of the city against fire were exceedinglj^ primitive. House-
keepers were required to have a certain number of buckets,
with their names, for each story. They were regulai-ly in-
spected. An old-style manual sj^stem was next adopted. In
1835 there Avere two fire engines, and in 1846 seven. In 18G1
the N'ational Government eaigaged the services of the Iliber-
nia Steam Fire Engine, of Philadelphia, and brought the first
steamer to Washington, as a means of protection for the im-
mense quantities of Government stores. In 1864 the paid
system went into operation. The Government then owned
three steam fii-e engines, and the corporation three, and one
Hook and Ladder' Company. In 1869 the Grovernment
steamers were withdraMTi.
208 DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
The entire force of the District now consists of 5 Steam
Fire Engines, 1 Hook and Ladder Company, and 29 horses,
(4 to each engine^) and 59 officers and nien^ (10 to each com-
pany.) The administrative control is under a Board of Fire
Commissioners, a Cliief and Assistant Engineer, and Secre-
tary. In connection with the service is a Fire Alarm Tele-
graph, witli the Central Station at Police Headquarters.
There are 72 alarm stations in various parts of the city. The
buildings were erected by the city, and have every conveni-
ence for the men, animals, and apparatus, and are arranged
with special reference to dispatcli in responding to alarms.
Tlie engines are also of the most approved patterns. Tlie
foreman will show visitors every tiling of interest. Tlie com-
panies are located, No. 1, K st., bet. 16th and 17th W. ; ISTo.
2, D St., near 12th XW. ; Ko. 3, Capitol Hill, :N'ew Jersey
av. SE. of the Capitol; I^o. 4, Virginia av., bet. 4J and 6th
St. SW ; Ko. 5, Georgetown, High street, near Bridge. Hook
and Ladder, Massachusetts av., bet. 4th and 5th sts.
Metropolitan Police — (Office on Louisiana av., bet. 4| and
6th St. W.) This branch of the District service was estab-
lished in 1861. In 1866 a police telegraph was constructed.
The police force consists of 238 officers and men, with duties
extending throughout the entire District, Thei-e are 8 pre-
cincts.
District Jail. — The present Jail of the District of Columbia
is a three-storied, white-washed brick structure, occupying a
portion of public reservation JSTo. 9, jS". of the City Hall, and
on the SW. corner of G- and 4th sts. KW., completed about
1841.
A neio jaiL, more suitable to the necessities of the Dis-
trict, is being erected on the IST. portion of reservation JSTo. 13,
on the Anaeostia, immediately IST. of the Washington Asy-
lum. The plan contemplates an outer range of one-storied
buildings of solid masonry, forming the enclosm*e of the jail
proper. The latter will be built of Seneca stone, brick, and
Iron, three stories high, with ranges of cells on each floor, 300
in all.
Between the inner building and the outer walls there will
be a space of 16 ft., which will be under the surveillance of the
guards.
The building will be 310 by 193 ft., and from the stone base
to the main cornice 50 ft. high, to the ridge 68 ft., and to the
top of the cupola 90 ft. Oii either end of the building will
l)e ventilating shafts 86 ft. high, and, in conjunction with
steam pipes under each tier of cells, will preserve a regular
THE MARKETS. 209
temperature. The centre of the buildino' will form a vesti-
bule 16 ft. square, from the lower floor of which will spring
the staircases leading to the tiers of prisoners' cells. The S.
projection will embrace the warden's ofiice, guard, and wit-
ness rooms, while the N". will contain a chapel and kitchen.
The basement will be devoted to laundrj', bath-room, and
culinary conveniences.
The structure was designed by Adolf Cluss, arcliitect, and
is being executed hy A. 33. MuUett.
THE MAKKETS.
The countrj?^ around the National Capital produces fine
vegetables of all descriptions, and the Potomac river and
Chesapeake Bay afford not only fish and oysters unexcelled
and in great quantities, but admirable facilities for supplying
the Markets with the earlier produce of more southern lati-
tudes. The best qualities of meats and the finest game,
aquatic and field, are also orlered for sale at cheaper rates
than other large cities. There are four principal markets in
the city, two already accommodated with very fine perma-
nent buildings. Strangers would find the markets a most
interesting place for a visit.
