Evening star., 1921-02-20

and chartered by Congress March 3.
1649. The deed OF John Mason to the
city Of Georgetown, in its first two
paragraphs recites:
Whereas the Congress Of the Unit
ed States did, by An act passed in the
month Of January last, at the petition
OF the Inhabitants of George Town, for
the purpose of improving the naviga-
tion Of the River Potomac, authorize
the Corporation of George Town to
arm OF the River Potomac which
passes between Mason's Island and
the western shore of said river, and
did in the same act provide that the
same shall not be erected until the
% the the Isisnd snd 9r %esssen
shore opposite thereto shall be first
obtained;
"And. whereas. the said corporation
have no intention or views in caus-
ing said dam or causeway to be
erected other than to turn all the
water. which in descending now
passes between the island and the
passage, thereby to remove certain
distractions to navigation below the
said island; and. whereas. Jehn
Mason Of George Town, Aforesaid, the
proprietor OF said island and of tae
western shore Of the Potomac op-
posite thereto, is willing that the dam
or causeway be so erected, provided
the same be constructed in. an eff
fectual and durable manner not only
SO as completely to obstruct the pas
sage OF the water at that place but
to connect by commodious and safe
roadway his island with his land on
the western shore. and on certain
other conditions hereinafter recited
Now, this indenture made the 1st
day of June in the year 1905 between
the said John Mason Of the one part
and the Mayor. Recorder, Aldermen
and Common Council of George Town
on the other part, wftnesseth that the
said John Mason for and in consid-
GRAFTON Of One Dollar in hand paid
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowl-
edged. and for and in consideration
Of the covenants. agreements and
be performed and done by them the
said Mayor. Recorder. Aldermen and
Common Council of George Town,
hath given, granted, bargained. sold
confirmed and released, etc, ETC., so
much of the said Mason's land on the
western shore of Potomac opposite
the upper part of his island as shall
be contained within the following
lines"
Then follows a minute description
Of the land to be taken.
The corporation of Georgetown
promised ON the part Of themselves
and their successors to Construct or
cause to be constructed within two
years from the date of these presents
a dam or causeway across the arm OF
the River Potomac in a most sub
stanttal and durable manner, the dam
or causeWay to be made of stone, in
termixed with small timber and earth
from the bottom Of the river to the
surface OF the water at low tide and
that it shall be. at the surface of the
water at low tide forty feet wide and
OF stones and earth enclosed In stone
walls from low water mark upwards" ="
They agreed that "it should be raised
eight feet at least above common
high tide and q hard dry road made
on the top not less than thirty feet
wide and secured by parapet walls
on each side four feet high above the
top Of the dam or the base of said
road made thereon. John Mason con-
sents that the stone necessary for the
work and for keeping the structure in
repair may be taken out of his quarry
0OOtS SEC AAoVeu VI SPoo@ o@e'
Spout run continues to be one OF
the features OF the landscape above
Rosslyn, and the old quarry workings
are easily identified. 1t Is interesting
to have record Of the working Of
the auarries along the palisades of
the Potomac" extending back lis
years. Mason, In his degd. "gives also
all the earth that may be found nee
essafy for the dam and causeway and
to keep them in repair" 1t was to be
taken from the ground near the west
ern abutment Of the causeway from
such lots in the town laid out on my
land not at the time disposed OF, or
from some Of the streets as laid out.
or from land adjacent to them" Here
Is the fact that q town was laid out
on tho Mason land At the south Of the
AQueduct bridge at least az early as
In that old deed one may. hgura-
lively, catch a glimpse of the ancient
ferry that connected the Maryland
District side with Virginia. In con-
sideYation Of Mason permitting the
erection Of the dam and giving stone
and earth for Its building. the cor
poration Of Georgstown .tagreas to dp
all In it's power to facilitate tho said
Mason In establishing and keeping
such ferry with the greatest adtaH-
taEe and 10 secure him all rights and
to protect him against all tnterfer-
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