Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01

operated an unknown number OF years
before the construction. in 1I93. OF q
wooden-pile toll bridge from the foot OF
Kentucky avenue to what is now the foot
of MAYORS road on the farther side OF
the branch The Rambler resurrected
several more or less interesting facts
about his>ferry from the writings of
Duke La Observation-Disclosures who,
IN 1877 wrote of his travels in the United
States in the years 1T95. 1876 and 1877,
and from advertisements in the National
Intelligencer of 1900 and 1901.
After the publication of that ''ramble'
the Ramb.er's attention was called to the
fact that Allen c. Clark, In paper De
fore the Columbia Historical Society, read
the evening of April IA. 1905 on the sub
iect of the Abraham Young mansion, had
mentioned many interesting things ABOUT
that old ferry, as well as another eastern
Branch ferry distinguished from that I'M
der consideration as the lower ferry
which was established by Adam Lindsay
at Barry's wharf about 1873.
Mr.. Clark opened his paper With quo
tation from Maj LEnfant containing
reference to the Eastern Branch ferry and
the appearance of the country now built
over by the eastern section Of the city.
In the early spring OF 1871 Thomas Je1er-
son. Secretary of State, directed En-
FAINT ito proceed to Georgetown and have
made drawings of the particular grounds
most likely TO be approved for the site
of the federal town and buildings; to be-
gin on the Eastern branch and proceed
from thence upward, laying down the
hills. valleys, morasses and the waters
between that, the Potomac, the Ttber, and
the road leading from Georgetown TO the
Eastern branch and the whole. with GER
tain points of the map Mr. E1licott is pre-
pairing.
March g. 1891, and the next day on
horseback he began to reconnofter the
country on which Washington stands.
In a report made by L'Enfant to Mr..
Jefferson under date OF March &c, 1871,
he wrote:
After coming upon the hill from the
Eastern Branch ferry the country IS
level and on space of about two
miles each way presents a most ell
sible position for the first settlement
of grand city. and one which, IL not
the only one within the limits OF the
federal territory, is at least the moro
advantageous in that part lying be-
tween the Eastern branch and George
town.. ~
Mr. Clarke believes that Mai. Len
fant's preliminary sketches showing
the ferry road were presumably among
ter which has been carefully treated
of by DR.. James Dudley Morgan in his
paper on Mai. Pierre Charles Len
tant. the Unhonored and Unrewarded
Engineer"-a paper which is now. q
part of the records Of the Columbia
Historical Society. sketch Of that
old road would be very valuable adj
dition to the historical matter of the
District of Columbia Several we'll
worn public roads ran through the
site Of Washington. and the matter
which has come down to this genera
lion concerning the course of those
roads is sorrowfully meager.
In the paper by Mr. Clark on the
Abraham Young Mansion" it Is writ
ten that the Eastern Branch ferry
had its wharf where is the intersec-
ton of 18th street and Virginia ave-
nue.. From it radiated westerly the
road to Georgetown, easterly the road
TO Upper Marlboro and northerly- the
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