Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-27
ANALOSTAN ISLAND
May Become Observation-Disclosures
0usly Located to Carry Bridges
Into Washington.

Rosslyn, Va, April 27.-The Com
monwealth, Of today says:
"The recent railway developments
into Rosslyn have caused many of our
people to ponder upon what use is
to be made of the large island in the
Potomac river just south of the Ac-
queduct bridge, formerly known as
Mason's Island Railway conditions
at Rosslyn are already made longest
ed. With the freight yards Of the
Rosslyn Connecting railroad (as
branch of the Pennsylvania occupy
ing a large portion Of the available
space for terminals and with improve
ments now being made by the Wash
ington-Virginia railroad, with the
present traffic over the Great Falls
road having an adequate terminal in
Washington, and within the enlarged
traffic both in freight and passengers
which must be handled when the new
connection from the Great Falls and
Old Dominion over the Bluemont
branch Of the Southern, it would
Geem to be necessary for the railroad
companies, or some one of them, to
acquire additional yard and depot IA
cilities somewhere on this side of the
river. These conditions have brought
Analostan Island to the front, prin-
cipally because of the fact that here
is large tract Of land available for
such purposes and because of the fact
that nowhere else in this vicinity can
be found any large tract of land that
may be purchased at any reasonable
figure. 1t is reported that the Penn
sylvania Railroad paid for its termin-
ais at Rosslyn, tract of about seven
acres, something like $50,0OOOO. and
a similar tract Of land we'll located
cannot be obtained in Rosslyn for
many times this amount
Analostan Island is separated from
the Virginia shore by the little river,
and in 1904 the town of Georgetown
secured from Congress permission to
construct dam or causeway across
the little river connecting the island
with The Virginia shore. This cause
way was constructed and for many
years maintained, and the permission
atill exists to maintain this causeway,
which ran from ths end of Hume ave-
nue., near the gas works, across little
river to pile of boulders on the is
land. This, it is contended, would fur
nish an easy grade from Hume ave-
me in Rosslyn to the island, should
the island be used for terminal pnr-
poses.
Analostan Island was inherited by
General John Mason from his father
George Mason, Of Cunston Hall, to-
gether with a large tract Of land on
the Virginia shore running from Ar
lington tract almost to the Chain
bridge; the ruins Of the old family
homestead can still be seen on the is
land and this home during the earlier
stages of our republic was constantly
visited by men of prominence in our
National affairs. The father of his
country was constant visitor here.
The island today has about 100
acres of high ground and consider
able amount of marsh land; from the
farther side it would he q simple mat
ter to throw bridge across to the
WaShington shore connecting with
the streets Of the city at F., G, or H
streets. Recently the island was pur-
chased by Chicago syndicate who il
is rrmored hold title to the same for
the Wabash railroad. This rumor can
not be confirmed, but certain it is the
island is the logical point for rail
road terminating here from the south
would he able to avoid the payment
Of the very high terminal charges Of
the Washington Terminal Company
upon trains brought into the union
otn tiop