davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

and the noble fountains Of ancient and modern
sources Of pleasure from the earliest times, and
the feeling which makes the rude but de-
vogt. Arab invoke the blessings Of Allah upon the
builder Of the murmuring fountain or desert tank
is shown in modern cities, where crowds
gather in the heat OF summer to enjoy the CRATE
from that ancient people, or the splendid jet OF
Boston Common, the profnse display In New
York Park or the Philadelphia Paramount.
In arguing for an increased water sup
ply for Washington Lieut.. Meigs said
that for many years the experience Of
Philadelphia had been taken as guide
in determining the quantity of water to
be supplied to a city. Philadelphia was
one of the first. if not the first. city In
this country to provide proper water
supply for her inhabitants. when first
introduced the habits of economy of
water necessarily acquired while all the
water for family was brought by maid
servants from the street pump, as is gems
enced people in its use. Baths were few
and were looked upon as luxuries and it
was many years before the average daily
use exceeded twenty-eight gallons for
each inhabitant." Lieut.. Meigs wrote
of the water sources, the water supply
and the water service of New York, Bos-
ton. Jersey City, Hosooken and of London,
Rome and Paris.
In the report is a prophecy as to the
growth Of Washington and which. after
ing reading 1t is this:
The present population OF Washington is about
so 600 1S5;H souls, having increased 10000 in
the two years which have elapsed since the last
census. Georgetown contained in 1850, 5000.
If Washington increases, not in the same per
centage. hut adds to Its population only the same
number OF persons every two years for ten years
as she has done in the last two years. she will
contain in 1863 100 900 souls and require for her
own use 5000 600 gallons Independent of the guam
greater quantity needed for watering the dust
and washing on the offal from her wide streets
and squares. At this rate, in forty years from
this date (Which would be 1888 her populat ton
ington, IL the present prosperity OF our country
continues must be much more rapid. Cities or
100 900 add much more than 5, 900 annually to
their population.
In this report it is pointed out that one
Of the private plans cOmprehended the
pumping of water by steam from the Po-
tomac river at Georgetown and 1t was
shown that 1.-The water here flows back
and forth over the extensive flats be-
tween Georgetown and the Long bridge,
collecting and retaining the sewage water
Of the cities, and as these cities increase
in size the water will become less and
less fit for domestic USE
1t would appear that at the early date
at which the Meigs report was written
the principles of filtration. were pretty
clearly understood. The idea of filtering
all the water for the city's use was stir
ring in the minds Of some advanced
thinkers, and that some Of the pump
water OF Washington actually was Al
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

and some billed 'em in two waters If they
liked 'em sweet. She preferred the one
water process They were very healthy,
just as healthy as "poke-salad." A hunk
of fat bacon helped them and a pot OF
dandelion green's and fat pork was a
dish fit to set befo' king. She could
gather about a barrel in half days
work and she could sell them in the mar
ket, or on the pavement outside the mar
ket at 10 cents a quarter of peck.
who buys them?"
Most old-time folks what knows what 8
good TO 'em in de spring.
She could sell all she could gather and
if she didn't sell them she could eat them
herself.
why do you throw away the bright
yellow f1owers?"
amt no use 'cepin' TO maxim wine
Make wine of the flowers?"
"Yas. indeedy. an it's good wine, too.
knock yuh oveh.'
! * -
Tor a month or more the amateur
l naturalists of Washington, as well
as elsewhere have been noting 'harbin-
gers Of spring" and commonly 1t is a
bird that is announced as the particular
and the infallible harbinger. This har-'
binger,. business involves some difficult
questions There are not many of these
amateur naturalists who do not keep in
doors when the weather is cold or other
wise uncomfortable, and who do not limit
their observations to Sunday stroll. And
thus it is that the first bluebird,'' the
first cardinal and the first song spar
row of SPRING is perhaps not the first
migrant bird to appear, but merely the
first to be observed by particular per-
son. 1t is no easier to announce the ar
rival Of the first migratory bird Of spring
than the appearances Of the first Insect or
the first flower.
In the country around Washington some
bluebirds remained throughout the win
ter, that is, bluebirds were seen during
every week of the winter months, and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