The largest is the Centre Market^ erected by the Washington
Market Company in 1870, comprising three commodious brick
structures — a central building and two Avings — lengtli from
E. to W., 410 ft., and wiiich occupy the S. half of tlie square
between 7th and 9th sts. W., on the S. side of Pennsylvania
av., and accessible by horse cars on that av. and 7tli and 9tli
sts. Market every day.
The Eastern Market, on Capitol Hill, at the junction of 7th
st. E. and North Carolina av., completed in 1873, is also a
fine la^'ge brick structure.
The Western Market, on K between 20th and 21st sts. NW.,
and the Northern Market, between 6th and 7th and O and P
sts. NAV., at present temporarily occupy sheds. Brick struc-
tures of large dimensions are now in course of erection for
tlieir accommodation. In the original plan of the city, 1791,
there w^ere three reservations for the E., W., and Centre
Markets ; the latter, however, is the only one erected on the
site originally set apart.
14
210 PLACES OF HISTORICAL INTEREST.
PLACES OF HISTOEICAL H^TEKEST.
The residence of Gen. J. P. Van ISTess still stands on what
was known as Mansion Square, about a., at the foot of 17th
St. W., between B and C sts. IST., and where the Tiber then
emptied its w^aters into the Potomac. It was previously the
residence of David Burns, one of the original proprietors of
the site of Washington, who owned, by inheritance through
several generations of Scottish ancestors, what now consti-
tute the tinest portions of the city. Gen. Van Ness, a repre-
sentative from N"ew York, by liis marriage, about 1802, with
Marcia Burns, sole heiress of the Burns estate, enlarged the
buildings, erected green houses, planted trees and fruits, and
made other improvements, then considered very superior.
The place was then one of the finest in the country. The
square is enclosed by a brick wall, with a fine gateway and
two lodges. Many of the veneral)le trees are still growing.
The Van N"ess warehouse, on the line of 17th st., is still stand-
ing, though very dilapidated. The Washington canal ran just
S.of it. Attorney General William Wirt occupied the fine
old mansion, now the ISTationai Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphan
Asylum, on G St., between 17tli and 18th sts. W. The Old
Capitol, now converted into private residences, stands on the
NW. corner of A and 1st sts. XE. Congress met here after
the burning of tlie Capitol in 1814. During the war it was
used as a political prison. Wirz, the prison keeper of Ander-
sonville, was executed here.
On North Carolina av., between 1st and 2d sts. SE., stands
the venerable mansion of Duddhigton, owned by Daniel Car-
roll, one of the original proprietors of the site of Washington,
and one of the three commissioners appointed in 1791 to su-
perintend the building of the city.
SECTION Y.
ENVIRONS OF WASHINGTON.
EOEGETOWiSr, in the District of Columbia, pop-
ulation in 1S70, 11,384, liesNW. of Washington,
v:^-,-j_. upon the 1. or X. bank of the Potomac Kiver, near
^fJr the heart of natural navigation. It is the port of
" "~ entry of the District of Columbia. The city is
separated from Wasliington by Rock creek, a
small mountain stream, across which are tliree fine
bridges, and, topographically, is exceedingly romantic, being
situated on a series of hills, the highest of Mhicli are known
as '•'Georgetown Heights." These overlook a vast sweep of
country, including Washington and the broad bosom of the
Potomac. Upon these heights are numerous beautiful villas.
Before the foundation of the rival city adjacent it enjoyed
considerable local importance, and carried on a brisk com-
merce on the river and with the surrounding country. Its
exports were chiefly tobacco, flour, and leather. Its trade
continued to flourisli as late as 1830, wiien 5,000 hhds. of to-
bacco and 80,000 bbls. of flour were inspected here. In addi-
tion to home commerce there was a trade with Europe, Soutli
America, and the West Indies. The city was laid out under
autliority of an act of tlie Colonial Assembly of Maryland,
passed in 1751. Tlie proprietors were George Gordon and
George Beall. In 1789 it was incorporated, and Robert Peter
was chosen fii-st mayor.
