The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-11
w.t,erston,. New Guild. 70 wa.hingson.

|
This little work, published by Mr.. Robt. Farnham,
of this city, has greatly improved since its first ap
pearance few years ago. The additions made to IL
are considerable and very interesting. The ilustra-
TONS by Mr.. Vaudricourt add greatly to the embel
lshment and beauty Of this little volume. Some Of
the facts relating TO our Metropolis are very curious
and will not fail to interest every reader whether re-
sident or stranger Mr. W. Is one Of the oldest citi-
zens of Washington and having grown up with II
and noticed Its progress with great care is prepared
TO furnish sach information concerning our city rs
but few others possess.
We give an extract or two as specimens
HThe first idea of selecting portion of territory
for the seat of Government seems to have been sug
gested by an insult offered to Congress, in 1888,
while in session in Philadelphia, by band of mutt
| neers whom the State authorities could not quel
| and which led them TO adjourn TO Princeton. Mr..
Gerry, afterwards Vice President of the United
States moved resolution, which was adopted, that
| District be chosen on the banks of the Delaware
or Potomac, near Georgetown, for the seat Of Gov
eminent; BUTT was finally repealed in 1899 80,
the District Of Columbia was finally selected by
vote of 80 to 49, and the site selected as the perna
were laid ont by Mai Ellicoi, who caused square
me-stones to be planted in each line, and marked
with the number of miles progressively from the be-
ginning on Jones Point, to the west corner, and
thence TO the north corner thence to the east corner,
and thence to the beginning on Jones' Point On
the sides Of the facing the Territory in
serted the words Jurisdiction Of the U. 81; and on
aad Of ia
the third and fourth sides faces inscribed
the year in which the stones We're erected md the
variation Of the magnetic needle at that place On
the 22d OF January, 1871, Thomas Johnson Daniel
Carroll, of Maryland, and David Stewart Of Virginia,
were appointed Commissioners of the City by Presi
| dent Washington. The first meeting was held in
Georgetown on the 18th of May, 1891 The first
agreement entered into between the Commissioners
and the Projectors, declares that the lands held by
them respectively shall be conveyed in trust to the
United States, or the Commissioners in fee simple
on the conditions and for the purposes following, viz
That the President shall have the sole power Of d.
rectng the Federal City to be laid off in what man
ner he pleases shall retain what number Of squares
he may think proper for public improvements or
other public uses, and that the lots only shall be
joint property between the trustees behalf of the
public and each proprietor, and the shall be
fairly and equally divided between them as soon as
may be after the city shall be laid off. The proprie-
tors shall receive compensation for the squares or
lands which shall be taken for the Public Buildings
or any kind of public Improvement uses, and for
such lands the propretors shall receive at the rate of
EGG per acre. The whole wood on the lands shall be
1.-THE property of the owners Of the lands but should
any be desired by the President be reserved left
standing, it shall be paid for by the Government at
just and reasonable valuation. 1t was moreover
agreed that when it shall become necessary to re-
move any buildings, improvements, &C., found on
any street or avenue the owners shall be paid the
reasonable value thereof by the Government. The
lots held in the towns Of Carrolsburgh and Ham
burgh, not to be affected by this agreement
This agreement was signed on the Both of March, |
1891 by Robert Peter, David Burnes, James M. Lin
gan Uriah Forrest, Benjamin Stodert, Motley Young,
Daniel Carroll Of Burlington, Overton Carr, Thomas
Beal of Geo, Charles Beatty, Anthony Holmead |
William Young, Edward Pierce. Abraham Young,
John Warring) and William King land the pro-
perty afterwards conveyed in trust for the use of the
United States, TO Thomas Beall of Geo., and join
N. CAN'T. The first sale of city lots took piece on
n nE nhar'1 a. y.,,hi IT, - =
terms one-eghth subsen. a., ,,u one fourth cash
and an the balance on boz with good security paya
them wsre ~ payments. Lots with springs on
n TO be reserved, when practicable, and not
,e again sold. The name Of the city, which had
first been called the Federal City was changed to
that of Washington and the territory TO that of the
District Of Columbia which they now bear"
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS IN RELATION TO THE CITY.
| .The bridge over Rock Creek was commenced in
s under the a Of s Mi sItsnsd
across this stream at street. and is still standing
though 1t has been since often repaired and once or
s ! mas IL
and unites with Bridge street In Georgetown,
faurshing town when Washington was commence
ed. Georgetown was originally laid out, II Is said,
the famous western pioneer. Shorty after George
Boone's arrival in this country from England IN
III, he purchased large tract Of land n Berks
and Virginia, and among others the ground on which
| Georgeto1on now stands, and TO which he gave his
name.
arrived in Georgetown and put the finishing hand to
the location Of the City In the original plan sub.
| mtted to Congress by the President In 1870, and
prepared by Peter Charles y Infant it was propos-
| ton monument voted by the Continental Congress
i in 1873. Second-a historical column for mile or
itinerary column to be stationed one mile from the
Federal Tor Presidents) House, from which all dis
tances and places through the continent were to be
calculated Third Naval itinerary column to be
erected to celebrate the first rise OF navy, and to
achievements. Fourth--a church intended for Ma
tonal purposes such as public prayer, thanksgiy-
ing funeral orations, &C., to be open to all sects OF
denominations, also to serve as proper shelter for
such monuments as were voted by the Continental,
Congress for those who fell In the cause OF liberty
and for such others might hereafter be ordered by
the voice Of a grateful nation. Fifth-fve grand
fountains Sixth--a grand cascade formed of the
water Of the sources of the Tiber Sevenh-a grand
avenue four hundred feet in breadth and about q
mile in length covered with gardens, ending in q
slope from the houses on each side. me avenue to
meet the Congress garden with the Presidents Park.
Eighth--ffteen squares to be divided among the
several States Of the Union, for each OF them 10 i'm
statues columns obesks, &C.. such as the different
States might choose to erect Ninth-the water Of
the Tber to be conveyed to the high ground on which
the Capitol stands, and after watering that part o.
of the edice in cascade Of 20 feet in height, and
80 in BREADTH into reservoir below, thence to run In
three falls through the gardens into the grand canal
This magnificent project we regret TO say was never
carried into execution and the present plan of the
city finally adopted, and has been since, to GER
tain extent, carried out, though some alterations init
have been made from time to time"
1t is book that the visitor should by oil means
procure, to enable him to know what to see, and tc
have history and description Of what he does see
There are many things in our city he may miss with
out the aid Of such guide.
II An announcement reached London on thu
18th ult., that formidable consiracy had been dis
covered in Paris, which had the effect of seriously
4 depressing the English funds for short time The
committee Of the stock exchange had commenced ar
investigation into circumstances connected with thu
report, but 1t could only be traced to Fokstone from
whence it was by electric telegraph.
,l,o c,h he ale ali,