Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16

~ NE OF the most nOtAb1e SpOCS IN bn6
District Of Columbia, which win soon
be marked with bronze tablet by the
Committee ON Marking Points Of
Historic Interest, is the site Of the old
Baltimore q Ohio Railroad Station, which stood
for years at the northwest corner Of Second
street and Pennsylvania avenue northwest. It
was the first railroad station In washington,
and, as steam railroading was then IN its In
fancy in this country, it was also, quite nat
urally, one Of the first railroad stations IN the
United States.
Ninety-five years makes quite difference in
any city, and the washington Of today, aside
from its comparison to the LEnfant plan, bears
little resemblance indeed to the Washington Of
1885, when, on August Is, the steam engines
George washington. John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson and James Madison came pufilng into
the National Capital for the FIRST time bringing
along the distinguished guests from the Monu-
mental City to be discharged near the old T1ber
Greek which then crossed the Avenue ct
Second street. Few people are living today
who could have possibly witnessed this great
event or who even remember this old three
story brick building with the little low sloping
shed attached to the east and the one-story
building adjoining to the west. quite
marked difference, we must admit 70 the
grand Union depot Of today, which cost about
900 and in the concourse Of which can
be stood an army Of $4,000 men.
THE historian of today finds it more difhcuit
- no doubt, to trace events Of this character,
Of hundred or more years ago, than their
successors win hundred years hence, when
they are seeking information Of the present
period. for there is little Of importance omitted
in the public write-ups now whereas century
agO frequently little is said OF what we today
look back upon as some Of the more important
celebrations of that time. And so it Is with the
opening Of this first railroad depot in wash
ington: there Is much not covered in the early
reports which would make good reading today.
However, the cause for this brevity on local
current events is easily discernibe TO those
who like to read old newspapers, Tor they soon
discover that everything including even births.
deaths and MARRIAGES. sidetracked for POLITE
cal news. Nearly all newspapers OF hundred
years ago-and many even more recently-were
either owned outright by the political parties
themselves, or at least TO an extent subsidized
by them. and what Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Calhoun or
Mr. webster had to say about States rights or
the tariff was far more important TO the papers
than some mere local celebration, and there Is
where the historian sometimes falls back on
his imagination
The running Of the first railroad train into
washington, and the opening Of its first rail-
road depot, was not only one factor IN the
dawn of an epoch IN the United States, but
great historic event in the National Capital as
wei, and yet we find comparatively little said
Of 1t in advance Of its occurrence. Indeed, the
National nteiligencer Of August a. 1885,
briefly states:
aThe opening Of the Baltimore and
washington Railroad.
1.-TWO cars win leave the Ticket once. at the
intersection of Second street west and Pennsyl-
wanna avenue This day CAGonday) Ut o'clock
pm to convey the invited guests TO Baltimore,
to join the train from Baltimore on Tuesday
morning.
"a car win leave Washington on Tuesday
morning at 10 O'Clock to convey the members
Of the Corporations Of Washington, Alexandra
and Georgetown to Bladensburg, TO meet the
trains from Baltimore"
On August 26, the day following the opening,
the Intelligencer prints the following:
Opening Of the Railroad.
yesterday was great day on the new rail-
road between Baltimore and washington, being
the frst day Of its being opened for travel all
the way from the depot at Baltimore TO the loot
OF the Capitol Hill In this city.
at was glorious sight to see four trains
Of cars, with each its engine. extending alto
gether several hundred yards IN length, making
their entry by this new route, 70 the DELIGHT
Of thousands Of spectators IN the grounds d.
Yectly north Of the Capitol. These cars, be-
sides bringing hack cur own mayor and menu
beB Of the corporation and city guests who