The national Republican., 1867-11-23


b. Auihoptiestsd by the nsms and address Of II
~rsIuo, rsesssariiy for pubisa,ion, bat asa guar
Aaty for its good faith
sS- All eommu unieations, vhsthsr On busnsss or
tor publication, should be addressed 10 VIZ. J. nun.
r,aH Proprietor NATIONAL RsrusLIoAs, ,washinst stoa,
DC
WASHINGTON, As 1T WAS INTENDED
TO BE.
It is curious and interesting to look back At
Washington city as II FIRST appeared on paper.
The original plan We hnd published In the
GaEdt. Of ths United Sfaiss, Philadslphia,
January 4, 1872, and placed before Congress on
the 18th of December previous, BY "G. VASE.
ISGroN, President
The description annexed to the plan Of the
City Of Washington, in the District Of Colum.
bis, ;" was as follows: "Plan Of the city intended
as the permanent seat Of the Government Of the
United States. projected agrseably to the dirsc.
tion Of the President Of the United States, In
pursuance Of an set Of Congress. passed on the
10th Of July, 1890. "establishins q permanent
seat on the banks Of the Potowmack." By Psrzl
CHARLES L'EsYASr." The most advantageous
ground commanding the most extensive pros.
poets, and the better susceptible Of such i'm
provemsnts as the various interests Of the sew
eral objects may require, was first chosen for the
"sitions Of the different grand edihcss, and for
rvera grand squares or areas Of different
.,,n. lsid down. Avenues Of direct e?n.
nnn,,,,i,n \. next devised to connect tbs
,.n,,.,o I'D ,,o. .Jistant objects with the prin-
eir,I, NJ. and south lines Interested BY
otb.,, ..Inipg due east and west, made the
di..IbutiOn Of the city into streets, squares, 10.
Now for the breadth Of the streets. Every
grand transverse avenue, and every principal d.
vergent one, such As the communication from
the Presidents house to the Congress house, I"
tc., was to be 100 feet, and thus divided 10
feet for pavement on each side, 80 feet Of gravel
walk, planted with trees on each side, so fest In
the middle for sarriage way making such ave-
nues each 100 feet wide. The other streets were
to be Of the following dimensions, viz: Those
leading to the public buildings or markets l3o
feet others, llo or 90 feet.
Finally, as to the proposed ornsmsntation Of
our national city: An equestrian statue oi
GKoRGE WASHINGTON, voted In 1873 BY the Con.
tinental Congress, was assigned TO the looa
tion Of the present, or We may properly
say the future, Washington National Monu.
ment, south of the canal. An historic column,
intended to be erected at the intersection Of
Massaehusstts and North Carolina avenues and
Twelfth street east, was to serve also a. . mile
oritenerary column; from the station OF which, ai
a mile from the Federal House, " all distances
and places through the continent should bs cal.
oulated. A naval itinerary column was proposed
to be erected, to celebrate the hrst rise Of {
navy, and to stand q ready monument TO per
petuate its progress and achievements. Thii
was to be located on the open space between
street south and Seventh street west. On tn,
square now occupied by the Patent Once I
church was intended for national purposes, suot
as public prayer, thanksgiving, funeral Orations
81, and assigned to no particular scot or Dc
nomination, but equally open to all. It would
likewise be proper receptacle for such monu
msnts as were voted BY the Continental Con
gress, for those heroes who fell In the cause o.
liberty, and for such others as may hereafter b,
decresd by the voice Of a grateful country.
Five grand fountains were intended, with |
constant spout Of water. Within the limits Q
the city, 1t is said, twenty-five springs Of sIos
lent water are found, abundantly supplied In Ii
drisst seasons Of the year. Tho points indiests
for these fountains were, FIRST, the open spa,
where New York avenue crosses street nortl
second, the open space on Pennsylvanis avenu
between Eightssnth and Ninstssnth stree
west third, the triangular square opposite Gel
tire Market; fourth, the open space at the int
section Of Virginia and New Jersey avenues Al
F,k L.. II - h. ~ Il
Of Maryland avenue and F street north.
Where the Capitol branch enters the canal
grand cascade was to be formed Of the waters
the sources Of the Tibsr. A public walk, bsiI
square Of 200 feet, through which CO
risges could ascend to the upper square Of q
Federal House, " was designed, to be eIscut
on that portion Of PennsylvAnia avenue fro
Third street west to the Capitol Grounds, Al
on that portion Of Maryland avenue from Thi
street west to the Capitol Grounds. Throul
the centre Of the Mall, running east and west,
grand avenue was intended. four hundred 70
wide and about a mile long, bordsrsd with 60
dens, ending In a slope from the houses on sa'
side, this avenue would lead to the Wasbingt'
Monument, and connect the Congress gard
with the Presidents Park. south Of the Pre-
dents House, aud with the "hsld, " being pa
Of the walk from tho Presidents House Of abo
one thousand eight hundred feet In breadth a
three. .fourths Of a mile In length. Certain IL
are designated on the Mall, which command
most agreeable prospects. where houses and g
dens are proposed to be situated, for the aoco
mod.tion of foreign ministers, &c. Around
square, ior circle, as designed. but not now Ell
ing, at tho intersection Of Fifth street east q
East Capitol street, and also along the avenue
East Capitol strest-frOm the two bridges to
Federal House, " the payemeuts on each 81
would pass beneath an srehed way, under
cover Of which shop, would be situated.
Fifteen Squire' in differents parts Of the ci
are proposed to be divided among the sevs
States, for each Of them to improve with ststu
columns, obel.k', or other ornaments, as th
may ChCo,c
Certain snaH spaces are desig ignatsd to DO Civ
for the use of all religious denominations,
which they 'Goull erect churches. No buri
ground to be adnit,ed within tho limits Of |
city.
Tho water Of Tiber creek Is intended 10
conveyed on the high ground where the Congr,