Evening star., 1939-05-14
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star

THE work of surveying for the pro-
posed road to Mount Vernon has begun, p"
reads a news story in The
''s"o'o' Star of May Il, 1889. "un-
ni9n~oy der direction of Col Hams,
Survey who has been placed in
charge of the project by the chief of
engineers. He has started out quite a
party with three instruments under the
direction of Civil Engineer B F. Mackall
of this city. There has been but one
line laid out for survey as yet. but it is
likely in fact. it is Col Hains' intention,
to survey several available routes before
making his report. He said this morn
ing that he expected that the work of
examining the route would be completed
within two months, when he would make
his report to Gen. Casey giving the data
on each line. the probable cost to trans
form each into a solid, substantial road,
and possibly making recommendations
as to the feasibility or advisa bility of
some particular route
His idea is to make this road a ma
tional highway, Government turnpike
that will serve as a memorial of the
fame of Washington, whose home it is to
connect with the city that bears his
name, road wide enough to accommo-
date the great traffic that is sure to be
attracted TO it daily. 1t is not to be- in
Col. Hams mind merely thoroughfare
for the convenience of travellers. a means
Of inlet and outlet to the farmers and
inhabitants of the region lying to the
west of the city but road to enable
people to make the pilgrimage to Mount
Vernon by means of the pleasantest
kind of locomotion through charming
landscapes"
Work on the reclamation of the Poto-
mac fats was proceeding slowly half q
century ago and Col Hains,
NV" !" who was in charge of the
tue THUS project. was being beset by
Area many difficulties other than
noted in the following story in The Star
of May IA, 1889:
Col. P. c. Hams, the engineer in
charge Of the Potomac flats improve
ment, has come to the conclusion that
the rock upon which the three -masted
schooner Concut struck last week during
the storm, while coming up the river
under tow of the tug Veta, lies about 900
feet west from the east shore, almost in
line with Easbys Point. Several years
ago this rock was discovered while
sweeping the channel. Soundings
showed it to be covered with about II
feet of water, and as it lay so far out of
the line of navigation, almost on the
borders of the fats at the edge of Ana
lostan Island, it was not considered at
all dangerous. 1t is known on the charts
as Rock P. Col. Hains intends to have
an examination made of this locality,
with view to determining the size and
shape Of the rock. If it is found to be
small it can probably be taken out at
very little expense, but If it proves to be
large and extensive, it may be impos-
sible to do anything with it unless a
special appropriation is made for that
purpose"
In the same issue of The Star appears
the following editorial comment:
''It Is reported that a schooner has
dashed against and damaged itself upon
ledge of rock in the Georgetown Har-
Dor. Flats, and not rock reefs, have been
considered the drawback upon the Capt.
tails marine commerce. This casualty
suggests the possibility that with the de-
fining of narrower and deeper channel
of the Potomac by means of the pending
harbor improvement the mortifying lack
q water to float vessels may no longer
be imputed to the river of the Capital.
The fact that the schooner energetically
struck reef instead of ANONYMOUSLY
running aground in soft mud is dis
tinctly encouraging, especially as the
damage done causes the disaster to re-
semble not SO much the recent calamity
at Apia as the historic wreck in the
raging canawl.' If Congress will per-
form faithfully its fat-fllling duties
Georgetown may renew its ancient trad
ing glories and the Capital, as . COM
mercial city, may be happy yet"