Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-13
The Relations OF the General Govermme mt
to the Civ Of w ashingtOn.

UaTy.
->s~.-
The Relations OF the General Government
to the City of Washington.
LETTER OF MAYOR WALLACE TO THE sECRE-
ThRY or TIE INTERIOR.
In the excellent report of Secretary Harlan
mention was made of communication received
from the Mayor of Washington upon the rela-
tions OF the Generai Government of the city of
Washington, and which communication was
commended TO the attention OF Congress. This
letter OF Mayor Wallach has been printed, and
we find in II matter OF so much general interest
and importance that we give considerable
space TO its leading points.
He urges that no policy can be more correct
than that OF making the metropolis of this vast
republic worthy of the powerful and extended
nation of which it is the focus. The economy
or paTslmony which would cripple the its
growth VIII be antI-natlonal. Much has been
done by previous Congresses and administra-
tons for It's improvements; much more remains
to be done and while this city has expended
out OF the taxes paid by its citizens large sums
In opening, making, and repairing streets and
sidewalks required by sparse population
scattered over large area, and has opened and
improved unfortunately those leading to and
around the public reservations and buildings
belonging TO the General Government, enhanc-
ing the value of the nations property, the
Government has spent upon streets and
avenues laid out incrdinately wide and to suit
Its own purposes and convenience, and over
part of which they exercise exclusive control
comparatively niue, ana that little Penn
sylvanla avenue and those streets and avenues
around the Capitol. Presidents House. execu-
tive departments, and other OF its own exclu-
siVe property, the Improvement of which was
lhdspensable 10 It's convenience and promo
tive of its interest
The obligation OF the general government TO
do much towards the improvement Of this city
cannot be doubted. There was, If not px-
pressed, certainly an implied contract TO do So
and for which the general government received
valuable consideration,
When the city was laid out, the owners OF the
soil gave TO the general government not only
enough for the streets and avenues of such un-
paralleled width, but likewise every alternate
building lot, and nOminally sold 10 the govern
ment at the minimum price OF t25 an acre, or
S36,O@9, all the large reservations on which its
public buildings stand.
OF the 2H g3-l lCU miles of streets, nearly all
have been opened and graded; and to pave
them. with their unusal widths, especially the
avenues, and keep them in repair, suggests the
necessity OF doing something to relieve this
corporation and property owners from the very
heavy tax on their resources that would be
necessary
The adoption of the plan OF wide streets and
avenues was by General Washington, for some
practical utility, though il may not as vet have
been developed, and if way Of obviating the
difficulty could be found without ultimately
and permanently destroying that plan, il would
be temporary relief, and, until the utility of
wide streets should be developed, il would be
well TO avail ourselves of ii. The streets run
ming from north to south, designated by num-
bers, and from east to west, designated by let
ters, crossing each other at right angles, are
cut dlagonally by twenty-one avenues, bear
ing the names of that number of States, fifteel
OF which point towards the States after which
they are respectively named. These avenues,
leading to and from every particu ular place or
building, connecting every part of the city, and
serving as main arteries, form at their junction
with the streets five circles, fourteen trianales,
tnelve reserv ations, and eleven Thousand and
seventy squares, the circles and triangles being
intended for ornamentation with fountains and
statuary, the reservations for the public build.
ings, and the squares for individual purposes
OF stores and residences. 1t was the conception
OF grand plan Of a model city, worthy of the
name OF its i1lustrious founder.
The general government and the proprietors
OF the soil were joint owners of ali the prop.
erty (land) on which the federal city is built
in the proportion of 5,626 to l,5OS acres 5II4
acres of the governments portion having been
obtained without cost, and SD acres, though
nominally purchased, were really paid for out
OF the monies arising from the sale Of the yery
alternate lots SO generously given by the pro-
prletors OF the soil, with the understanding
that they were given for the Improvement Of
their joint property, and, as was the expecta-
tion OF all persons, that the property so ac-
quired Dy the government would, under its
management be immensely productive ena-
ping IT TO spend large sums in the Improve.
ment of the city. The government is there
fore. bound by every principle of justice to pay
a portion of the expense of improving the fed
eral city, equal TO the extent of its interest,
greatly more than one-halI, and which was To
be increased IN value and be benefited by such
improvements.
or the ,l36 lots given by the proprietors for
the purpose of improving the federal CITY, Gall
were sold previously to the year 1902, at a time
when not in demand and there were but few
bidders for them: and OF the proceeds of the
sale-S6i2, ,6S2. .62-S 1880, Sos. .0S was applied to-
wards building the Capitol, and S2i0,632 So to-
wards the erection of a mansion for its Chief
Magistrate.
The remainder Of these lots, free gift TO the
general government, and, as was well UNDER
$1,000 suo1 a, the time "that whatever moneys Were
[ealzed therefrom would at least be expended
ior the oeneht OF that city,, of the soil of which
the donors and the general government were
JOINT owners, were, with the exception of
S2a,OOO worth each given to Columbia and
Ieorgetown colleges, $4,000 each to the WASH
ington and St. Vincent's Orphan ASYLUM. from
tlme 10 time sold and the money expended in
the property reserved for the use of
tne general government the salaries and Office
expenses OF It's own officers, the Commission.
ers and Superintendent Of Public Buildings,
ana Presidents gardener, and for manure and
utensils for his garden
Nelther thetdonors, the original proprietors
nor the donees (the general goyernmenU at
that time contemplated that the large sums of |
money arising therefrom should be spent other |
Nr6S w1eS lnan IN IN ,he Improvement of their joint
the "hole or even an equal portion OF the bur-
Gen OF opening and keeping in repair streets, |
laying SIDEWALKS, building bridges, and doing |
WbateNer might be necessary to a new and |
large city intended for the capital of a great |
nation, or indeed of subsequently, maintaining |
ana supporting IL, should be borne by the citi- |
Zens OF washington alone
Upon the properly reserved for the use and |
purposes OF the nation the general government |
has expendedin buildings and other improve |
!. ,nen.s us lor It's own exclusive use the sum OF /
kI4,IC933e 81, partly taken from the public 1
treasury, and partly from the sale of lots do /
naied from private individuals, while the /
reser rVations themselves are valued at Sl3,4l2,-
nations real property in this city at the time OF
me assessment, now some years since, 70 be