Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-01
The Center Market.House Question.

French, Esa, Commissioner Of Public Build
ings, and Mayor Wailach in relation to the
Center Market. house question will be read
with general interest. This market from long
use, central position and convenience OF access
from all parts of the city is an institution that
would be sadly missed. The letter of Mayor
Wallach is conclusive upon the points raised:
OFFICE COMMISSIONER PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Capitol of the United States, ;
Washington City, May %, 1851
Hon Richard Wallach, Mayor Of Washington:
DEAR SIR: received on Saturday last from
the Committee on the District Of Columbia of
the House of Representatives resolution, OF
which the enclosed Is copy, with request
thst would make out report on the subject.
You know go much more about some por-
tons OF the inquiry than i do that you can,
without much trouble, furnish me with intor.
nation that will enable me 70 answer the en-
quirles of the resolution much more readily
than can If have 10 go into long examina-
ton.
Will you have the kindness to give me any
Information you can conveniently at the earli.
est moment. Very truly yours,
(Signed) Il. B. FRENCH, & Z. B.
ICoPY.]
Thirty. eighth Congress-First Session.
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,
In the House Of Representatives., Nay 10, 1864.
On motion OF Mr. J. T.. Allen
Resolred, That the Committee on the District
OF Columbia be IN structed TO enquire into and
report " hat L. gis station is necessary, and what
far Their public Off CerS are needed 10 prevent or
ebate the distractions OF the streets of the city
OF Washington as prescribed by the original
plan; and par icnlarly by what authority OF
law Eighth street west Is obstructed so as to
prevent sight of the Smithsonian grounds, and
proper ventilation Of that street; also bv what
authority of law north Is street is used for
building purposes also by what law or reguia-
ton the sIreets leading toward the Public Mall
are treDched upon by any stru ctnres whatever,
preyfnting unin Interrupted view OF the
groun DIS, and that ventilation which is q ne
cessity To the health OF city and also whether
the rental OF the public reservation between
Tenth and Twelfth streets west, near north
street, accrues to the Government or to the
Corporation of WASHINGTON:
Attest E. MCPHERSON, Clerk
Copy, attest: b. FRENCH, Com. Of P. B.
MAYORS OFFICE, 3Oth May, 1861
Hon B. B. French,
Commissioner of Public Buildings.
Sir: In response to your req uest that / would
give you information in relation to the subject
matter OF a resolution of the Committee Of the
HI use of Representatives for the District Of
Columbia, asking "what legislation is neces-
sary 70 prevent and abate the obstruction of the
streets Of the City of Washington as prescribed
in the original plan and particularly by what
authority of law Eighth street west is obstruct-
ed so as to prevent view OF the Smithsonian
Grounds and the proper ventilation of that
street." permit me TO say that no street Is OBJ
strucLed in this City unless so intended in that
original plan or subsequently authorized by
law.
The object of the resolution is plainly di.
reCted 10 the New Building about being erected
on the place of the old Centre Market, and Is
an effort on the part of some one or few, to pre-
vent the abatement OF a nuisance already too
long borne by this community.
that character and for the nurpose for which
il has so lepg been used, the public space
reservation on which the Centre Market now
stands is Identical with and precisely the same
as that to occupy with the buildings and for
the purposes they are used, the spaces or reseI-
vations on which now stand the Capitol, Presi-
dents House, the State, Treasury, War and
NAVY Departments. and Patent once and
further, " lille the Capitol obstructs Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland and New Jersey avenues,
North, South and East Capitol streetsi the
Presidents House, Pennsylvania and New
York avenues, F and @ streets; the City Hall,
Irdiana and Louisiana avenues, and Z
str e's; and the Patent Once, this same Eighth
stre I, neither the Old Centre Market or the
Contemplated new building Obstructs any
avenue or street whatever
This city was laid out under the authority OF
Coz gress and in compliance with the orders
and dill ectiops of General Washington, which
are OF record in your office, wherein Thomas
Beail ana John NJ. Cant, the trustees to whom
the proprietors OF the soil had conveyed their
Ian dis for the purpose OF a Federal City, were
ordered and directed 10 convey TO the Commits
sIoners appointed under the act OF Congress OF
Juiy 18TH, 1870, en- titled - An act TO establish
Temporary and permanent seat OF Govern
men, OF the United states and their successors
for the use of the United States forever, all the
streets and such of the land, squares, parcels
OF lots as the President should deem proper
for the use OF the United States"
Certain squares, parcels, and lots containing
in the aggregate 5il acres, rood and perches,
and numbered from l TO IL, and marked and
lad down, and as clearly ana precisely de-
nnested In the original plan of the city as any
priyale lot were deemed proper for the use Of
the Unitsd States, and SGT apart and were di-
rrcteo 10 pubic uses and purposes By General
Washington, as follows: