davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

The Conduit road. running at very
much lower level than these steep
heights, was scarcely visible from the
works. and to correct this deficiency
powerful battery. called Alexander, was
constructed at the extremity of a spur
projecting toward the river. by means Of
which the Conduit road for a long dis
lance up and down was brought under
possible artillery fire.
Gen. Barnard. chief engineer of the de-
lenses Of Washington, said of these for
titled heights: "a position of great
strength was created. BY the introduce
ton of PARROT 100 FOUNDER rifle into Re-
doubt Davis Of this work an efficient fire
was obtained on the opposite shores of
the Potomac in advance Of the Chain
bridge position and a f1anking fire along
the line as far as Fort Bayard, which
stood at the intersection of the river road
and the District line, a mile northwest
of Tenleytown.'
The land on which Fort Sumner was
built was owned at that time by Albert
Lodge He lived in a log house on the
crest, on which the works were thrown
ub, but his ca bin did not interfere with
tkefield Of fire and 1t was allowed to
ago, but. becoming too ruinous for habita-
ton, Lodge, grown very old, made his
home in a small frame house nearby, and
which, though in a shaky and tumble
down state, is still standing. Lodge con-
tinued to live there until about ten years
ago when he died in a Washington hos
ptal, but he had long before his death
sold his farm to Frank Bark. who lives
there today and raises corn for Washing
ton horses and vegetables for Washing
ton people on this fort land. Some OF the
connecting parapets and bitches have
been leveled and filled, but the three re-
doubts that were united by them may be
traced and parts of the work are we'll
preserved.
The view from the east edge of this
ridge looks out over the valley. or undu-
lating plain through which Powder Mill
branch and its branchlets flow, through
which Murdoch Mill road runs, in which
the ruined Murdoch mill stands and in
which Fort Simmons and Fort Mansfield
and Battery Bailey and Battery Benson
were built. The view extends eastward to
the crest on which the white marble
buildings of the American University
stand and on which Tenleytown is built.
Farther to the left the Fort Reno water
tower stands out against the sky line and
still farther to the left are Chevy Chase
and Somerset Heights. The course of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

that it was cast at Douay in 1888 by kel-
leritiguro. a Helvetian.
Its caliber is q inches. its length I'll feet
s inches and its weight 800 pounds.
II was taken from the Notifications at
the mouth of Santiago harbor. either the
Moro or Socapa. in 1898. and was re
ceived in Washington from New YORK
arsenal May - 1889. These trophies are
worthy of a close examination by con-
noisseurs in bronzes and would we'll deck
a collection of art objects.
The history OF these guns, other tnati
as indicated by their inscriptions and
their capture by Americans. is nor
known. The guns are silent as to tneir
past. 1t was probably glorious. but they
must have tasted the bitterness OF de-
feat else how could these brave French
guns have come into possession of Spain :
After three centuries of bloody service
under the banners of kings it must seem
tame to these old war guns to point
steadfastly out upon such peaceiui
prospect as Pennsylvania avenue.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
LACE, FUR AND RIBBONS
ON NEW MILLINERY

EUR bands. wings, quilts. aigrettes.
cabochons. scarfs. etc. are all used
on smart millinery, and the favorite furs
for this purpose are sable. ermine, fox.
squirrel, mole, seal and civet cat.
The combination of lace and fur is FREE
quently seen on dressy hats. For in-
stance. a large wing of lace will be OUT
lined with dainty fur band, or fur
trimmed model of brocaded velvet will
have a lace facing.
In ribbons picot-edged, Roman-striped.
plaid. faille and MORE are among the
favorites for millinery trimmings. Long.
fiat-looped bows, either sticking straight
out i'm the back or perched ON the crown
slanting backward, are the favored meth
DDS of arrangement \ touch OF ribbon,
either in the form of a band or neat
looking bow, is widely used with feather
garnitures. Often a hat that would other
wise be somber-looking is given a bright
touch by the use of gayly colored rib
bon knot tucked away at the base OF .
feather
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
HERD IN PASTURE AT SOLDIERS HOME

present. Both Gov. Young and Quar-
termaster Rouhlen expect to have an
even balance sheet in another year
The most economical uses Of feeding
stuffs is practiced. The silos permit Of
the making of ensilage from fodder that
would otherwise be wasted. All of this
is produced at the home. A portion of
the hay is raised. but some is purchased.
The grain also is bought. as it is not
considered advisable to devote such a
large acreage as would be necessary TO
bedding dry leaves are collected for the
stalls of the bulls. The beets fed to the
cattle are grown at the home They
are the long red mangel variety, which
this season gave a yield of 115 tons on
3.4 acres. The cattle like this vegetable,
as well as enjoy it as a change in food
stuffs.
Another source Of income to the dairy
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

process has been found a great labor
ana time saver as well as a cleaner mode
of handling the feed. The silos are
placed at such points as to insure great
est convenience
The COW barns are especially sanitary,
being amply supplied with both natural
hght and air. the large doors at either
end providing the greatest ventilation.
Metal rails separate the stalls, while a
metal halter suspended from a rod con-
nnes the head of the animal and keeps
her in place. Such open structure is a
further means of sanitation. The troughs
are or concrete, as are the complete in
terror of these buildings The floors of
the stalls are of cork brick, a combina-
ton OF concrete and cork. which pre-
vents injury to the hoofs. The cows are
given much individual attention. being
cleaned twice daily with a vacuum clean
er. which 1s great improvement over
the old-time currycOmb Contrary to the
belief of some. the animals enjoy this
process.
The bulls do not require such close at
tention. AS means Of insuring them
suff1cient exercise they have work to
perform each day in the form Of grind
ing twenty bushels of beets this food
forming part Of the rations of the ami
mails. The work is done by the use of a
stationary treadmill contrivance The
cattle occasionally become refractory, but
usually they perform their task without
trouble.
All the buildings Of the dairy are of
concrete. with metal finishings. They are
equipped throughout with electric lights.
The exterior Is pebble-dashed. which adds
10 the attractiveness of the structures.
Though the general line of the architec-
ture is plain. there Is uniformity and
solidity that calls forth admiration. es-
pecialIy when their commodiOusness is
appreciated. The cost for this work is
-stimated at $4,000.
The present number of animals at
the Soldiers Home dairy consists of
eightytwo cows. three bulls, thirty
seven heifers and twenty calves The
milk averages 200 gallons per day, all
of which is consumed in the instftu
ton. The stock Is the HOlstein-
Friesian and every animal is register
Of America. This means that every
COW has a definite name and can show
a full pedigree.
Both the name of the cow and her
number are found over her stall. For
merly the Soldiers Home dairy carried
a herd of mixed breeds. but in 1904
the Holstein was introduced as the
predominating type and now a pure
stock is maintained While this was
an expensive departure. 1t has proved
the most economical on account of
quantity and quality of milk. The
average of milk year is about 5000
pounds per COW. though the superin-
pound average. which he intends to ac-
complish shortly. The butter fat
ranges from thirteen to twenty-five
pounds per week per cow.
1t must be realized that each COW
has an individual daily record Of milk
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

