Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Lieut. Cen Grant, accompanied by
his wife and son and Gen. Rawlins.
Col Dun. Maj. Rowley
Grant Here and Capt Badeau Of his
stan. reached Washing
morning of March %. 1854. the fact
being noted in Tho Star of that day.
Gen. Grant took I'D his headquarters
in rooms 20 and 81 Of the Winder
building. 18th and F streets. and.
pending the preparation of these
rooms for his use, he paid a visit to
the headquarters Of the Army of the
Potomac for inspection. His arrival
in Washington greatly stimulated the
northern expectation of early action
in the prosecution of vigorous cam
paign-
Before the war Washington had not
developed to such an extent that semi
agricultural conditions
Enforcing within the city were
c.r unusual or regarded as
W" LAW Objectionable With the
increase Of population, however. came
demand for higher standard of
sanitary conditions, and particularly
with reference to the keeping of cows
in the city. In: The Star of March
2s, 1854. is the following paragraph
on this topic:
'The COW act Is now being rigidly
enforced by the police. and the fact
causes considerable feeling among the
numerous COW dealers and dairy own
ers in the suburban sections of the
city. 1t does not apply to persons
keeping one or two cows for their
own immediate use. The act was ap-
proved August /. 1863. and provides
that 1T shall not be lawful to provide.
keep or maintain coward. pen or
stable for dairy or other purposes.
nearer than 200 feet of any dwelling
house other than the dwelling house
Of the keeper of such yard. pen or
stable. under a penalty of not less
than 81 nor more than SIS for each day
the offense Is continued. Then follows
the proviso in favor of families keep
ing not more than two cows for their
that such yards. pens or stables shall
be thoroughly cleansed daily, and the
penalty for the neglect Of this require
ment is not less than 81 nor more than
S. for each offense- The law was
enacted at the solicitation Of numbers
Of residents Of the suburban sections,
who were anxious to secure the clean
illness and health of the localities in
which they reside. The greatest num-
Der of violations of the law occur in
the northern parts Of the third, fourth
and fifth wards
In view of the anxiety of the north
for the early capture of Richmond there
was keen interest in the
Richmond's character of the defenses
n.e of that city. In The Star
OeienSeS' of March %, 1864, is the
following. giving information on this
subject:
"A refugee from Richmond reports that
the defenses of that city are very ex-
tensive and elaborate. They are in the
form Of semi-circle. the outer embank-
ment being continuous almost without
break around the city. Inside Of this
another line of intrenchments extends
around the city, with frequent breaks.
Between the two is a fine military road,
so that 1t is easy to reinforce any part
of the defenses at short notice. These
Notifications are heavily armed with the
best artillery. What seems strange to
US at this distance is that these extensive
Notifications are not manned by any con-
siderable force, but the citizens are
formed into companies ready at the tap
of the drum to proceed to the intrench-
ments to resist invasion. A large picket
force is stationed outside the lines. and
it is expected, If any attacking force ap-
proaches that the alarm can be given IN
season for every man to be at his post
There is no considerable force of regular
military in the capital. but Gen. Pickett's
division is within about thirty miles and
can reinforce the home militia at short
notice.
Fifty years ago the agricultural work
OF the government was conducted by the
division of the
A Stupid Custom patent office, and
n,, accord ng to
Star Of March "a. 1864, a peculiar con-
hict arose between that bureau and the
Trea surv, on the score of classification
of agricultural imports. The Star says;
1.-The agricultural bureau of the In
terror Department has been much an
moved and embarrassed for some time
past by unnecessary delay at the New
York custom house in passing packages
of seed purchased by that bureau In
Europe for general distribution in this
country, in order to introduce here new
and improved European varieties of vege-
tables, plants, etc. By way of illustrat-
ing how and why these delays occur we
may not inappropriateiy mention that
among the lot of seed reaching that GUS
tom house more than a fortnight since
is the yellow lupin." leguminous
forage plant designed to be tested here
this season The appraiser having it in
charge fancied he "smelled mice in
it," or in other words. it was something
from which "extrait de Lubin." a costly
French perfume, bearing a high rate of
duty. is neutrality-suspicious. being the
name of the inventor and patentee of
the article, who died a dozen years ago.
by the bye. So Mr.. Appraiser detains
not only that package, but all the patent
office seed arriving in the same ship until
he may be able to learn the difference
between yellow lupin seed and the basis
of manufacturing NJ. Lubin's celebrated
perfume In the meantime the season
for sending out the detained seed is
drawing so near a close that is by no
means impossible that before common
thick skull of the man of red tape of
the New York custom house all chance
Of using the seed will be lost to the ag-
ricultural bureau"
With the arrival Of Lieut.. Gen. Grant
at the headquarters of the Army of the
Potomac. according to
Army of the The Star of March %,