Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23

For the larger part OF the last
century the stream which flowed through
Judiciary Square and by Indiana avenue.
reaching the Tiber a few yards south OF
C street. was one of the best known
in the city. 1t had its rise midway be-
tween 4th and 9Th streets and X and l.
streets from a spring, but there were
more than one of these springs to the
westward One was in the southeast
corner of the square, north Of l. street,
between 9th and 9th, and in after years
the garden about it was known as the
Garden OF Paradise" a favorite pleas
ure resort. Another spring was located
in the northeast part of the Libbey
lumber yards. and much OF the land
thereabout was marshy.
In this marshy land were located nearly
100 years ago the leech ponds OF Samuei
DeVaughan, noted copper" Of his day.
VINO for many years resided at 9th ana
Z streets. Opposite these ponds. east
ward. about eighty years ago, there was
a spring and also a lanyard conducted
by James Moore.
Offered Lot for Lounge Spring.
AS evidence of the non-activity in the
real estate market, it may be stated that
a. lot in this section, twenty-five feet
front, was offered to a carpenter at that
time for lounge spring.
The main spring was eastward of tins
point, and in after years when medicinal
waters came into vogue, drinking pump
brought up what was known as Columbia
water which, for a time, was very
profitable to the proprietor. The main
stream flowed from about the center OF
the square on which Mr.. Hewlett car
ried on a garden for some years through
the square and was arched over at u
and III streets
Entering judiciary Square. about mid
way between 18th and 9Th streets, passing
very near the old Jail erected about 1904,
in the center of the square. and thence
crossing 4th street, it entered the square
between d and f streets again. For
time it answered for sewerage purposes
of the residents Of that square In the
days of the old corporation. however,
sewer was laid in Sd street and the cost
assessed on the residents.
The jail, in which were confined local
offenders against law. as also the insane
of the District Of Columbia, whose friends
could not take care OF them elsewhere.
did duty as such until about 1888, when
a new Jail was erected in the northeast
corner of the square, near 9Th street.
Into this stream was conveyed the sew
age from the old Jail, as also that or the
basement of which the families OF the
janitors lived for many years.
Sewage Made Pump Famous.
There was a famous pump in the rear
of the city hall, whose waters became
known and were much appreciated by
many who were afflicted. but it was after
ward discovered that the alleged medic
inal virtue of the water was due to sew
age leaking into the we'll
Passing through the square east OF the
city hall, few feet from the corner OF
D street, it passed very near at the emo
of the latter days of the eighteenth cen,
fury the City Hotel, which. however. did
not have a long life as such. 1t passed
directly through the corner of Indiana
avenue and Sd street. where is now iocat-
ed local drug store spot once occu-
pied by A. Baldwin & Brother. as a
planning mill. At this point, 1t received
the waters of spring nearby. TINS
spring was early appreciated, Tor a CEN
tury ago steps were placed SO mat the
public could have access 10 ~, ana IL
carved: Erected during the mayoralty
of Robert Brent" who was the first
mayor Of Washington. from lSVS TO lell.
Thence 1t crossed tortuously down IN
diana avenue crossing LIST street and en-
tering the Tiber few yards south of c
street. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad
crossed both streams by bridging them.
Run Deep Enough for Canoes.
THE Judiciary square stream was fed
by a run from the northwest corner of
the square, which received the surface
drainage from large area While nor
mally it carried but a few inches of
water. it frequently overlooked, and, in
deed, in 9TH street sixty years ago the
water was often deep enough for canoes.
In the neighborhood Of 7th and l.
streets there was a spring NPwn as