imperative to protect the receiving reser-
voir of the Washington aqueduct, upon
which the city had then but recently
come to depend for most of its supply of
water. These were the reasons that die
tated the establishment of the Union left
on the heights close to the liver beyond
the reservoir and the valley of Powder
Mill branch.
The commission considered it necessary
to give this position. which was isolated,
considerable strength. and the site be-
ing unfavorable to the rapid creation of
a strong position by single large work.
three smaller ones were erected. which a
year after their construction were united
and called Fort Sumner. On the subject
of the forti1ication of these heights the
commission said: I'm searching for a
point far to the left sufficiently advanced
to protect the reservoir and Chain bridge
no site was found within the proper linn
its of distance to which a work bounded
by single Enclosure not deemed too large
could be adapted"
Three redoubts were erected on three
small knobs that rose above the ada
cent highland. These redoubts were
planned by Maj. Woodbury.. and were
named Fort Alexander. Fort Franklin
and Fort Ripley. Subsequently their
names were changed to Fort Davis.
Fort Kirby and Fort Cross. and it was
these that were united. forming Fort
Sumner. The redoubts were united by
lines with parapet and ditch. having the
usual field profiles. The report shows
that 1.-The gorge Of the Enclosure thus
formed was ;stockade work. at the re-
entrant angle Of which a strong bomb
proof guardhouse was built to afford.
through loopholes. thanking fires. The in
terror formed basin. on the outer rims
Of which were the redoubts and connect
ing parapet. To the rear the hollow ex-
tended as a ravine down to the river.
thus affording a perfect shelter against
the enemy's direct and curved artillery
fire to a very large body of troops. The
artillery of the redOubts underwent modi-
fications to give it security and efficiency.
and the fire from the position was power
fully increased by additions of guns in
embrasures and along the connecting
parapets."
Though the consolidated works and ad-
ditiOns were named Fort Sumner and
this name was held until the close of the
war. there Is considerable confusion to-
day in that all the names applied to the
various parts of the work by different
persons and at different times applied to
the earth heaps and tangled bitches on
the ridge beyong the receiving reservoir.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
NEW CARD
TRICKS
N1M NIIfHlEff 0Nfz az sSfS7Slk7NS5f5S5Si

TIERE is nothing perhaps, that can
be either so deadly tiresome or so
Intensely interesting as a card
trick. If the trick is new and cleverly
worked it is fascinating. If it is old or
done poorly it stands for just about the
last word in that which is boredom.
Nothing, for instance, can be much more
tiresome than to have some friend at
tempt to show you a trick which you al
ready know and which. as frequently
happens. You can work better than he.
And through some strange trick of psy-
chology practically every one who plays
cards knows one or two tricks which he
insists on displaying at every opportunity.
But most of the tricks shown are old
Every one knows them. For long time.
indeed. it has almost seemed that the list
of mystifying things it is possible to do
with a pack of cards was just about ex
hausted. A Washington man, however,
has recently discovered a number of
them which he declares are brand new
When worked they seem the last word in
mystery; a matter of fact they are
simple in the extreme
One of the most mystifying. and at the
same time one OF the most simple Oh
them, is called the forty-card trick
Forty cards are spread on the table. face
downward and seemingly in hopeless
tumble. Obviously. there is no earthly
way in which the uninitiated layman can
tell accurately which card is which. New
ertheless the person working the trick
can pick out any card called for almost
instantly and with never A single mistake.
To watch the trick performed makes
one ponder on second sight and such
things The person working ii seems TO
read the cards right through their very
backs Yet as a matter of fact. the trick
can be worked by any one who knows
the simplest rudiments of arithmetic
Here is how il Is done:
Pick out the four suits, from the ace
to the ten, thus making forty cards, and
lay them out on the BILE. consecutivly.
in rows of ten each. Lay them out at
first face upward. Take the heart suit
and lay 1t OUTAGE, deuce, tray. four five,
six and SO on up to and including the
tenth card. Then begin second row.
using the diamond suit. and lay out in
the same manner. being careful however,
to place the ace of diamonds beneath the
deuce OF hearts In beginning the row.
Then take the club suit and lay ii out
Just as was done with the two others,
save that the ace of clubs is placed be-
low the deuce of diamonds. The SPADE
suit is then laid out in order with the
ace below the deuce of clubs.
Your suits then will be arranged. as
follows:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

rNCLE SAM operates a modern
ly equipped dairy at the United
States Soldiers Home. 1t has
been the endeavor of Lieut..
Gen. S. 3. VI. Young, governor
of this institution. we'll as quarter
master, Col. George Rouhlen. and the su-
perintendent in charge. to make this
dairy up to date in all departments, and
they are fast accomplishing this aim.
Various foreign and national experts in
this particular industry who attended the
recent hygiene and health congress in
Washington pronounced the Soldiers
Home dairy excelled by none
The dairy Of the Soldiers Home is an
old department of that institution. but
the present colony Of buildings. all mod
ernly equipped, is of quite recent date.
Their coming was but another demon
stration of the old adage, 1T is an i'll
wind that blows nobody good, for had
not the barn burned in 1911 the struc-
lures as seen In this beautiful rest for
soldiers would have been a future dream
instead of a present reality The first
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

