Evening star., 1936-01-12
By John Clasen Proctor.


and more ago. There may still be
some early inhabitsnt who recalls
when this thoroughfare was almost
entirely unimproved, but that would
be going quite a long distance back,
and if his mind only goes back to the
early '70s, when this street was paved
with tarred block, his memory is
serving him very well.
Seemingly, Congress has always
thought that for the privilege of liv-
ing at the National Capital the prop
erty holders should pay for the street
and other improvements. and, not
strange to say, the people have thought
from the time the city was laid out,
and have continued steadfast in their
views ever since, that, as the Federal
Government owns practically all the
streets, alleys and parking space in
the District OF Columbia, and all the
Government reservations besides, it
should at least pay two-thirds OF the
expense for street improvements
and, unquestionably, the citizens OF
any other city, under similar clrcum-
stances, would feel the same way
about it.
However, up until about the close
OF the Civil War the so-called streets
of the Capital were practically moth
ing but dirt roads, and so we find one
of the earliest street Improvements
in Washington to have cost the city
5000, which was in 1902, and was for
the clearing and rendering passable
of Fourteenth street. north from
street to the northern extremity there
Of" which probably meant Florida
avenue. This improvement consisted
in covering the carriageways and side
walks with gravel
Twelve years later the city began
to use cobblestones for paving short
stretches Of roadvays and for side
walks, and laid some paving brick
and stone for sidewalk intersections,
and the United States Government, in
order to make travel possible between
the Capitol and the executive depart
ments, in 1882 macadamized Pennsyl-
vania avenue from First to Fifteenth
street, the work being performed by
Hugh Stewart And this was about
all that was done to the Avenue until
1870, when 1t received wooden block
surface.
lew will recall when Washington
- had cobblestone streets, but many
still remember when the space allot-
ted to the street cars was paved In
this way, and how cruel it seemed
even at the time-to compel the poor
horses to travel over rounded stones
and to pull a heavy load while doing
20. The Ninth street car line was no
exception to the general practice, and
here could be seen many sprung
kneed horses, made so by travelling
over what would naturally be rough
and uneven surface.
The Ninth street line was a part OF
the old Metropolitan system. char
tered by Congress July l, 1864. and
began to operate about two years
later. At first it ran only as far
north as Rhode Island avenue, but
in 1873 it was continued out Ninth
street as far as old Boundary street
(now Florida avenue) and continued
on to its barn on Georgia avenue,
short distance to the north OF the
present base ball park and on the OPP
posite side of the street, and Tor
years this was ont of the typical bob
tail street car lines OF the city
Naturally, at the time this line was
extended the city north of P street
was quite undeveloped. Reedy Branch'
a stream which crossed Florida ave-
nue. at Eighth street on its way south
To intersect Tiber Creek, had just
been inciosed in sewer and the little
hand bridge which once spanneo II
became only a memory, just as ala tne
old Tiber itself, once formidable
stream.
The late DR.. Joseph T. Howard,
horn in this city in 1882, and who was
for wears a member of the Association
of the Oldest Inhabitants and cor
responding secretary Of that organl-
cation at the time of his death in 1910,
wrote in verse an excellent description
in 1889 of the Tiber, In which ne says,
in part:
"Three main sources had this ro-
mantle creek,
Whilst two its broader bed did seek;
The first its little armlets outward
spread
At intervals to catch the water shed
From undulating hills that far
away
North of the city in verdure lay;
This through Eighth street poured
its tide,
Another along F street its way did
guide.
Continent these at First and o,
Their mingled waters gently flow,
Along o street, round Rodbirds
Hill
To M street, near the old grist mill,
Where the third its tribute gen.
erous gave,
From whence they sped one flowing
wave.
The latter close to Rock Greek
Church wound its course.
For meadows east of Brightwood
owned its source.
Then through the vale of Soldiers
Home
1t sped, and farther southwark
Through Mccloud's, serry's. Gales
place,
Where yet one may its windings
trace,
Until nearing Florida avenue,
Where, now arched over, it is lost
view.
Flowing in unison there the Tiber
became,
Which, as Popes Greek while was
known to fame,
But as Capitol Branch to all around
It's familiar name doth yet resound,
The smaller tributaries that fed the
stream,
May find description as we pursue
the theme"
@p rJowApD vas an early resident |