Georgetown may be reached from Wasliington by two
lines of Iwrse-cars — the Metropolitan on F st., (Georgetown
cars,) and the Washington and Georgetown on Pennsylvania
av. For convenience, it would be well to go out by the for-
mer and return by the latter. Arriving at Washington st.,
Georgetown, the visitor will leave the cars, and a sliort Avalk
to the head of the street will bring him to the entrance to
Oak Hill Cemetery^ {open every day^ except Sunday and holi-
days, from sunrise to sunset.) The old portion, 10 a., incor-
porated by Congress in 1849, Avas the gift of W. W. Corcoran,
(211)
212 GEORGETOWN.
and this was increased by subsequent purchases to about 30
a. It lies on the N". slope of Georgetown Heights, at the foot
of which runs Rock creek. It is an extremely beautiful spot.
The cemetery lias an endowment of $120,000, from Mr. Cor-
coran. It contains a fine chapel and superintendent's lodge.
All the graves are vaulted with bluestone. The Corcoran
mausoleum stands in the NE. portion of the ground. On the
W. is the memorial chapel of Mr. Linthicum. In the E. por-
tion is the Van jSTess mausoleum, designed by liadlield. It
formerly stood on Mausoleum Square, H st., bet. 9th and 10th,
Washington, the burial-ground of the family of David Burns,
one of the original proprietors of the site of Washington. It
is a copy of the Temple of Vesta,- at Rome. It was erected
by Gen. Van Ness, and contains the remains of the Burns
family, Marcia Van ISTess, and her husband. Among the
prominent persons buried here are Chief Justice Chase, E.
M. Stanton, Secretary of War, on the brow of the hill, on
the E.; Gen. L. Reno, near the latter, and Gen. Plummer,
in W. portion. The public vault is large, and of the time of
Henry VIII. The grounds were formerly known as Parrott's
woods.
Returning to the same line of street-cars, and alighting on
the r. side, at Market st., at the head of the street is the George-
town High-Service Reseriioir. The same point may be reached
by turning to the r. outside the cemetery gate, and follow-
ing Road st. to the corner of High. It consists of a domical
reservoir, of brick, 120 ft. in diameter, with a capacity of
1,000,000 galls., and is fed from the Aqueduct mains at the
bridge over Rock creek by 2 pumps. The surface-water is
215 ft. above tide and 70 ft. above the Distributing Reservoir.
It supplies all that part of Georgetown over 100 ft. above tide.
Descending the st. a short distance towards the city, and
following the track to Faj^ette st., on the opposite corner is
the Convent of the FmYa/io?!, founded in 1799, but not now
open to visitors. The Academy^ under the care of the Sisters
of the Visitation, was founded at the same time, and occupies
the buildmg on the jST., rebuilt in 1873, and is open to visitors
on Wednesdays and Saturdays after 12 noon. The entrance
is by the door of the new building, where visitors will be re-
ceived and conducted through the school. There are two de-
partments : primary for girls from 6 to 12 years, and senior,
for young ladies of all school ages. .There is a fine philosoph-
ical apparatus, chemical laboratory, and library. The Acade-
my grounds comprise 40 a. Attached to the Convent is a vault
containing the remains of Archbishop ISTeale, second Bishop
of Baltimore, and founder of the institution, the daughter of
Madame Yturbide, and the daughter of Gen. Winfield Scott,
GEORGETOWN. 213
a religious of the order. This Convent is the oldest institution
of the kind in the country.
Descending Fayette st. two squares, the st. to the r. leads
to Georgetown College^ {open every day except Sunday,) situ-
ated W. of the city, founded in 1789, and is the oldest Roman
Catholic College in the country. In 1815 it was raised by
Congress to the rank of a University. It is under the care of
the Jesuits. The original building is still standing on the S.,
and is flanked by two buildings of more modern construction.
