Evening star., 1921-08-28
FIFTYYEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

During the civil war quantities Of
powder were accumulated in and
around Washington
Powder Stored for military pur-
in the CITY. Doses' and these
=" WIG WY m zines were
drawn on for the supply Of the Army.
When the war ended many tons of
powder remained. but no special anx-
iety was felt on this score until an
explosion occurred at the arsenal
during the summer Of 1871, which in
spired the following comment in The
Star Of August %. 1871:
Since the explosion at the arsenal
there has been considerable uneasi-
ness in the eastern part Of the city
in regard to the powder stored at the
arsenal there was only about 500
pounds stored-making the explosion
felt as far as Aiexandria-while at
the magazines in question (Army and
Navy) there are about $50 tons. suf-
ficient. should AN explosion occur. to
shake the Capitol building from base
to dome. In no other city. We be-
lieve. Is 1t allowed to store powder
within the municipal limits. and
lHSTe SceIHS 10 Oe no SOOO IcdSOh
why Washington should be especially
endangered. OF course. every pre-
caution is taken by the authorities.
but the arsenal explosion, at dead OF
night, shows that no precaution can
insure safety. There is danger when
powder is being transferred from and
to the magazines, also from the work
of filling bombs, which is carried Ga
In the vicinity of the magazines; and
there will soon be another danger
from the sparks from the engines on
the Potomac railroad. To this may
be added the rnyterious perils from
unknown causes, such as operated at
the arsenal, whether from Sponta-
neous combustion, the movements OF
vermin, or what not. 1t is suggested
that a fitting place could be found at
Fort Washington. now practically
useless, and from there IL could be
readily transferred by water to the
arsenal or any other point in small
quantities as needed"
1t has been the fixed rule ever since
street railways were established in
Washington when trans
A Transfer fers were issued from
one branch to another to
1Iop1em. require their presenta-
ton at the points of intersection.
Protest against this, however. was
raised half a century ago. as attest
ed by the following in The Star OF
August "a. 1871:
There may be valid reasons for
holding the transfer tickets OF the w.
& G. Railway Company good only at
points of intersection. but IL they ex-
ist we have never seen them stated.
and we confess that We are unable TO
evolve them from our own inner con-
sciousness.
TUESDAY evening. for instance. a
lady. a stranger in the city. acc; accom-,
take a transfer ticket from the Ave
nue. line for 7th street north
Finding no car at the crossing, but
observing that, as is usually the case,
the locality was largely infested by
dirty, noisy boys and vulgar. leering
ly up the street and take the first
car, which was then in sight. 1t over
took her at or near the crossing OF
Louisiana avenue. but when she got
aboard. being ignorant OF the aroi-
trary rules of the road. her tickets
were rudely rejected and she was
forced to pay her two fares a second
time or be put off the car.
Now. so far as the patrons OF the
horse cars are concerned, the major.
ity of them find 1t less fatiguing and
pleasanter in every way to saunter
slowly along, to be overtaken by the
first car, than to stand still in the
heat and dust, surrounded by the mis-
celianeous and generally offensive
crowd which collects at the functions.
SO far as the real interests OF the
company are concerned. they can In
no way be damaged by accommodat-
ing the public In this respect.