tered BIZ small wre-gauze bags Of sand
and charcoal attached to the nozzles or
the pumps Lieut.. Meigs writes that i
have given some study to the subject or
filtration, though not SO much as Its I'M
portance and difficulty demand, for my
time has been too short and / have had
many other things Of more immediate
and pressing claims to attention. Little
valuable and reliable information upon
this subject has been within my reach.
The ordinary modes Of filtration on a
great scale are founded upon the same
principles as the smallest domestic filters
in which sand. by straining the water
through its interspaces, removes the In
gradients mechanically suspended and
charcoal by its chemical affinity takes up
organic matter dissolved" He refers to
small filters that have been used on the
nose of city hydrants
In view OF the great growth of Wash
ington there is a good deal that is inter-
esting in the plans Of the Rock creek
project which comprehended an aqueduct
over Piney branch and the location of
reservoirs where now many Washing
tonians have their homes. All the work
on the projects seems not to have been
done by Lieut.. Meigs. for at the con-
clusion of his report he returns thanks to
a number of persons, among them being
Joseph Bennett. "wko conducted the sur
vey upon Rock creek" J. NJ Wampler
OF the coast survey, who made the
Topographic map Of the Potomac river. y
/,
who conducted explorations for bringing
water from the Potomac
X X
In Congress the question OF a water
supply of Washington had become
confused or entangled with the propo-
sition to appropriate money for the
purchase Of the bridge at Little Falls
and the construction Of free road to
that bridge. In the Senate Saturday,
February 10, 1858, Mr.. Shields sub
mitted a resolution, which was unan-
imously agreed to, THAT the President
be requested to communicate to the
Senate the report Of Lieut.. Meigs Of
the Engineer Corps of the surveys
projects and estimates for the supply
ing of the cities of Washington and
Georgetown with an unfailing and
abundant supply Of water" February
20, 1853, Senator Hunter Of Virginia
offered an amendment to the pending
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill
that: ITO be expended under direction
OF the President of the United States
for the purpose of bringing water into
the city Of Washington upon such
might approve. $4,000" Senator
Hunter said that various reasons are
urged for and against various plans,
and the committee proposes to leave 1t
to the President to determine which is
best" Senator Seward said that he
concurred in every word that had been
said In favor OF q public water supply
for Washington. II think he said,
that there is no more important OBJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

house was brilliantly green while turf
in other parts of the District was sere
and winter brown. The Zoo turf had
been thickly covered with manure all
winter. and early in March. when this
dressing was raked away. the grass be-
meath was long and verdant. Then the
f1agpole which stands on the top of this
hill. needing paint. it occurred to the
superintendent to paint it green. in har-
mony with the turf. The effect is un-
usual, but by ladies with an eye for har-
mony in colors the effect is said to be
good. Even the four stays of the mast
are also painted green.
Another change in the Zoo Flagstaff is
that where in other years it was sur
mounted by a weather var1e, this year it
is topped with a gilt ball ten inches in
diameter The reason for this, as 1t was
explained by Waterman, was that the
flag tapped over and around and often
became entangled with the vane. An
other fact about the f1agpole which every
visitor to the Zoo does not learn is that
it is seventy-two feet tall.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

ment, as they rank among the finest in
the world. But there are many other en-
deayors in which such an experienced
and philanthropic woman as Mrs Daniels
Will be welcomed.
Mrs. Daniels has the cordial manner
of the experienced hostess From her
earliest childhood she has been I'm an Of
ffcfal household and is we'll versed in all
that makes the successful chatelaine Her
home in Raleigh was always center of
intellectual life well as of social in
farcOnrSP
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
In a Glass House.

