Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17
The Original Plan Of Washington City
Rs Announced TO the world I'm 1875.

EirtnAEft Rubl-E an extract from Gu
IicUs old book, 3 Gazetteer OF the World, pub
Iished in Edinburgh in 1875. and which gives
with minute particulars the plan Of Washington
city. taken from q circular sent abroad by the
commissioners of the ne y federal capital, pledg-
ing the faith OF the nation to build a splendid
city here and inviting the liberal minded of all
nations 20 come here to establish the home of
free institutions, 1t therefore becomes a mat
ter Of interest 10 know 70 what the commission
ers OF Washington pledged themselves in behalf
of the capital city and OF the nation it represent
ed; and most especially Is it point Of import
Gnce to be informed, as we are here, what was
the exact nature OF the agreement between
President Washington and the original prOprle-
tors by which the latter cedeI 6Gleen thousand
lots to the general government.
The plan OF Washington, it is stated on the
authority OF this circular, combines not only
convenience, regularity, elegance Of prospect,
and q free circulation Of air, but everything
grand and beautiful that can be introduced
into city The situation OF the city is de-
cIared to be "scarcely exceeded IN point of con
veDience, sslubrity and beauty By any in the
world" The diagonal streets, running from
one material object TO another, "I.Ot only pro-
duce a variety of charming prospects, but re.
move the insipid sameness which renders some
other cities unp!easIng. They were devised 10
connect the separate and most distant objects
with the principal, and "a preserve through thu
whOlesa reciprocity of sight" "IntsrsperseI
through the city, where thu most material
streets cross each other, are variety OF opsn
areas formed IN various reguI N Il cures which
in great cities are extremely useful and orna-
mental Fifteen Of the best OF these areas are
to be appropriated to the different states com-
posing tie Union, not only 20 bear their re-
sPeetve names, but "a proper places for
to the memory of their f1vorite eminent
men" "Ths President of the United States
In locating the seat of the city, prevailed upon
the prOprietOrs OF the coil TO cede a certain
portion Of the lots in every situation, to be aOId
by his direction and the proceeds TO be solely
applied to the public buildings AMI other works
of public utiity within the city. This srant will
produce about fifteen thousand lots AMI will be
sufficient. not only TO erect the public buildings
but to dig a canal, conduct water through tue
city, and 70 pare and light the Streets which will
save heavy tax that arises in other cities, and
consequently render tho lots considerably more
valuable" ''The founding OF the city in sucH
an eligible situation, upon such a liberal AMI
elegant plan will by future gsner stions be con-
sideret as = high PROOF o. the wisdom of tina
present President Of the United States, while il
will keep fresh in mind, II the end OF time, the
obligations they are under 70 that ilus:rious
character" &c, sc.
THIS, then, WAS the pan Of Washington and
OF his Commissioners, and these were tha
pledges aud assurances male by them ID the
people of the old world TO induce them to come
here ard Identify themselves with the new
capital OF free country. Aud this plan would
no doubt have been carried out hal Wishing
tons ideas prevailed; but the advent Of the
peSfllent Jeffers0nisn doctrines o. States
rights. designed to minimize ths i'm oortsncs of
the general government and to bnili ~ that Of
the States, served 10 defeat the Washingt1nian
project, or TO delay its execution for nsafly a
century. The JeffersOnian idea was that the
Federal seat of government should be a mere
local agency for the transaction of the
foreign business OF the states aud that any
decoration OF the capital endangered the SUI
cess Of the states rights doctrine. IL is only
within the last half dozen wears that Washing
ton has emerged from the blight thrown mon
IT by the JeffsrsOnisn ideas adverse 10 a gov
ornamental city; and IL has only been since our
District government entered upon the work
with robust hand that the execution Of the plan
prepared By Washington himself has even been
undertaken. II Is only nos, after the Streets
have been graded and paved, AMI unsightiy OBJ
structiODs removed from the Intersections. that
we can begin to realize the beauty Of the plan of
diagonal streets, designed 70 avoid iasipid same
Aoeo aAAA bivAuS7 variety OF c0arnlug prOS-
pects, and devised 20 connect the separate
and most distant objects with the principal,
and to preserve through the whole reciprocity
Of sight The spectator standing now at the
intersection of streets Tadiating from tue site
OF the ola Northern market, or or the crown of
Massachusetts, avenue, at 12tn street, can ap-
prec1ate somsthing OF the exquisite beanty
AFFORDED By this plan whsn properly carried
out and With the Sistss fully openS By grading.
But the most important POINT IN this circular
Issued by Washington and his Commissioners ia
the fact that Ii fully commits the government
TO the ''psvins and lighting OF the streets of
Washington" a. one OF the considerations upon
which the proprietors Of the ground gave IN
1900 lotsto the general government. That thu
states and the country were expected 70
shoulder the cost OF carving ont this
liberal and elegant plan" 90 much
beyond the ability OF the Inhabitants
Is shown further, by the fact that large num-
Der OF areas were designated especially TO be
emheiiistet by separate states. But we have
not space today u deal with AL the points 70 bs
drawn from this exposition OF he original plan
OF the city.
NJ