spection and test for tuberculosis. In
the past some disease has been found.
but at the last inspection a clean bill
OF health was presented to the governor.
This was due in a great measure to the
sanitary conditions maintained, as well
as the close care given each animal.
Considering that only 100 acres are de-
voted to the farm and dairy department
combined. it will be realized that eco
nomical and intensified practices are judi
ciously followed.
Gov. Young is much interested in the
progress of his new dairy, calling for
frequent information as to it's economic
and financial statistics. ne is ever ready
to have it inspected, even by the most
critical, and invites comments and in
formation as to its further improve
ments. This stands as an excellent ex-
ample of how government industrial
department may become a model and
self-supporting enterprise when run on
practical Nues.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

and it's butter fat. health. feed, etc.
Such reports are furnished to the quar-
termaster. who can refer to them at
any time. In this manner COM
prehensive set of statistics is on hand.
The latter proclaim not only the most
productive animals. but the seasonal
changes in milk, the most advantage
Gus ration. the health record. and the
cows to be weeded from the herd AS
an instance Of how much milk COW
may produce 1t might be stated that
Pearl Pietertje Wayne de Kal gave
14.S11 pounds of milk last year and
Venango korndyke de Kali made a
close second of 1866 pounds These
lengthy. aristocratic names for ordi-
nary cows mean something, as they
designate their parents for several
generations.
In this age. when the cost of living
Is an everyday topic, it may not be
amiss to add q few words on the f1nan-
eial side OF the Soldiers Home dairy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

edge of this land. To reach it you may
continue west of Nebraska avenue.
through the ruins of Fort Gaines, past
the old skeleton of the Murdoch house
and along the dirt road which is really
an extension of Massachusetts avenue
as far Murdoch Mill road. Then keep
on over the fields in prolongation OF the
line Of Massachusetts avenue. slight
deviation to the left will bring you TO
the site Of Forts Simmons and Mans
field.
Half mile east of Mansfield and SIM
mons was Fort Bayard. 1t was thrown up
at the junction of the District line and
the River road. The ruins of Fort Bay
ard were visible until last fall, when
they were leveled by a purchaser of the
fort site who intended building fine
house there, but which has not yet been
built.
X y
When Fort Bayard was built the land
was owned by Philip Buckley. who is
dead. but two or three Of whose children
are living in Washington. They sold the
site of Fort Bayard to a company formed
for the purpose Of quarrying soapstone
there. There was plenty of soapstone,
but the venture was not profitable One of
the old settlers in that neighborhood told
The Star man that Wade Hampton. then
a senator from South Carolina, was in
terested in this company From the SOAP
stone quarry company Fort Bayard
passed into the hands Of Levi Burroughs,
member of a large land-holding family
in that neighborhood. and the fort site
is now a part Of American University
Park.
One of the receiving reservoir defenses
which has disappeared was Battery Yer
mont. This work was constructed on
the west slope Of the spur that comes
down to the Conduit road on the south
east side of the reservoir The Little Falls
road runs there now, but then there was
only a lane which had long led through
this property, which before ii came into
possession of the government was part of
the holdings of the Weaver family. The
acres which surrounded Battery Vermont
are now occupied by the Girls Reform
School. and Battery Vermont was lev
eled ten or twelve years ago, when one Of
the detached buildings of that institution
was erected. Supt. Ferguson Of the reser-
voir remembers the earthwork. and
watched the gang of laborers as they cut
away the old mounds from which guns
commanded the lowlands on the east side
of the Potomac, as well as the approaches
to the Virginia end of the Chain bridge.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

