Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
FIFTY YEARS ago
IN THE STAR

IN THE STAR
After the civil war the federal gov
eminent was greatly troubled by de-
eertions from the
Desertions From regular army. The
the q. s. Army. volunteer forces ee
had created a desire on the part of
many members of the regular organi-
cation to return to civil life. In The Star
Of February 3, 1866. is a news item re-
Grant on the subject:
an consequence of the large number
of assertions from the regular army
during the past few months, Gen. Grant
has issued an order calling upon COM
manders of departments and regiments
to take the most stringent measures
for checking the evil and to cause
inspections to be made to discover and
remove the causes. The state of disci-
pine of companies and treatment of
enlisted men by commissioned officers
will be particularly Investigated with
a view to preventing harsh and arbi-
trary treatment and illegal punish
ments. To secure prompt arrests and
punishments of deserters. commanding
officers of companies will forward direct
to the Attorney General. at least once
in ten days. lists OF deserters, giving
their places of residence, full per-
sonal description. and any facts con-
nected with them which may lead to
their discovery and apprehension. All
recruiting officers viii take special
pains to cause the apprehension, by
their recruiting parties and by citizens.
of every deserter from the regular
army that can be found within their
reach. and a reward of sac may be paid
for each deserter.'
In the advertising columns of The
Star of fifty years ago are some an
nouncements that re-
Hoop Skirts and late to long-discard-
wn "a styles and fash
wax EW"eIs. IONS Here are two,
the like of which has not been seen
in 4 local paper for many years:
Ladies wishing to learn the art of
making wax flowers can do SO by call
ing at No. 587 H street, between 4th
and 9Th streets. Flowers made to order
for receptions and parties"
Hoop skirt mandatory. 40 Louisi-
ana avenue. between 9Th and 7th streets.
and 2804a North 7th street, between L
and NJ. Washington, D. C. Constantly
on hand and made to order. first-class
Wove Tape Hoop Skirts, of every style.
length and size. Skirts altered and re-
paired. j. We'll & CO.
From time to time for many years
projects have been advanced for cut
ting a waterway between
Local Canal the Potomac and the
Chesapeake, to give more
11oJeet. direct communication
from Washington. In The Star of Feb
ruary 3, 1866, is the following news
item bearing on such an enterprise:
"a great internal improvement is en-
braced in the act to incorporate the
Chesapeake and Potomac Canal Com
pany, which has passed the Maryland
senate by a unanimous vote and is now
under consideration in the house OF
delegates. The charter makes the cap
ital stock Of the company $S,ooo.oSo' 70
be divided into shares of 500 each. 1t
is the design of the corporators to cut
a canal to and from a point on the
Severn river to the Potomac. or to any
branch or tributary thereof. The canal
is to commence at Round bay, a point
some seven miles above Annapolis. on
the Severn river, and the head OF nav
igation on that stream. and VIII run
distance Of twenty miles over almost per-
fectly level country, to the headwaters
of the Eastern branch Of the Potomac, at
Bladensburg The canal will run in an
almost direct line, and will require no
lockaRe whatever. This is certainly an
important undertaking, and Is designed
land coal trade reaching the District by
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, which
may thence be taken without transship-
ment across to Annapolis, making that
point eventually an immense coal depot.
Washington, however, was more in
terested in the matter Of the local
canal, which was
To Improve the still of commercial
use, but was re-
City Canal. rarded as an un-
wholesome sanitary influence in the
capital. In The Star of February 3.
1866, is an item describing as follows
the provisions of bill introduced In
Congress 10 lnCoFpoTdtc TIC '" ooAiiho
ton Canal Company:
"It provides for the narrowing OF the
canal on the north side, making the
width sixty feet from 18th street west.
sixty feet from 9Th street west to
B street south, and its present width
from B street south to its outlet on the
Eastern branch. The depth required
is four feet at all times and besides
must be so walled or secured as to be
sufficient height and strength to allow
the use OF steam vessels. The work
must be finished by January l, 1871.
otherwise these privileges granted
shall lapse. It shall have at least one
foot Of water at all times after twelve
months from the passage or the ACT,
and the incorporators shall pay into
the treasury Of the city sum equal
to the average income of the canal Tor
the last ten years. The Incorporates
are allowed to rent any lands reclaim.
ed by this improvement of the canal
and to charge and collect wharfage
item telling of the passage through
both branches of the
Point Lookout Maryland legislature
of bill to incorpo-
hoad BILL. rate a railroad from
Washington to Point Lookout. the Dis
trfct incorporators being John H.
semmes, Richard Hall. Samuel Nor
ment. John T. Mitchell and John r.
Elvans. The capital stock was to be
s2.oOO,O00, with the privilege to in