A FTER entering between the 18th
street gateposts of the grounds Of
the Department Of Agriculture and pass
ing for short way under the bare
branches of the gingko arcade, you will
notice off to the right, and stretching
along toward 14th street, number of
hip-roofed glass houses all set in a row
and facing south. Many remarkable
things are to be seen in these houses,
but an examination Of them all would
take too long a time for a short trip and
a short story, and so to choose one at
random you may enter that In which care
is given to the propagation. crossing. cul-
ture and observation Of cactus, or Is it
cacti?
The cactus guardian or the cactus gar
dener is Senior Manuel Fraile, who is
known to the thousands Of Washington
ians who have learned Spanish, studied
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

IA i the III 81 4 itSA-
dent born below
Mason and Dixon's
line since the regime
OF John Tyler
should choose the
majority of his
councillors Z 70 m
Dixie was an &C
cepted Arediction.
But IL is a feoinci-
dence, though soL:a
come from more
northern 8 I a I e $,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
BEGINNING OF TE WATERWORKS SYSTEM FOR WASHINGTON

Congress sits nine months every year or
every other year. The benefit of this APP
preparation would extend to the entire
Union. The water is also needed to Sc
cure the government property against
fire. I saw this Capitol on fire. and so
did you; we saw the condition in which
things were placed at that time. You
have often seen parts OF the city on fire.
We have had many of our public build
ings burnt which IL we had had water
and the means to use 1t which Is neces-
sary we should have preserved"
Senator Bradbury spoke of memorial
from certain citizens favoring the use of
Rock creek. He thought the Great Falls
project was too costly. He said that good
and responsible citizens OF the District
Of Columbia were prepared at any time
to incorporate company for furnishing
the city water at such reasonable con-
sideration as is usual in such cases, and
to furnish a full supply to the Executive
Mansion, departments, Capitol and navy
a year.
Senator Mangum said that "appropria-
tons of twenty, thirty and even fifty
millions of dollars are suffered to pass
with SO little objection that 1 hardly
supposed upon a question OF this kind
We should have the difficulties started
which have been presented.
IF we should all come back here
again in a century. we shall see, per-
haps. the most magnificent city on this
continent, 1 think we ought not to
bubble about this"
Senator Borland got in some harsh
words about the District. He said: II
have had bad health ever since 1 have
been coming to Washington. and I
believe one of the main causes of it has
been the bad water which / have been
compelled to drink here. ] feel the
necessity Of some change in this re-
spect, but I object to the plan pro-
posed now that the government shall
go directly into the business of MAX
ing water works for Washington He
thought the better plan would be for
private enterprise to provide the city
with water.
The Congressional Globe contains a
complete account of this discussion. in
ready named, Senators Pratt, Butler,
Bright Rusk and Toucey took part.
The amendment providing for the ap-
preparation for beginning work on the
public water service system was adopt
ed by a vote of 35 to IL. Those voting
yea were: Bayard, Bell, Brooke. Charlie
ton. Clarke, Cooper, Dawson. De Saus-
sure, Downs, Fish, Geyer Gwin, Hale,
Houston. Hunter, James. Jones of Iowa,
Jones of Tennessee, Mallory, Mangum,
Mason, Miller Morton. Pearce. Phelps,
Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian. Seward. Shields.
Soule, Spruance, Sumner, Underwood
and Weller. The nays were Adams,
Badger, Borland, Brodhead, Chase, Davis,
Dodge. Fitzpatrick. Petit, Smith. Wade
and Walker.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
A Strike.

xrAT GOODWIN, at n memorable the
IN .atrical supper in New York, once
advised a group of young actresses never
to spend too much on Easter hats.
"Tn never forget an Easter of the
past" he said, when my wife brought
out a huge bandbox. and cried:
Nat. dear, / want to show you my
new hat. Isn't Ii a dream? Just $95.
How does 1T strike YOU
1T strikes me- / gaspcd, below the
money BELT my love-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

