Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-10
FIFTY YEARS ago IN
THE STAR.

U1EAS1T0MS were lett uCtc oh
day. September 80. 1870.
AeSoe'' 1t. swelled in volume
through Saturday and up to noon on
Sunday. when it began to subside. In
The Star OF October 3. 1870. are &C
counts of the damage done in this
neighborhood and farther north in the
Potomac valley. The Long bridge was
put out OF commission. It was percn-
nially subject to damage and even to
destruction by the high waters and
was frequently repaired. In this case.
however. the damage was so much
more extensive than usual that the
railroad company using it would. it
was thought, not attempt to repair it.
but would set about replacing it with
structure which will be proof
against such floods for all time to
come" About one half of the old
causeway bridge was swept away en-
ureiy, leaving nothing but the hard
graVei bed, which resisted the food
better than the masonry work. A
great amount of driftwood and debris
was piied upon this obstruction to the
current, including all kinds of house.
noi i furniture. farming implements.
mn gearing. bridges. houses, boats
ana FENCES. Tie Stars account saws.
after describing the perilous trip TO
The Virginia side:
AFTER getting safely over and TAX
ing long breath the first thing that
eialms the attention is the boiling and
dy current, dashing through the
uTaw at racehorse speed. Here every
Lning is decidedly mixed Looking
pack toward Washington the wood
Mork OF the old bridge Is a perfect
Alszas. Some portions are pushed
over toward the railroad bridge and
and wrecks of all kinds making a
compact mass of debris. which, when
the powerful ebb tide sets against II.
makes a constant trembling Of the
railroad bridge throughout its
the entire pile of rubbish should all
with it,"
jackson City, a settlement occupy.
ing the region at the Virginia end Of
the long bridge, was entirely under .
water, every house being isolated by
the flood. In Washington the flood
rose SO high that it reached Psnnsyl-
vania avenue. Almost all of the cell
lars along the avenue were flooded
Heavy losses were incurred Oh this
account. and in Georgetown the water
front was similarly damaged. The &C.
~
bridge in order to relieve the pres
sure and this caused tho stoppage OF
the hour mills that depended npoa
the canal water for power.
Washington's losses, however. We're
slight. compared with the destrucS
ton in the upper
Loss of Life at valley. At Har-
Harpers Ferry. heavy loss Of life
occurred. nearly fifty persons having
been drowned The lower part of
the town was completely submerged.
Many houses and their occupants were
swept away. Bridges were carried
away and railroad and canal trafio
was interrupted.
The storm did heavy damage in the
neighborhood of Richmond. Va, nu
merous bridges being swept away and
railroads badly damaged. The de-
was the heaviest that had been known
for quarter Of century.
After irritating delays, the commits
missioners named to select . new
pavement for Penn
Avenue Paving sylvania avenue de-
~, cided to divide the
oASAuo0' great thoroughfre
into four sections. paving them with
as many different kinds Of material
The Star said Of this decision in it's
issue of October s. 1870:
well. the commissioners have at
last reported progress and announced
that the awards for paving Pennsyl-
bidders under the Stowe, Miller. Fol
lansbee and Robbins patents. the
street to be laid in sections with
each kind. We have no doubt the
pavements selected are all good ones
The stowe pavement has been tested
be desired. The policy OF check
ering the Avenue with different va
rieties of pavement will be questioned
by some. But those who should know
ment are laid it will really not be
easy to distinguish them. or that at
any rate, the difference will not be
readily appreciable to the eye. 1t
seems to be thought. too, that by
laying the Avenue with seyera LII KIn Ss
AFFORDED to test their comparative
merits and that the experience thus
gained will be of service in paving
other streets of the city. At all events.
it is satisfaction to know that Penn
sylvania avenue is really to be paved
and that the detestable ruts and pro-
iectine cohbles, which make IL the ter
ror alike OF driver and beast. are TO DC
replaced by a smooth, clean. NOISE
less nayement Now let the good work
he entered upon at once. before the
mud and frost Of winter are upon
no Last wear the Bristeds and others
who brought their handsome turn
outs to Washington were 50 disgust
ed by our Futty and Snr muoe Ybi sI VIM
ter we hope to have one OF the nnest
drives in the world on our spacious
we'll paved Avenue, to invite the
wealth and fashion OF the north 10
our city"
With reference to the Long bridge.
badly damaged by the pressure, The
Star said in it's
New Long Bridge. issue ,s,o OF OCTOBER
Contemplated. Tho railroad t,
having control OF the
Long bridge are considering the plans
for a new structure to replace that
DESTROYED by the late flood. They
have two plans before them ono con-
the rebuilding OF the
bridge (eauseway} on pretty much
the same level as the old causeway'
the railroad track and pike to run
siTa nv aide. separated by a wall. By
The other plan it is proposed to raise
The causeWay for ordinary travel TO
m elevation corresponding with the
highest point of the present SOUTH
ha rai1rnad track to