Evening star., 1940-04-28

or on any street, avenue or alley Of
this city at pace faster than a
moderate trot or gallop, or to make
any attempt or trial of speed be-
tween two or more horses" II any
one was injured during a violation
Of this law the driver was subject to
fine of $40 and incarceration in
the workhouse for not less than 30
nor more than 80 days.
Florida avenue proved great
temptation to man with a good
stopper, and many a driver con-
tributed to the city's exchequer for
trying to lower the record of Maud S.
Georgia avenue is one of the oldest
th6roughfares leading out of WASH
ington. Many will recall it as Bright-
wood avenue, and even before this it
was known as the Seventh street
turnpike. 1t has always extended,
as it does today, from Florida avenue
north to the District line From
here it runs into the Brookville turn
pike, but before reaching Brookville,
where it originally terminated, 1t is
intersected by a number of delight
full roads which lead to Rockville,
Baltimore, and points North and
West.
1t is not one of the early roads
found here in 1900, when Congress
and the Government departments
moved to the Capital City. Some
time between 1908 and 1910 its con-
struction was authorized, but the
Columbia Turnpike Co., chartered
to build this and other roads, delayed
beginning the work, and the project
was finally taken up by the WASH
ington & Rockville Turnpike Co., Of
which Benjamin Ogie Tayloe was
president and John Carroll Brent,
secretary Mr.. Brent was later the
first secretary of the Association Of
Oldest Inhabitants.
Sessford, in his Annals" for the
year 1922, says: The Turnpike road
leading from Seventh street to
Rockville has already become a great
utility to this ward and the city
generally" and from this state
ment it might we'll be assumed that
| it was new road at that date, but
it was certainly not completed to
Rockville until 1929, when toll gates
were erected. 1t must have been
a mud hole in wet weather, and ex.
| tremely dusty when it was dry,
| for it remained unimproved for
many years.
Made Plank Roads.
About 1850 the Maryland portion
was improved with a plank road.
and in 1852 the District part was
covered with hemlock planks three
to four inches thick, with q width
of eight feet. Just what two teams
did when they met can only be
surmised. Undoubtedly some one
had to step aside in the mud.
1t was a narrow road, even within
the memory of many, and has been
widened at least twice within the
last 40 years.
AS might be expected, the plank
road did not last long, and for that
reason 1t remained in bad shape for
long while, until graded and ma
cadamized by the Board of Public
Works during Gov. Shepherds ad-
ministration, and it so happened to
be one of those improvements which
were questioned by the committee
which tried to find something wrong
with everything that Mr.. Shepherd
did. However, in its improved con-
dition, 1t made fine road for driv-
ing, and In later years, when BIZ
cycling became craze, it was much
used by enthusiastic wheelmen.
AS the writer first recalls this
road, it was similar to any other
country road around Washington
lined with overhanging trees of vari-
GUS native species, and with holes
IN 1t large enough to make driver
stop every once in awhile in order
not to break a wagon spring. Oc-
casionally there was a spring to the
side Of the road, around which a
half barrel had been placed, and
a cocoanut dipper or a rusty tin
can with which the weary traveller
on warm summers day refreshed
himself with genuine aqua pura.
One of these natural fountains
known as James Whites Spring
Is recalled, in particular, since it
was the most copious along this pike.
incidentally 1t now empties into
sewer, though few OF the trees
which once surrounded it are still
standing, recognized only by few
whose memories wander back into
the distant past, and In their minds
eye they can see this old road in
all its rustic beauty as 1t appeared
to them In their childhood days.
Along both sides of Georgia ave-
nue., up to the period OF the Civil
War, was practically nothing but
farms. Between 1857 and 1860 but
few persons lived and owned prop
erty on what was then, and even
for years later, q turnpike road,
On the east side, near Florida ave.
nue-at No. 2023 Georgia avenue,
IN q house still standing ut the
entrance to the baseball park-liveu
1t. johnson. Until his death
few years ago, this was the home
OF Frank T. De Neale, 1t. Johnson's
son -in-law, and 1t Is probable some
o. the Do Neale family still reside
there.