Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10

along the main highways leading to
and connecting the Maryland cities mentioned
with the Nations Capital. Today people think
nothing of residing 10 is miles from their
work in Washington, and when the airpiane
takes the place Of other methods Of travel 30
or 40 miles will seem but very short jump
To those who have made study OF the past
it is easy to believe that the future can be reck-
oned by what has already taken place, and
that the progress that has been made during
our lives will be greatly exceeded, If anything,
in a few years after we have passed from the
scene
To the writer it seems but few years ago
and vet it has been 40 or 50-when The Star
routes outside of the city proper were delivered
only by boys who served the paper TO their
own private customers, while just few days
ago the writer met one of The Stars wagons
Is miles from Washington delivering the latest
news to the yellow metal tubes marked Wash
ington Star" and of which there is a great
nu Tber within the same and even greater
radius of the Capital.
When the airplane supersedes the steam and
electric cars and the automobile few hundred
miles of travel will mean substantially nothing,
and living in Baltimore, Annapolis or Rich
mond and working in Washington will not
seem at all as strange as it did number OF
years ago when the steam railroads sent special
trains to Washington from the Monumental
City with public offce-holders, largely the con-
man, who certainly knew how to take care OF
his own But at that time the trip over con-
sumed at least an hours time, whereas in
few years this will mean not more than 10 or
Is minutes.
Indeed, everything is tending toward the
saving Of time; q few years ago If one desired
to no TO Annapolis by automobile, and wanted
to make sure of q good road, he had to go all
the way into Baltimore and then out again in
order to reach his destination, trip OF slightly
over 20 miles, or, If he wished to take chance
he could cut across the country at Lansdowne,
about miles this side of Baltimore, and take
the Annapolis Baltimore road, which would
mean about 10 miles less. To go by way OF
Upper Marlboro meant only 42.7 miles, but
here you were taking more than chance, Tor
on the other side of Hills Bridge and between
that and South River there were some dirt
and sand roads that could never be depended
upon.
DUT this was is years ago, and today An
y napolis can be reached from Washington
by . more perfect and shorter route-namely,
the Defense Highway-which shortenS the
former nearest route by about miles. This
road, which Is an everlasting monument to the
labors Of the late G. @. Magruder Of Prince
Georges County, Md, was first opened to travel
on July 16, 1927, and the distance from Wash
ington to the Maryland capital is just 80 miles.
Il Is only natural that we who have been
familiar with this quaint Colonial city, for
many Of us can recall when we would go on
excursions to Bay Ridge, back in the early Dos,
and almost enter the city before we would turn
off at the ''Y" for the Chesapeake resort. The
shifting at this point, though not intended as
such, proved quite an accommodation to those
wishing to visit either Washington or Annap-
oils. AS the writer recalls it, the fare between
the two cities was then about g. whereas the
round trip excursion ticket cost but SO cents
and ever so many persons, during the Summer
season, rode from Washington to Annapolis
and Annapolis to Washington on excursion
tickets, at a cost in many cases Of IS cents for
one way, by taking advantage Of the stop at
the "Y" Many of us recall Annapolis juno
ton, where the train left the main B. q O.
line for Bay Ridge, and the first station after
which was Admiral. MilIersvlle and 1glehart
were nearer to Annapolis, and even still closer
was Parole, called by the old residents Camp
Parole, because here during Civil War days
were eneamped many Of the soldiers received
in exchange from the South for Confederate
soldiers captured by the North The Pennsyl-
Vania Railroad also ran into Annapolis.
Many an Annapolis or Ann Arundel County
girl married one Of these paroled Union pris-
oners, and in doing 80 obtained very good
husband. The writer happens TO know lady
now living Ia Washington, who, as might be
suspected, ~ wen up In her eighties, who
married Maine soldier who was brought to
this camp after having been wounded ct
Fredericksburg, captured by the enemy and ex-
changed. They lived together for 81 years, or
until his death In Washington In 1926.
younger sister to the lady referred to did like
wise, and she and her husband lived to enjoy
a long and happy married life. Shortly after
the latter couple were married they moved
from Annapolis, but returned IN their declining
years ard bought q farm close 10 tho old camp
where the wife had met the man Of her choice
in her a1Hzhood dayA. They now he buried
w NNAA
or, - they call It now, the City Cemetery.