Evening star., 1945-03-18
Along the Old Washington City Canal

There were two big factors that oper-
ated to finally kill the canal One of
these factors was the continual filling
up of the Rock Creek basin of the
Chesapeake 81 Ohio Canal with sedi-
ment most every time a freshet oc-
CURED. The other one, and by far the
most formidable, was the entrance of
the Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad into
the city in 1895, and really from this
time on the doom Of the canal was
sealed. However, at such times as it
was available for admitting boats of
light draft it rendered much service in
bringing into the city most everything
needed.
During the existence OF the canal
much Of the material used In con-
structing the public buildings was de-
livered at one of its wharves. The
Seneca stone with which the Smith
sonian is constructed was brought here
over the canal and conveyed from 1t
to the building over the Mall by way
of small temporary railroad.
Canal Bridges
Speaking of the bridges over the
canal, Mr.. Sessford in 1884 says: The
bridge at Twelfth street (being two in
clined planes with very steep ascent)
is almost impossible with a full load,
and the bridge itself appears as If on
stills instead of resting on stone piers"
Two years later this bridge was reduced
in height, permitting 1t to be crossed
with considerably less effort. At this
time the Twelfth Street Bridge was
without q draw in it, and there was
an appeal for one so constructed as to
permit vessels to pass up to the Center
Market the argument being that this
would make the wharves and property
adjoining just that much more valuable.
In 1850 the Seventh Street Bridge and
the Twelfth Street Bridge were replaced
with iron structures, the work being
done by Mr.. Rider OF this city, and
the following year the bridge at Four
and-a-half street (now Fourth street,
was similarly changed by the same con-
tractor
During and following the Civil War
the area from about Tenth and Fiji
teenth streets and from Ohio avenue
to D street NV, gradually grew into
what finally became Washington's most
disreputable section and which was
only wiped out a quarter Of a century
or more ago by an act OF Congress.
Prior to this condition, however, many
of the most refined citizens dwelt In
this neighborhood and only moved else
tn dn tn
the revolving conditions.
Greatly Changed Now
Today we look upon Constitution ave-
nue. and the Mall as very attractive
places, but such was not the case in the
early days of the city. Indeed, during
the first few decades of the Capitals
existence, when this part Of the Dis
trict was substantially a bare piece OF
ground, conditions were not quite SO
bad, for then it was possible at least to
see any one approaching for some dis
tance of, but after the placing of bushes
and trees, mainly in the Smithsonian
grounds, excellent hiding places were
afforded lily disposed persons to pounce
upon their prey without seconds no.
tice. Indeed, the Mall Of today and
the Mall of yesterday are decidedly two
different places.
No doubt the climax of vice in the
District of Columbia was reached dur
ing or Immediately following the Civil
War. Perhaps the later period was the
worst, for then the troops had been
withdrawn and handful of police were
expecting to preserve the city's peace.
Indeed, there were mighty few tender
footed men who sought the position Of
guardian of the peace at this time,
rather preferring to pass this particular
job to their more stalwart brothers.
Crime Conditions
Washington, during this struggle, was
geographically nearly midway between
the North and the South, and for time
it seemed that the riffraf and the GRIM
inals and roughnecks of both sides had
settled right here, as well as the many
thousands of former slaves who accept
ed Uncle Sans hospitality during the
war and decided to call this place home,
and, with the addition of their proper
ton of bad people, it was soon found
necessary to plan for and provide addi-
tional Jail and workhouse accommoda-
tions.
What at this particular time made the
Mall so undesirable for night travel was
its proximity to what the old-timer
recalls as Murder Bay-a vile district,
which gradually became worse, as be-
fore stated.
Originally it included q small strip
between Ohio avenue and the old canal
that ran along little south of B street,
and we are told that from the beginning
1t consisted Of row of little frame
shanties, occupied mostly by Negroes
but with a sprinkling of whites of the
worst character. Later, and during the
Civil War and subsequently, vice in
creased here to such an extent that
large numbers of the respectable nearby
residents moved to other parts of the
city. leaving the original area to increase
by blocks until the stencil Of vileness SC
affected the public morals that the re-
voting conditions were finally wiped
out by highly appropriate act Of Con-
gress.