Evening star., 1937-10-17
PIONEER LIME MAKERS HERE
Openings Near Rock Greek Parkway Are Surviving Traces Of
Early Production of Building Materials-Days of
Rich Fishing and Rock Greek Tales.

it was desirable to provide an outlet
for the post road through the city
contract was let, in the Spring Of 1892.
to Lonard Harbaugh of Baltimore, to
erect stone bridge for this purpose.
To attempt to describe accurately
Rock Creek at this time would be
futile, so greatly has 1t changed since
the District WAS laid out. Indeed, we
are told by one reliable authority that
the mouth OF Rock Greek formed a
broad opening that began at the base
Of the ridge ives. Of the creek, along
which M street passes and extended
as far west almost as Thirty-second
street, and this necessitated the build
ing Of a causeway 80 by 1900 feet.
which formed . part OF what Is now
Water street, In Georgetown.
60 FAR as known, there is no draw
ing or design Of this early bridge.
However, we do know that 1t consisted
OF three arches Of stone. the corner
stone of the eastern abutment being
laid on July 4, 1892, in the presence
of the Commissioners and citizens. It
proved defective, and in 1875 the CEN
ter arch had to be replaced, and soon
afterward a more substantial struc-
ture was placed at this point, the cen
ter arch or keystone finding its way
to Kalorama, where 1t was used for a
chen-door step.
Although President Washington ap-
proved the letting of the contract for
the K street bridge, yet he felt it un-
necessary to leave such matters OF
detail to him, he being without sufh-
cient inside information to give 1t in
telligent Endorsement, and so, in
writing on the subject to David Stuart,
one of the Commissioners, on April
3, 1892, he said:
The letter from the Commissioners
to Mr.. Jefferson has been laid before
me and have desired him to approve
the contract respecting the bridge over
ROCK Creek; but in future it would be
more agreeable to me, after a plan,
or the principles leading to the meas
ure is approved. not to have the de-
tails or the execution suspended for a
reference to me. Because, to Judge
properly of the matter must Gin many
instances) depend upon calculation
upon accustomed modes, established
prices and usages Of different places
none of which my time and activities
will allow me to investigate with
promptneSs: consequently the business
must be delayed Qf take time for
examination) or I must decide in the
dark. IL I do not.
This has actually been the case
with respect to the bridge above men
| toned; for if had been called upon
to say what such bridge would cost
should have guessed less than the
contract price. And though the items
which form the aggregate may con-
tain more materials than are indis-
pensably necessary; and the price of
them and rates Of work not more than
usual. yet, from a want of knowledge
IN these matters, both appear high
to me-"
1t is quite probable that President
Washington passed over the original
bridge and there is evidence that he
did pass over the second or restored
bridge when on his way to Mount Ver-
non after retiring from the presidency.
| AS will be recalled, Mrs. Washington's
| granddaughter, Martha Parke Custis,
married Thomas, son of Robert Peter,
! first mayor of Georgetown, and re-
sided in one of the two houses at
2618-2620 K street, and here Gen.
Washington stopped number of
times when passing through the city.
Upon the particular time referred to,
we are told that the inhabitants of
Georgetown and its vicinity learning
OF his intention to resume his journey
after leaving the Peter house, assem-
bled at the bridge to greet him and
bid him adieu. All hearts, it is said.
were deeply touched, and no eye in
that assemblage was unmoistened
upon beholding the man who had done
so much and sacrificed and suffered
so much, to bring the war to A Sue