Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-19
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

District Affairs were seriously con-
fused nifty years ago. in large part as
result OF the ex-
Consolidation istence of two sep
p,>:.A arate municipalities.
A movement for the
consolidation Of Georgetown and
Washington was started to the end
OF reducing the completely IN some
degree. In The Star OF October IL.
1859. is the following:
The proposition for a consolidation
OF the cities OF Washington and
Georgetown. which has heretofore
met with little favor in the latter
place. Ia. We arc informed, now rapidly
gaming friends and advocates among
the property holders and business
men there. who have hitherto bitterly
opposed the measure. In fact. those
classes throughout the District who
have most at stake are completely dis
gusted with the inharmonious work
ings OF five conflicting governments
Congress. the corporations Of the two
cities. the levy court and the board
OF metropolitan police commissioners.
These are continually interfering with
each other. to the detriment Of the
property and business interests here,
whioh are damaged by too much legis-
lation in some directions and too lit
tie In others. There should be but
one government for the District Of
Columbia. and consolidation Of the
two cities 10 advocated as q step in
the right direction. because It will re-
duce the existing governments to four
and will thus be a public henent as
far as 1t goes"
The project for holding an fnterna.
tional exposition in Washington, pro-
NOTED by a commit
Worlds Fair tee of citizens. con-
r:. tinued under consid-
ees' Grafton fifty year.
ago. The Star in It's issue Of October
IA, 1859. thus discussed the question
OF finances:
THE question of the mode of raising
funds to carry out the international
exposition came up at the meeting of
the general committee on Tuesday
night and 1T was decided, very nearly
unanimously, that the most direct and
effective means was by a tax upon the
property to be benefited by the fair
1t was pointed out that while some
property-holders might be public-spir-
tied enough to contribute handsomely
to the object. large numbers who
would be equally benefited would not
subscribe a penny. The proposed tax
VIII not fall heavily upon property
holders ana the returns must be sure
In one shape or another, either in
the impulse given to business and the
permanent advancement OF the pros
perity OF the city or in the way of a
direct dividend from profits realized
1T is best that we should enter
upon this undertaking with the full
understanding that IL carried out upon
a scale to be advantageous and credit
able to US it will cost money-and q
good deal OF tin the start. BY
blocking out the work on a satisfac-
tory cash basis we shall inspire the
duce contributions OF industry and
art from all quarters Of the globe. II
we start out In q feeble. impecunious
way. trusting upon Providence. Con-
gress or lean subscription list to
help US through somehow, we shall
fall ignominiously."
Although unfinished. the Point of
Rocks railroad of the new Balti-
more and Ohio line,
First Train Over eventually known
the New Road. tan Branch wa.
put to use fifty years ago. a. stated
in the following paragraph in The
Star Of October IA. 1863:
The frst trains on the railroad from
this city to Point of Rocks. Nd.
known ~ the Metropolitan Branch rail.
road. went over tho track today az
far as Silver Spring. Nd, to which
point the road has been finished. to
convey passengers to q grand tourna-
ment which Ia taking place there for
the bepeht Of Grace Church. Trains
wera run out at 10 am. ~ M ana 8
pm. in charge Of Conductors Henry
DuvaH and William Bullen and the
run was made easily In eighteen min
utes. On the first two mentioned
trains. consisting Of two cars each.
there we're about seventy-five pas.
sensers."
The Treasury annex recently con-
strueted across the street from tho
main building on Psnnsyl-
Historic vania avenue stands on an
ga. hiatorio site. The follow
SA~' ms paragraph in The Star
of CctAhAR 1K 1AkN telIa ~ a.. col.