Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-08-21

DullQlnHS 1T ucoTEetoWu Meio nSoin'N~'
But, strange to say, the ordinance of 1884, as you
know, was never carried into effect; though II
was never directly repealed. In 1889, the States
of Maryland and Virginia proposed to Congress TO
cede the ten miles square now known as the Dis-
trict of Columbia. This proposal was at the time
rejected and during the same session, in the fol-
lowing year, another law was passed locating the
seat of government OIL the SuSquehanna, and
Harve-de Grace was well-nigh the fortunate spot.
Subsequently, the Susquehanna was stricken out
and Germantown, near Philadelphia, having been
inserted became the Capitol. This act, too, was
at length repealed; and the conflict continued
fiercey until the 10th of July, $780, when bill
passed providing that spot, to be selected by
the President, con the river Potomac, at some
place between the Eastern branch and Connogo-
cheague, be hereby accepted for the permanent
seat Of government"
| That this decision should be made despite so
many untonard influences, is only to be accounted
for by the fact that it was the spot chosen and
earnestly insisted upon by General Washington
No more signal proof of his commanding authori-
ty can be given. Years before, with Braddocks'
army he had encamped upon the same ground,
and his quick and truthful eye, tutored by the
daring pursuits of his early life, detected its ad-
mirable adaptation to the wants of great metro
polls; and, though he could not prophecy the
brilliant future which gave great truth to his
words, he then foretold the rise of mighty city
there. 1t is certainly a sufficient commendation
of the srikingly beautiful location of Washington
City to know that, early and late it was the favor
ite and favored spot of him who gave it name
and an Immortality.
Let me throw in here, par parenthcse, the strik-
ing fact that the cminencc upon which the Capitol
now stands, before the Revolution and while yet
a forest, was called and known as Rome, and the
little creek that was through the city, the Tber.
The owner was named Pope, and his place is
thought to have taken its title from Mr. Popes
ponGfcal ideas. BE that as it may, we can earn
esty hope that the coincidence may not prove to
be q truthful omen of our future.
The three Commissioners, Johnson, Carol, and
Stuart, appointed to the duty of founding the
city, began their work in 1871. Washington in
his frequent correspondence called it the sFed-
cral City," in his beautiful simplicity of character
not dreaming Of another and better name; bnt,
the Commissioners, in September 1871, directed
that the district should be known on the maps rs
The "Territory of Columbia" and the city as "The
| City of Washington" The plan is positively
uniIuc-nothing in the world like it. On each
side of the Capitol east and west are streets, run
ming North ard South, numbered from one to
twenty seven, and known rs lst, End, 3d. &c; and
interscctiug these at right angles Streets, A.
3. c. SC. running east and west, employing as
titles the whole Of the alphabet for each section
North and South. This is all very well and very
proper; but in addition, there are fifteen spacious
avenues, from 130 to 1G0 feet wide (called for
the fifteen States first entering the Union) running
in all possible directions, cutting and slashng
each other and the little streets into "ten thou
sand smashes,' and looking as if some crazy sur
veyor, "going it blind" had shot them through
! at random. On map, it looks positively funny
and in reality, it almost perplexes the stranger out
of his wits. Where the avenues intersect each
! other, are vacant plots of ground triangular of
eourcr, many AE iIuTu pUeu HuUTned as pub
lie parks, and are among the ornaments of the
City. With such strange freaks to contend with,
however, Washington is noble City, and the very
irregulariy Of its plan will yet become one OF the
features of its remarkable beauty. The dimen-
sions Of the plan are i J miles N. and S., and -
miles E. and W: area 5000 acres, one half of
which was reserved for the use of the government
circumference, II miles; aggregate length of
streets 100 miles, and Of the avenues 65 miles.
Think of travelling such distance over city,
the population of which is as yet but 60, ,OOO!-
The principal street is Pennsylvania avenue, .un-
ming East and West; which is interrupted by the
Capitol in the eastern, and the Presidents House
in the western sections, both of which are situa-
ted centrally with reference to the sections, and
about one mile apart. Between these, of course
the prominent points, lies the most densely-in-
habited and business portion ofthe city. Four Of
the avenues, and North and South and East and
West Capitol Streets, which have not mentioned
intersect each other at the Capitol grounds and
FIVE avenues and any quantity of little streets
come to point at the other centre, the "Whitc
| House."
Now, kind reader, imagine yourself in the self
complacent condition of one who dined sumptuous.
ly at Browns elegant marble-front Hotel on Penn
sylvania avenue, lin company with your cores
! pondent, of coursc) and join me in rambc up
the avenue to the Capitol. The view of the Capt.
to rs we get out on the street is much obstructed
almost entirely concealed in fact by thick growth
of forest trees. \ walk Of half mile brings us
to the iron railing, forming semi-circle around
the West front. and enclosing spacious grounds
thickly studded with the noblest specimens of the
American forest growing apparently at random
and yet planted with that studied skill, which,
producing the impression of the absence Of all
art, is itself the very perfection of art. A moro
enchanting forest-scenc is not to be found even
where Nature is most at home, and if time would
permit we would willingly consume the day in the
enjoyment of its never-tiring beauties. But VIC
must hasten on.
Following the winding pavement, we soon reach
the terrace, which screens the larger portion Of
the basement, and ascending fight of steps we
find ourselves in front of Monument, erected by
the officers of the Navy to the memory of their
brother officers who fell at Trpoli. Upon pc.
dcstal resting in an oval basin of running water,
rises q small shaft at the four corners of which