Secretary of Commerce and Mrs Redfield
of New York. Still another cabinet omcial
other than Mr.. Daniels, Mr.. Houston, is
a native OF North Carolina and received
his early education in that state.
Few have come to Washington better
equipped for exalted social duties tnan
Mrs Daniels. She has sad DIT dis-
tinct interest in the navy through hei
brother. the gallant young Ensign worm
Bagley, who was the first 0mcer 10 lose
his life in the Spanish American war.
Mrs Daniels mother, Mrs. Adelaide
Worth Bagley. for whom she Is named.
has resided here for years, as Wen as
her two younger sisters. the Misses bas
ley. She has made frequent visits 10
Washington, and has always been or
prominence when the women or North
Carolina rally for any cause, patr.otlc, ms
toric or benevolent. Her family mas peen
connected with North Carolina history for
many generations Her fathers people,
the Bagleys. were Of Scotch ancestry,
and came to what was then part OF
Virginia early in the eighteenth century.
Her father was Maj William II. Bagiey
OF the Confederate army, who served In
his latter days on the supreme bench Of
his state. Her mother was the daughter
of Jonathan Worth, who held various
POSTS of honor in North Carolina-state
senator, judge and governor.
Mrs. Daniels has broad views and is
the type OF southern woman who Is pro-
gressive and a most useful factor in her
community. She belongs to several clubs.
all with a definite purpose-such as civic
for better hospital service
ana for the general betterment Of schools
and to several patriotic societies. She
takes great pride In the work Of the Colo
NAL Danes and is an active member in
the philanthropic work connected with
the Daughters of the Confederacy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

HE aSnnetoHidH "Heh nc
takes a glass of clear, clean
and wholesome Potomac water,
IL drawn. perhaps by, turning a
faucet, does not often think
of the time,not SO many years gone, when
observation-disclosures drew their water for drink
ing and washing purposes from well buck
cts. pumps and springs. Sixty years ago
Washington was in the throes of
Campaign for an increased supply OF
water. There was a good deal of water
borne disease in the city, and the CAPT
tai was exposed to fire. There were
waterworks, public and private, in many
American and European cities. and It
was believed that Washington, which at
that time was city of $1,000 population,
should be served with piped water from
"a source not liable to pollution. But 1t
was question not easy Of settlement.
There were a number Of plans. One
was tisat the supply should be drawn from
Rock creek: another, that the supply
Should be drawn from the Potomac at
Little Falls The grand scheme was, that
the water should be piped by gravity
from the Potomac -at Great ffts..s TINS
called for the expenditure Of 3, sum
which to the narrow economists OF that
interests which believed that the CAPT.
tai should be served with water by
private water company. and one plan was
that q privately owned, and controlled
company should pump the water from the.
Potomac at Georgetown. and serve II
through pipes to the people OF Washing
ton In Congress there were representa-
tives of the people who thought that the
federal construction of a waterwOrks sys-
TEN for the nations capital was none OF
the nations business and that the citizens
Of a struggling and struggling city. laid
out under federal auspices on lines far be-
yond proper upkeep by the local people.
should build the waterworks plant. There
were others who thought that the con-
struction of such plant either by the
general or the municipal government
would be an infringement of the rights OF
private capital and that the people should
buy water from a private concern.
The first appropriation was for Sa.OOo
and was made by the Thirty-second Con-
gress Ito enable the President of the
United States to cause to be made the
necessary surveys. projects and estimates
for determining the best means of afford
ing to the citizens of Washington and
Georgetown an unfailing and abundant
supply of good and wholesome water
It was in the winter Of 1928 that the
SURVEYS were made. This work was as
signed to Montgomery C. Meigs who was
then Lieut.. Meigs OF the Corps OF Engi-
neers. United States army. He presented
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

