Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24

az Superintendent of Public Buildings and
Grounds from 1873 to 1877, when extensive
improvements were made TO that part of the
Mall nearest to the Washington Monument.
An old picture shows just how close TO the
Monument the water came at that time and
one can hardly realize that the area where that
beautiful Lincoln Memorial now stands was,
during Gen. Babcocks term of Office, sub
Stantially part of the Potomac River. Here
may also be seen to the right, Babcock's Lake,
named for the general, and still remembered
by ever so many Washingtonians who have
grown to that age when they can live In terms
Of the past.
It is especially recalled, because of the pleas
ure. 1t afforded during the Winter months, when
it was sufficiently frozen over to permit of
skating, and when the lake would be crowded
from early morning till late at night by the
young, the middle aged and the old Though
quite young at the time, yet the writer cher
ishes among his m; morieS the many occasions
he INDUCED in this sport on Babcocks Lake,
and he recalls, too. some Of those who would
go there to earn few dollars by sharpening
skates for which their usual outfit consisted
OF three-sided file or two. ..
NO doubt the present generation enjoys itself
equally as well during Wintertime skating
on the rejecting pool TO the east Of the Lin
coin Memorial, where terminates the western
most part Of the Mall, and only few hundred
feet from the river Though this ground was
once covered with water, yet there is no danger
of the Memorial ever settling, for the reason
that h-like the very Government in which
we WRISTBANDS upon bedrock foundation.
Another familiar sight in this same picture
Is the old building of the Department of Agri-
culture, erected in 1868, and which win prob
ably soon be removed, as the new central part
OF the marble building just to the rear of it
win soon be completed and occupied.
This building when erected was regarded as
very fine building, and, for that date, it prob
ably was. 1t was designed by Adoph Cluss is
OF pressed brick with brownstone trimmings,
and cost the Government around $4,000
After icing placed here the grounds were ex-
tenSively5 beautthed with choice plants and
flowers and with many varieties of trees and
hardy shrubs. Walks were laid out, q low wall
was erected around the front garden and
numerous rustic vases and statues were in
cluded in the improvements, as added attrac-
tions. 1t occurs to the writer that the trees
that line the roadway leading north intD
Thirteenth street were planted around 1885,
or at least Il seems to him that he remembers
them nearly as far back as that.
The Washington Monument in the picture
places the date of the photograph as some
where between 1868 and 1878. The earlier date
was the year the Department of Agriculture
building was erected, and the latter one the
year the roof was removed from the Monument
toward completing the shaft.
This old view is interesting to study as a
number OF the old structures, no longer I'm ex-
1stence, may stin be seen there. The old lock
keepers house. erected about 1885, at the
eastern terminus of the Chesapeake 81 Ohio
Canal, though slightly removed from It's orig
NAL position, is stiu to be seen, almost as it
stood nearly hundred years ago On the edge
OF the old canal-minus, Of course, the canal.
The Observatory on Camp Hin shows up
clearly, as do the Presidents stables on Seven
teenth street, removed some years ago. BY
close examination the chimneys Of the Van
Mess mansion can be seen peeping out OF the
trees that surrounded it, just to the north OF
the lock house.
Other points familiar to many can be seen
here and there, and will carry the old resi-
dent back over a number Of years It shows,
also. how much vacant ground there was then
m this part Of the city, now occupied by some
OF the most magnificent buildings in the city.
A NNOTHER old view Of Washington is pecu-
liarly interesting because It shows q Sec
ton now being covered in part by the Depart
ment Of Commerce Building This view was
taken about 1857, when this section was occu-
pied by some Of Washingtons most respect
able residents. Conspicuous on Fifteenth
street Is the home of Henry Ulke, the artist,
which removed only recently that the
Government might carry out its building ur0-