Boys of all ages are received and carried through an entire
course of instruction. The libraiy contains 30,000 volumes,
amongst which are many rare and curious works. There are
100 volumes printed between 1460 and 1520, and three manu-
scripts anterior to 1400, and otliers later.
Among the earliest printed books are the works of St. Isi-
dore, of Seville, 1472; a book of church music, 1630. The
oldest Bible is 1485 ; a monastic praj^er book, on vellum, XVth
century; an illuminated prayer book, vellum, Xllltli centu-
ry; an illuminated catalogue of the members of tlie Society
of Jesus in Mexico in 1744; Commentaries of Paul de Castro,
1483, with a chain; an English black-letter book, London,
1555; ^sop's Fables in Sanscrit; the works of Martin Lu-
ther, 1564, printed 18 years after his death ; the Bollandus
Lives of the Saints, commenced 1643. Tlrere are also a phi-
losophical cabinet, chemical laboratory, and museum. In
the latter is a valuable collection of coins and medals and
relics of Commodore Decatur.
The Astronomical Observatory is the small building, 400
yds. distant, on the W. The Medical Department was es-
tablished in 1851, and the Law in 1870. From the grounds S.
of the buildings is a tine view.
Returning towards the city, take the first open street leading
down to tlie river. At the foot of the liill is the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal. The first und.3rtaking was known as the
Potomac Company, chartered by Maryland in 1784. and com-
pleted before 1800 around the Little and Great Falls. These
efforts were followed by tlie charter, by Congress, Maryland,
Pennsj'lvania, and Virginia, of tlie present enterprise. Work
was commenced in 1828. The object was the connection of
tide-water on the Potomac with the head of navigation on
the Ohio, a distance of 360 m. In 1841 the canal was opened
to Cumberland, 182 m., at a cost of $13,000,000, of which
Maryland subscribed 85,000,000, the United States $1,000,000,
"W^ashington $1,000,000, and Georgetown, Alexandria, and
Virginia each $250,000. Ciunberlaud remains the terminus.
The execution of the enterprise was a work of great difficulty.
There are 75 locks of 100 ft. in lengtii, 15 ft. in width, and
214 ANALOSTAN, OR MASON's ISLAND.
averaging 8 ft. lift; 11 Aqueducts, 1 across the Monoeacy
river, consisting of 7 arciies of 54 ft. span; also 190 culverts
of various dimensions, some suliiciently spacious to admit of
the passage of wagons. The canal is fed by a number of
dams across the Potomac, varymg from 500 to 800 ft. in
length, and from 4 to 20 ft. elevation. The breadth of the
canal is 60 ft. for the first 60 m. above Georgetown, and for
the remaining distance to Cumberland 50 ft., with a uniform
depth of 6 ft.' The entire lift is about 600 ft. The aqueducts,
locks, and culverts are constructed of stone laid in hydraulic
cement. The tunnel through the ''Pawpaw Eidge " is 3,118
ft. in length and 24 ft. in diameter, with an elevation of 17
ft. clear of the surface of the water. The canal connects with
Kock creek. From this point a canal, now out of use or
filled, extended across Washington to the Anacostia. The
canal to Cumberland opens the immensely valuable and rich
coal sections of western Maryland and West Virginia. The
unfinished portion of the canal from Cumberland to Pitts-
burg is 178 m.
The Alexandria Canal, incorporated by Congress in 1830,
starts at Georgetown. It crosses the Potomac on a fine
Aqueduct 1,400 ft. long and 36 ft. above high water. The
piers are embedded 17 ft. in the bottom of the river, and are
capable of resisting the immense weight of ice tlirown against
them by the current of the river in winter.
A very interesting feature of the city are the coal wharves^
where the coal is transhipped into schooners for transporta-
tion to the ports on the Atlantic seaboard. The total mer-
chant vessels belonging to the port, including Washington,
in 1872, was 412 — 25,656 tons — or sailing and steam vessels,
barges and canal boats, 419 — 26,623 tons. The foreign trade
is chieflj^ carried on through other ports. Geoi-getown is one
of the largest shad and herring markets in the United States.