Spanish, tried to learn Spanish, trified'
with Spanish or who have merely posed
as students of Spanish. Mr.. F'raile Is IN
teresting in himself, but perhaps you may
consider the exhibits which he will point
out to you as OF greater interest
Down near the south door Is wonder
full running cactus twined in the shape
Of a crown and now all abloom with ra-
diant red flowers. and which without q
word from the guide. you known TO oe
crown of thorns." 1t is a vicious SEEM
ing plant, the spines being as long ana
more closely set than the thOrnS OF the
honey locust.
Passing down the east aisle, Mr.. Fraile
points out the Indian fishing hook cactus.
The spines Of this are three or FOUR
inches long. curved at one end and tnen
long bar'bed. The barb Is as sharp as ire
sharpest pin and the whole spine though
flexible is SO tough that it is practically
unbeatable. 1t is q remarkable Vese-
table Ash hook and many steel hoops are
this cactus hook. There is not the least
doubt that these vegetable hooks nave
for centuries been used, and Tor anything
the Rambler knows to the contrary, are
still used by certain Indian tribes for
fishing.
~
Growing in the southwest window is a
tangle of rat tail cactus" long 4cylin-
drical vines, thicker than rats tail, but
because of the curls in it and the color
you know that 1t IS singulariy we'll
named. Here and there along the rat
tail at this season is a pinkish purple
blossom Near the rat tail cactus Is the
teddy bear cactus, a plant carrying
a strong suggestion of the toy so popular
with children in previous political era
And close by this is the bull moose
cactus, plant in which it is not at all
difficult to trace the resemblance which
is responsible for the plants name. Then,
there is "the old man cactus. the top OF
which has q knob resembling human
head and this is covered with long white
hair It stands erect in a pot Of earth
and you see the trunk, the shoulders and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

as large as beer barrels. They are ao per
cent water. and by chopping off the ton
travellers in the desert may quench thirst.
II % per cent of these plants Is water
the remaining 10 per cent is surely spines.
a number OF varieties of the night
blooming cereus, cactus, may be seen
in this interesting place.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

ganization than. the North Carolina So
ciety, and one of the pleasant events OF
inauguration. week was the reception
given our governor. Our state is alto
gether a most important, one and one
which presents such interesting phases.
For instance it Is the only state in the
Union where every blank relating to the
production of cereals is filled out for the
census taker and with impressive figures.
We raise everything which comes under
the heading of farm stuffs and We are
climbing upward as to the amount pro-
duced each year. This is quite distinc-
ton and gives us prestige. both as to the
north and the south, when farm products
are considered. Texas alone raises more
cotton and Virginia more tobacco while
as to corn, wheat, oats and barley We are
climbing upward and crowding the mid
die west states hitherto anassailable.
with the coming OF spring. and espe-
cialy at Easter, when flowers and the
beauties of nature occupy so much at
tention, we North Carolinans like to tell
of our wonderful flowers and trees and
our forests, which are among the most
important on this continent. In our
woods there will soon be blooming all
seven of the varieties of magnolia which
are found on this continent. and to see
them is worth a visit to our common
wealth. They crown the mountains with
a fragrant wreath and the smaller spe-
cies fill the deep forests with brilliant
patches of color Every kind of wild
flower will soon carpet our woods, the
verbenas alone being of such richness. OF
blended colors that they would be heart
iiy welcomed into the most perfect gar.
dens. Then our rhododendrons equal
those of Great Britain in size and gor-
geous hues.
..But it is in its history that North
Carolina possesses such interest. We go
back to that gay soldier of fortune, Sir
Walter Raleigh, who landed on our
shores eighty-seven years after John
Cabot had first seen the outlines of what
is now North America. Raleigh arrived
at Wokoken inlet in 1884, and by q
strange coincidence the day he first set
foot on what is now the commonwealth
of North Carolina was July 4. So We
keep the day i'm a dual sense. to conn
merncrat4 orr founder and the birth of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

F no bareback
comes between tna
time of writing this
and it's appearance
in print Washingto-
mans, even the
most unobservant
of them in matters
of nature, will be
commenting on ear
~ spring. fAe LIST
of March the Ram
bier encountered In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

81 feel very much at home in Wash
ington." said Mrs. Daniels, for / have
visited here for many years, and then
there are SO many North carolinans 8 a
part of the permanent population. Few
state societies have more rotens or
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

>NNE of the Widest Known
~ of the New Cabinet
Hostesses-Her Forefathers
Were Connected With Early
History of the Cafolinas,
She Will Be Prominent So
cially for the Next -Four
Years-A Member of the
Sponsors Club.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

By MARGARET B. DOWNING.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

HE Washingtonian when he
takes glass of clear, clean
and wholesome Potomac water,
drawn perhaps by. turning a
eo,+ 1oaS4 not often think
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

HAT the first Presi-