Of its terminals at Hyattsville. or
with the recently constructed railway out
Of Washington along the Bladensburg|
road
The new road has purchased the Snyder
farm, of about fifteen acres. where head
quarters are established. This old resi-
dence in the neighborhood OF the Heurich
"Belleview'' and Riggs farms, was for
merly the country home Of a decease+
banker OF Washington. It has not been
occupied for many years since the horri-
BILE murder which occurred there. A serv-
ant girl was brutality killed and the mys-
terry Of her death has never been cleared
up. At the time OF the murder the house
was occupied by man named Hancock.
a relative OF Gen. Hancock. Since then
the place has been Stunned and the splen-
did Snyder furnishings have been batter
ed by wind and rain.
Runs Near ChIIIum Manor.
The new road skirts a fertile valley.
known as Chillum Castle Manor. This
comprised a great colonial farm OF 4444
acres. and belonged 10 Dudley Digs, who
d. to- .IanH hi
when the site Of the Federal city was
being determined. The Soldiers Home
grounds are a part OF the manor. Digs
made his home on the present site Of the
Riggs farm. II was with Digs that
lEnfant made him home when he re-
treated, mortified and ohagrined at the
reception OF his plan Of the city OF Wash
ington. II is related that rEnfant would
never allow himself 10 be seen by female
visitors after his retreat 70 this farm.
nor would he leave the place. He died
here and was buried near the Riggs home
stead. Recently the remains were rein
tered a! Arlington.
New Line I'm BrOOEIand.
The Washington Electric has begun
the extension OF its line through Brook
land For twenty years the people OF
this suburb have been without proper
street railway facilities. Ties and rails
have been deposited at the intersection Of
Lincoln avenue and Monroe street The
shade trees have been removed from
Monroe street, and It win be widened
to accommodate the tracks The extern
sion starts at the Catholic University
and runs east in Monroe 70 Twelfth
street, crossing the Baltimore and Ohio
tracks overhead on a handsome concrete
bridge At Twelfth street the new line
will turn north TO the Bunker Hi road,
whence II viii eventually. under the
/ terms Of its charter, be built 70 the Dis
trict line.
This extension viii not only AFFORD
some 1000 citizens Of Brookland better
railroad facilities. but it will give easier
access 20 the Franciscan Monastery.
This monastery, "A great yellow building.
costing near $5OO,O0O is one OF the most
interesting places in Washington. II is
generally overlooked by sightseers. al
though II has no counterpart in America.
Another interesting feature on this ex-
tension is the site OF Fort Bunker Hill.
The hin has never been cut down TO
grade, but still shows the excavations for
the big guns placed to defend the Capital
during the civil war. TO the north, about
a mile may be seen the Hill known as
Fort Totten, another war time fortifca-
ton. part OF the series OF forts hastily
prepared for the defense Of Washington.
Need Central Station.
Thousands Of dollars are lost to the
! lnterurban railway companies centering
/ In Washington because they have no
union traction station as they have in
Indianapolis II is remarkable that the
real estate men Of this city have neg
! lected this important matter. There are
half a score OF interurban lines which
would receive double the patronage they
now enjoy if cars started from a central
station.
! The indianapolis station is a huge Of
/ fee building located in the business CEN
/ ter of the city. The Offices rent readily
I to contractors, architects, builders. and
managers of manufacturing plants, be-
cause such persons desire to be conven-
lent for out-of-town customers. That it
would be a profitable institution there
/ can be no doubt. but the building mast
| be a good one and centrally located A
/ block in the section between New York
/ avenue, G street. and Fifteenth street
northwest would be an ideal location on
/ its completion. with interurban cars all
starting there. hundreds of visiting tour
lists, as well as our home people, would
visit Great Falls. Chevy Chase, Laurel,
Rockville, and other points OF interest
instead Of compromising by only visiting
Mount Vernon or Arlington. Further
more. home merchants would receive bet
ter patronage from out-of-town custom
/ ers, and 1t is this feature that makes the
Indianapolis traction building such a sue
cess.
Mount Rainier BOOms.
One Of the phenomenal successes as a
suburban town is Mount Rainier. which
lies on the District line IN Prince George
County. Very desirable lots. with shade,
may be purchased for a few hundred dol
lars, and coy bungalows. with gas for
cooking and electricity for lighting pur-
poses, are erected for $500 to $1,000. Thus
for $3.50 a family may have delight
full home with no heavy Indebtedness at
tached.
Mount Rainier recently became an in
corporated town. and under the new road
law passed by the Maryland legislature
will get back some of the taxes paid the
county for street improvements.
Those who have never visited the Spa
spring at Mount Rainier should do so.
and take along a cup and large bottle
or jug so that you may carry some CT
the water home. The spring is close TO
the District line street railway station In