Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO.

In turning over the pages Of the "Gazeffe Of IN
United STATES published at Philadelphia for 1890
/ 1871, and 1892, we met with the following para
graphs, which may perhaps be interesting to some
of our readers
/ MAY 10, l792.-"On Friday last the Governor Of Thu
State laid the Of the Presidents House in Ninth
street The following inscription is on the stone
| This Corner Stone laid
! On the 10th day Of May, 1872 s
| The State Of Pennsylvania out of debt.
| Thomas MIrrLIs, Governor"
| Mar I6 I792.-"The intended bridge over Rock Creek
opposite the Federal City, Virginia. now begun, under
the immediate direction of Mr. HARBAuaH."
There arrived at the port Of New York, from January /,
1884, to January l. 1892 100 ships and barque $50 SHOWS
and briggs, gaio, polace, 1853 schooners I5s sloops
total from foreign ports 49, and coasters Ol being i5l
vessels from foreign ports and 407 more than arrived
at Philadelphia during that period"
.GEonsErows, Jury 2, I70l.-On Monday last, being
the appointed day. the President of the United States arrived
in this town and Wednesday put the finishing hand
the location of the Federal City,"
"ALExAsDRIa, ApnIL 81, I79I.-On Friday, 18th in
sant the Hon. DANIEL Cannon and Dr. DAVID STEWART
arrived in this town. supcntend the fixing Of the first
nestone Of the Federal District 1.-THE paper Of the 3Oh Of
April gives long account Of the proceedings
In the original plan of the City of Washington,
submitted to Congress by the President in Janu-
airy, 1870, we find mention Of the subjoined (" mag
nificent Intentions" which are unfortunately not
yet entirely realized
can equestrian figure of George Washington,
voted in 1888 by the late Continental Congress.
can historic column, also intended for mile itinerary
column, from whose Cat mile from the Federal House
all distances and places through the continent be cal
culated."
GA naval itinerary column, proposed to be erected to cee
brate the first rise of navy, and to stand ready
to perpetuate its progress and achievements"
"a church intended for national purposes such as public
prayer, hanksgivngs funeral oraons &c. and assigned to
the special of particular or denominations but
equally open to all. II will likewise be proper shelter for
such monuments voted by the late Continental Con
for those heroes who fell in the cause of liberty and for
such others may hereafter be decreed by the voice of
full nation.n
"Five grand fountains intended with constant spout Of
water"
"a grand cascade formed the water Of the sources of the
Tiber.'
80 grand avenue four hundred feet BREADTH and about
mile in length bordered with gardens ending in slope from
the houses each side This leads to the monument
of Washington and the Congress Garden with the
Presidents Park
Fifteen squares to be divided among the several
States IN the Union for each Of them to improve the
of these designed for statues columns sbeks &C.
such as the different States may choose to erect"
The water of Tiber Creek be conveyed to the high
ground where the Congress House stands and after watering
that part of the city, its ovepus viii fall from under the base
OF the edce and in cascade Of twenty feet in height and
fifty In BREADTH into the reservoir below thence three
falls through the gardens in the grand canal"
The plan of the city, from which the above par
ticulars have been extracted, was drawn up by Pc
TER CHARLES L'MFANT.