Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-09
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

of the city 1t is from the Gazette of Jan. T. 1872:
NtIc City of Washington.
The following description is annexed to the
plan of the City Of Washington In the District of
Columbia, as sent to Congress by the President
some days ago:
Plan Of the CITY intended for the permanent seat
Of the Government of the United States. pro-
jected agreeably to the direction of the Presi-
dent of the United States, in pursuance of an
Act of Congress passed on the 10th of July, 1890,
establishing the permanent seat on the banks
Of the PotOwmack." BY Peter Charles LEN
FAINT.
ObserrationS Explanatory of the Plan
]. The positions of the different grand edifces,
and for the several grand squares or areas of diff
ferent shapes as they are laid down, were first de-
termined on the most advantageous ground, COM
handing the most extensive prospects, and the
better susceptible of such Improvements as the
various interests Of the several objects may re-
quiTe.
III. Lines or avenues Of direct communication
have been devised to connect the separate and
most distant objects with the principals and to
preserve through Out the whole a reciprocity of
sight at the same time. Attention has been paid
60 the passing Of those leading avenues over the
most favorable ground for prospect and convent
III. North and south lines intersected by others
running due east and west, make the distribution
OF the city into streets, squares, &c, and those
lines have been so combined To meet at certain
given points with those diverging avenues so as
to form on the spaces - first determined the diff
ferent squares or areas which are all pToportioned
an magnitude to the number OF avenues leading to
them.
bTeddfh or fhe Streets.
Every grand transverse avenue, and everv-prn-
clpal divergent one-such the communication
from the Presidents house to the Congress house
&c, are 100 feet In breadth, and thus divided
Feet
10 feet fos pavement on each side is2O
80 9 Of gravel walk, planted with trees on
so in the middle for carriage. ...........sO
100
The other streets are OF the following dimen
sions, viz:
Those leading to the public buildings or mar
kets...... .-.--...................l 100
OtneIs-s 1870
In order to execute the above plan, Mr.. Ellicott
drew true meridian line by celestial observa-
ton, which passes through the area intended for
the Congress house; this line he crossed by ano-
ther due east and west, and which passes through
the same area. These lines were accurately mea-
sured and made the basis on which the whole
plan was executed. He all the lines by
transit instrument, and determined the acute an
giles by actual measurement, and left nothing TO
The uncertainty OF the compass.
References.
A. The equestrian figure OF George Washing
ton, monument voted i'll 1873 by the late Cont
mental Congress.
B. An historic column-also intended for a
mile or itinerary column, from whose station tat
mile from the Federal housed all distances and
places through the Continent are to be calculated
Z. A Naval itinerary column, proposed to be
erected 10 celebrate the first rise of Navy and
gIeSs and achievements.
ID. Church intended for national purposes,
such as public prayer. thanksgivings, funeral
OratiOns, &c, and assigned to the special use of
no particular sect or denomination but equally
open 10 all. IL will likewise be a proper shelter
Ior such monuments as were voted by the late
Continental Congress, for those heroes who fell
in the cause Of liberty, and for such others may
hereafter be decreed by the voice OF grateful ma
ton.
E.E,EEE Five grand fountains. intended
with a constant spout Of water. n. B.-There are
within the limits Of the springs twenty five good
springs Of excellent water, abundantly supplied
in the driest season of the year.
IA Grand cascade formed Of the waters of
the sources Of the TibeT.
u, u. Public walk, being square of 200 feet
through which carriages may ascend 10 the upper
square of the Federal House.
II. A grand avenue, 400 feet in breadth and
about mile in length, bordered with gardens
ending in slope from the houses on each side !;
this avenue leads to the monument A, and con-
meets the Congress garden with the
l. Presidents park, and the
X. Well improved field, being part Of the
walk from the Presidents house of about $40
feet in breadth and threefo of mile length
ignating some of the situations which command
the most agreeable prospects, and which are b 81
calculated for spacious houses and gardens such
as may accommodate foreign ministers, dc.
l.. Around this square, and along the
Nj. Avenue from the two bridges to the Federal
House, the pavements on each side will pass
under an arched wav, under whose cover shops
will be most conveniently and agreeably situated
this street is 100 feet in breadth and mile long
10 be divided among the several States OF the
Union, for each of them to improve, subscribe
sum addltionaI TO the value OF The land for that
purpose, and the improvements round the squares
TO be completed in a limited time.
The centre of each square will admit OF statues,
columns. ObeliskS, or any other ornaments. such
the different states may choose to erect to per
Petuate not only the memory of such indi vidnals
whose councils or military achievements were
conspicuous in giving liberty and Independence
TO this country, but those whose usefulness hath
rendered them worthy Of imitation, TO invite the
youth Of succeeding generations TO tread in the
paths OF those SageS or heroes whom their cOun-
try have thought proper TO celebrate
The situation Of those squares is such that they
are the most advantageOUsly seen from each OF her
and az equally distributed over the whole city
district, and connected by spacious avenues round
the grand Federal improvements and y contigu-
Gus 10 them, and al the same time equally dis
tant from each other as circumstances would adj
nit The settlements round these squares must
soon become connected.
The mode Of taking possession of and improy-
ing the whole District at first must leave 10 DOS
teTity grand idea Of the patriotic interest which
promoted il.
The small spaces colored are intended for the
use Of all religious denominations, on which they
are TO erect places Of worship, and are proposed
TO be allotted 10 them in the manner those coll
ored yellow are TO the different States in the
Union; but no buryiDg ground will be admitted
within the limits Of the city, an appropriation
being intended for that purpose without
n. b. There are number of squares or areas
unaPpropriated, and in situations proper for coll
leges and academies of which every society
whose OBJECT IN NATIONAL may De accommodated
Every house within the city will stand square on
the streets and every lot the divergent avenues
will run square with their fronts on the most
acute angle will not measure less than So feet
and may well be above 40
Some Of the streets running north and south and
east and west about 200 poles and the trans
verse streets 4 80 poles.
Latitude Of Congress House, 3 So n, long, 90
y. TIbsT CTssk-The water OF this creek is in
tended To be conveyed on the high ground where
the Congress house now stands and after water
ing thar part Of the city, its overpIus will fall
from under the base Of the edihce and in cas-
cade Of ~ feet in heghth, and 50 in breadth into
the reservoir below, thence to run in three falls
through the gardens into the grand canal
The perpendicular heighth Of the ground where
the Congress house stands IL - feet above the tide
OF Tlber Creek Perpendicular height Of the
west branch above the tide Of Tiber Creek lis
feet 2 inches and two eighths. This branch and
and that of the Tiber, Is intended TO I've convened