Notwithstanding the facilities afibrded by the falls of the
Potomac, the manufacturing interests of the city are small.
A short walk along Bridge st. brings the visitor to the
Rock-creek bridge^ connecting the two cities. It consists of
a 200-ft. span, with 20 ft. rise, the arch formed by two lateral
courses of cast-iron pipe, 4 ft. internal diameter, and IJ in.
in thickness. The arch is supported on massive abutments
of sandstone. The pipes convey the water of the Aqueduct
across the stream, and at the same time carry a street road
and horse railway. Here tlie Pennsj^lvania av. street cars
may be taken back to Washington.
Analostan, or Mason's Island, is the large tract in the Po-
tomac river, opposite Georgetown. It contains 70 a., and
ARLINGTON HOUSE AND NATIONAL CEMETERY. 215
was tlie residence of Goii. John ]Mason. The mansion still
stands at the S. end, 50 ft. above the river. The now nei> -
lected grounds were also beautifnlly adorned. A causeway
on the Virg-inia side and fei-r.y-boat from Georgetown in
former times ailbrded communication with the main land.
Ai'lington House and National OemeteTy. — [Open to visit-
ors everi/ day.) Arlington House, from 1802, was the resi-
dence of George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of
Gen. Washington, and in late years of Gen. Eobert E. Lee,
till 1861. It is on the Virginia shore of the Potomac, on the
summit of a hill, 200 ft . aboVe the river. It is about 4 m . from the
Capitol, and about 1 m. from Georgetown, across the Aque-
duct bridge. The view of Washington is without a rival.
The centre building, 60 ft., and two wings, each 40 ft., give
a frontage of 140 ft. In front is a portico 60 ft. long and
25 ft. deep. Tlie pediment rests on 8 doric columns, (6 in
front) 5 ft. m diameter and 26 ft. high, built of brick, stuc-
coed. The design was from drawings of the temple at Paes-
tum, near Xaples. On the S. are the gardens and conserva-
tory. In tlie rear are the kitchens, slave quarters, and stables.
In the mansion, when occupied by its former possessors,
were rare and valuable pictures., including two by Van-
dyke, one by Sh- Godfrey Knelh^-, painted 1707, represent-
ing Col. Parke, a fine engraving of the Death of Chatham,
by Copely, and of ISTapier, the inventor of the logarithms,
presented by the Earl of Buchan, and addressed to ''!Mar-
shal " General Washington, announcing that Louis XVI liad
created the General a Marshal of France, tliat he might be of
suflicient rank to command the veteran Count de Kochambeau ;
also a Death of Wolfe, presented to Washington by West ; the
Mount Vernon plate, bearing tlie arms and crest of Washing-
ton. The bed and bedstead upon which Washington, as first
President, slept during his whole presidencj^ and on which
he breathed his last, on December 14, 1799 ; china having the
names of the votes of the old Confederation ; a service also
bearing the representation of the Order of the Cincinnati,
and other relics from the home of Washington. These were
taken away by the family.
Of original pictures of Washington there were four at Ar-
lington. The earliest, and only one extant at that age, was
a full size, three-quarter length portrait by Charles Wilson
Peale, the elder, painted in 1772, representing the subject as
a provincial colonel, in the colonial uniform ; the second was
a half bust hj Houdon, antique, full size, taken after the Re-
volution ; the third, a cabinet picture in relief, b}' Madame
de Brienne, representing the heads of Washington and La-
216 FORT WHIPPLE.
fayette, date about the same as Ilonclon, aiifl the fourth, a
profile likeness in crayon, by Sharpless, in 1796. Of other
originals is the equestrian picture by Trumbull, in 1790, in
the City Hall, IST. Y., and a crayon by Mr. Williams, from
sittings in 1794, lost. There are three originals by Stuart,
the head, a masterpiece, and bust, from which many copies
have been made, the full length for the Marquis of Lans-
downe, and one for Mrs. Washington. Ceracci, the sculptor,
about 1794, executed two busts in marble, one of Washington
and the other of Hamilton. In 1795 both the elder and the
younger Peale had sittings.
