Evening star., 1918-08-18


the west rises high the Catoctin ridge
silhouetted like big dark blue
cameo against bright blue sky. To
look back over the level country
across which one has come the main
feature in the view is a long and
stately line of cedars which mark the
road that leads from Sterling to
Daysville.
After crossing this level stretch Of
country the road plunges into wood
land where oaks and pines grow In
company and sassafras clings close
to the wayside. 1t Is a dimly lighted
way along this part of its course. For
half a mile the road maintains its
character of wood trace, and then
the country clears on the right.
Broad open fields. prosperous with
alfalfa, open to the view and you can
see far off number Of farm build
fngs set In encompassing greenery.
and farther away still you can make
out the course Of the pike. This Is
ones introduction to the farm OF DR..
Shaw. On the left is frame house
where some colored people are sit
ting in cool comfort under their own
trees. The Rambler asks for water
and soon stands by deep and cordial
well with shining and capacious
lineup in his hands. Clayton Bannis-
ter Is drawing the cold water from
the depths of the earth. Gentle read
er. or ungentle reader. when you
happen to be far in the country on a
sizzard day with many miles already
walked and a good many more to be
walked. and an almost overpow ering
thirst comes upon you, your thoughts
VIII not stray toward champagne. or
like beverages: they will dwell on
plain water. Bannister said that Dir.
Shaw when visiting his farm and
passing that way. often stopped to
get drink at that well. and always
said the water was good. Bannister
told the Rambler that his son, also
named Clayton Bannister, is Il teach
er in the Washington colored public
schools.
X ::
The road again enters woods and
after another mile turns down n hill
and brings you to the pike just east
of where it crosses Broad run. Here
the wide creek and the deep valley
It has secured through the country
are spanned by a stone bridge of
beauty. age and endurance. Nearly
everybody nowadays crosses that
bridge in an automobile and sees only
the low stone parapets and the tops
of the tall trees that reach from the
creek bottom to the height of the
bridge. 1t was to visit this place
that the Rambler had walked over all
the length of road he has described
The bridge might also tell something
of the history of the ancient pike. for
very few persons met along its course
have been able to give much exact
O..
was steep climb down the rocky and
shrubby hillside to the creek, where
one could look at and through the big
and massive arches and get that view
which is never had by those persons
who only pass across the bridge. But
no date was visible from that side. A
lad in stone house near the west
end of the bridge, and which had OBJ
viously been a toll house, said that
there was date cut In the keystone
on the north side of the first arch,
and that 1t showed the bridge lacked
-FOUR years OF being century old.
That indicated the date of construc-
tion to be 1922.
Going through the statutes of Vir-
ginia for that year yielded no infor-
nation. but tracing the matter back
year by year the Rambler came upon
an act passed February IA. 1918. re-
lating to the Leesburg turnpike COM
pany amendatory of earlier acts of
the legislature. This act authorized
the turnpike to erect bridges "across
Broad run and Goose creek where
the Leesburg turnpike will cross those
treams. "As soon as said bridges
shall be completed" the act recited,
'it shall be lawful for the said presi :
dent and directors to demand the toll
now allowed by law upon the Goose
Creek bridge on the road from Lees
burg to Alexandria. provided always:
That it shall not be lawful for the
said president and directors to de-
mand and receive tolls for pass,ne
either of the said bridges after the
said road shall be completed from its
commencement to said bridges; and
provided, moreover: That the above
tolls shall cease unless the entire road
be completed within Ave years after
any part of said tolls shall have been
received
That statute shows that the old
road from Alexandria to Leesbure.
over which Sir Peter Halketts regi.
ment marched, crossed Goose creek nv