The Washington times., 1912-06-22
GEORGETOWN SEES
REVIVAL OF TRADE
OF FORMER TIMES
Commerce Giving Way to
Industry Along Potomac
.-.. Water Front.
BY GEORGE H. GALL.

ID Georgetown to regain its once
bos sted eniinence as n commercial city ?
Old Georgetown residents viewing the
strides made. In the commercial and In
dnstrial Improvement Of it's water front,
believe the answer to the question is
yes Business men VINO have watched
the progress Of improvements from the
foot of Twcnty-nlnth street northwest
on out to the Aqueduct bridge, are
convinced that while the nopes of a re-
birth Of the old foreign trade cannot
again be realized, the water front Of
Georgetown is becoming even now the
place whsrs will be centered the indus
trial and shipping activity Of the Ma
Itional Capital.
The latter view Is doubtless the cor
rect one, and there is ample evidence
to support 1t. The old warehouse at
the foot of Thirty-fourth street. which
NEARLY two centuries ago received the
cargoes of rum, molasses, and slaves
from Barbados and the other islands
OF the Caribbean sea may never wit
ness the revival of that overseas trade
but 1t Is still a useful warehouse, and
so situated as to receive the freight
brought In on the cars OF the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, whose tracks run
down the center Of Water street to the
new yaros at lWenty-Hlntn anu mr.
tieth streets.
H.. New Plants Being Built.
Commerce has given way rather to
industry. The manufacturer has taken
the place Of the trader. A square to
the east of the ancient reminder Of
Georgetown's early glory there are now
being constructed between the railroad
track and the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal two huge industrial plants. the
new building for the Arlington flour
comparatively new paper factory. The
Halter is by far the largest factory in
1.-THE District outside of the Government
shops and the steel plant at Giesboro.
illustration of how a large industry can
be built In Washington. 1t has received
no assistance from the Chamber of Com
Imerce or the Board of Trade, has not
excited the displeasure of the officials
who preside over the administration OF
the Districts smoke law and has not
been found Objectionable in any sense
to the residents Of Georgetown. It's
building represents a steady growth
from a comparatively small one to its
ipresent large proportions.
Sent To All America.
1t is a striking contrast to the an
cient structures OF the early commercial
and fronting 1t they still stand. It's
product, which is shipped to all parts
of the country, is loaded on freight cars
directly from It doors.
Farther down the street Is the i'm
pHrtant new warehouse and factory
ii',n steel. anil other metal concern.
Quite ths greatest monument to mod.
ern Georgetown, however. Is the new
powe" plant OF the Capital Traction
,fa .ltr
IN" river front. and it's supplies OF
coal are brought 10 its doors by the
freight cars Of the Baltimore and Ohio
r;llroad and the canal boats of the
chimreys can he seen for miles around
The structure itself IS a handsome one
1,n it is a striking example of the in.
clities which the water front Of George.
indSstrial Tm d"i niants. Were tho produc,
% heavy one for shipment in coastwise
vessels, # might be loaded directly
ltpon them without intermediate car
riage lust rs it could be loaded into
cars for interior points.
The water from. too is busv with tn:
lnadiag and unloading Of the sand and
gravel which Is brought IN from doWl
err. This is ons Of the chief OF th'
modern industries which front the Po'
trmac between Rock Creek and Aquc.
duct bridge. There is a variety ol
ptaer Industries.
enterprise is due to the railroad service
which has been in operation now bu
two years. A new freight termina
stands at the foot of Thirtieth street
and there are accommodations in Waite
street and the yards for eighty-fve cars
The capacity is reached quite frequent
ly. Traffic has so rapidly increased
addluonal trackage to accommodate
forty-five more cars. for a new thirty
five-ton travelling crane, and other add
tional facilities. The present ten-toi
stationary crane Is becoming inadequat
to handle the growing business. Furthe
development Of the Georgetown balti
more and Ohio branch is expecte,
shortly to result in making througI
shipments from Georgetown independen
OF washington. Also the present trat