Arlington House in its halcyon days was famed for its
hospitality. The last proprietor. Gen. Lee, came in posses-
sion through his wife, who was the daughter of Mr. Custis.
Having gone over to the rebellion against the National Govern-
ment, and become its military chieftain, the estate, upwards
of 1,000 a., w^as abandoned. In 1863 it was sold under the
confiscation act, and in 1864 Avas taken possession of by the
National Government. About 200 a. were set apart as a
National Cemetery for the interment of deceased soldiers of
the army. The Cemetery was formallj^ established in 1867.
In the rear and 1. of the mansion is an amphitheatre^ capable
of accommodating 5,000 persons, erected in 1873, and designed
for use in the annual ceremonies observed on decoration day.
The grounds were laid out \\\t\\ special reference to the
purposes in view. The bodies of nearly 16,000 soldiers, from
many a battle-field in Virginia and the hospitals at the capital,
here find a fitting resting place . The W. Cemetery is devoted
to white, and the IST. to colored troops. A short distance S.
of mansion is a granite sarcophagus^ surmounted by cannon
and balls, in 1866 placed over the grave of 2,111 ruiknown
soldiers gathered after the war from the fields of Bull Run
and the route to the Eappahannock. The carriage entrance
is on the SE., tiirough a freestone gateway of composite
order, erected in 1873. On the frieze are suitable inscrip-
tions, and over the arch "-tlere rest 15,585 of the 315,558
citizens who died in defence of our country from 1861 to
1865." On the 1. of the road leading from the main gate-
way towards the river is the once-famous Custis spring.
In 1850 it was visited from the capital b}^ thousands of resi-
dents and strangers. The forest wliich sheltered its limpid
waters was felled for the uses of the army during tlie re^
bellion.
Fort Whipple, reached by the road to the r. soon after
crossing the Georgetown Aqueduct, lies a short distance NW.
of Arliufi-ton House. It is now a station for the instruction
AQUEDUCT AND GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC. 217
of officers and men in army signalling-. It was built clnring
the rebellion, and constituted portion of the defenses cover-
ing* the Aqueduct and Long Bridge, and the intermediate
Heights of Arlington. Then it mounted 6 12-lb. Napoleon
guns and 4 12-ib. howitzers.
The Aqueduct and G-reat Palls of the Potomac— One of
tlie most interesting excursions is the drive by the Aqueduct
to the Great Falls of the Potomac.
Table of distances from the Navy-yard to the Great Falls:
From the N'avj^-^'ard to the E. front of the Capitol, 1.78 m;
to Kock-Creek Bridge, (No. 6,) 4.65; College-Pond Bridge,
(No. 5,) 5.68; Foundry Branch, 5.94; Pipe Vault Dist. Res.,
6.57; Influent Gate House, 7.03; AVaste Weir, (No. 3,) 7.44;
Gate House Eec. Res., 8.89 ; Wooden Bridge Rec. Res., 9.19 ;
Brooks' Road, 9.74; Cabin John Bridge, (No. 4,) 12.33;
Mountain-Spring Bridge, (No. 3,) 13.59; Culvert No. 12,
14.27; Road at^Radclilf's, 15.37; Junction Road, 16.65;
Bridge No. 2, 17.13; Bridge No. 1, 17.32; Overfall No. 1,
18 ; Waste Weir No. 1, 18.23 ; Great Falls Gate House, 18.59.
Entering Georgetown from Pennsylvania av. the Aque-
duct maybe reached by Bridge and Fayette sts., and new
road to the Distinbiding Reservoir^ a distance of 2 m. The
water surface of this reservoir is 33 a. ; capacity, 150,000,000
galls, at depth of 11 ft., and 300,000,000 gall, at 24 ft ; eleva-
tion, 144 ft. above mean tide at the Navj^-yard.
From this point the water is carried by iron mains into the
city. (See Water Siipphj, p. 46.) The Aqueduct terminates
here, the influent gate-house standing on the NW. corner.