stand upon the historic ruins of the
works that were called Forts Alexander
Franklin. Ripley, Davis, Kirby, Cross
and finally Fort Sumner.
The elevation of Fort Sumner was 336
feet above the mean tide of the Potomac
and it's flagstaff was eight miles in an air
line from the dome of the Capitol. Its
perlmeter was S43 yards. making 1t the
largest work between the Potomac and
the Eastern branch with the exception of
Fort Reno, the perimeter of which was
917 yards. In Fort Sumner. in embra-
sure, were three eight-inch siege howit-
Zers, two smooth-bore thirty two pound
ers. four four-and- half inch rifles and
six SfX-pounder James rifles.
In barbette were six thirty-two-pound-
err smoothbores, four twenty-four FOUNDER
smoothbores. one Parrot. one 1OO-pouno-
er. two four-and-a-half-inch rifles. one
ten-inch siege mortar and two twenty
four-pounder Coehorn mOrtars.
A mile east Of Sumner-that is. in the
direction of Fort Removals group or
three works. the easternmost being
being called Fort Mansfield. These were
leveled not long after the war closed,
but on part of the land the scars may
be family traced. These forts were on
Shoemaker land. Fort Mansfield was
built on the farm of Samuel Shoemaker
and Fort Simmons on the land of his
brother Charles Shoemaker. These men
are dead. Ellis Shoemaker son OF the
wartime owner of Fort Simmons. and
who was boy when the forts were butt.
is living on the land and raises annual
crops there for the Washington market.
The Star man talked with him in a deep
ly plowed field. The old home Of Charles
Shoemaker is still standing and is owned
by his daughter, Miss Margaret Shoe
maker. who makes her home nearby
with her brother Ellis. The old Shoe
maker burial ground. containing the
graves of many Shoemakers, is close by
the house.
About ninety years ago Samuel Shoe
maker came from Pennsylvania, near
Philadelphia, and settled on this land,
which formerly was part Of the estate
of John Threlkeld Of Georgetown. Sam
ueI Shoemaker bought a hundred acres.
He had six or seven sons, and these as
they grew up bought adjoining lands and
made farms for themselves. The grand
children of the settler Samuel are scat
tered about that region.
This fort land is about 500 yards west
of the District line, and Massachusetts
avenue west of the American University
would, if extended, slice off the north
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

River road may be traced by the houses
that are strung along its sides.
Il
To the west the view sweeps across the
Potomac, and the old Waggaman, Faux
ner and Cant houses, on the Georgetown
and Leesburg pike. can be seen. Clumps
Of trees on the highlands on the Virginia
side mark the ruins of Fort Marcy and
Fort Ethan Allen. One of the purposes
Of the reservoir forts was to aid in COW
ering the Virginia approaches to the
Chain bridge, and old residents along the
Leesburg road have told The Star man
that targets were erected on the lands
beyond the Virginia bluffs, principally in
the Cant fields, at which gunners in the
Maryland forts practiced.
On lower land than Fort Sumner and
nearer to the Conduit road was Battery
Alexander. This was on the farm OF
Thomas Brooks, Later this farm was di-
vided between Brooks sons, Thomas,
William and Edmund. The site of Bat
Thomas Brooks and this land became the
property of Lee Hutchins. Part of the
parapet of Battery Alexander is preserved
as terrace of his garden. Edmund
BROOKS house. farther up the ridge, is
owned and dWelt in by farmer Jerome
Mccarthy, and William Brooks place is
owned by Edmund Shoemaker, member
of the numerous Shoemaker family which
owned a number of farms in that sec
ton.
There are two ways of arriving at the
ruins of Fort Sumner. Where the Con-
duit road takes a Serpentine course op-
pOsite High Island one will see a cement
mile post inscribed &c. F. Great Falls)
8 Miles" Directly beyond this post a ra-
vine comes down on the right Of the road
1t is rocky and messy, with fringes of
fern growing by the sides of the stream
that rolls down the ravine and passes
under the Washington aqueduct. Up this
ravine a rough and steep road leads Fol-
low this wild trail to the top of the ridge
and you will stand before the tree-grown
ner.