Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17
The Plan of WashiBgt0a City as An
H0uuCed On 1896

the fine library of Mr.. VIM. r. Smith, superln-
tendent OF the Botanical Gardens, entitled "The
New Universal GIzettser; or Modern Geo
graphical Index. Containing a concise descrip-
tion Of the Empires, Kingdoms, Cities, Towns,
Seas, Rivers, &c, &c, in the known world;
The Government, Manners and Religion of the
Inhabitants; with the Extent, Bound aries, Pro-
duce, Revenue, Trade, Manufactures. &C., of
the different countries including full account
of the Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, Sc,
of England and Scotland. illustrated with six
elegant maps. The second edition with con.
siderable additions and improvements. Edin-
buTgh: Printed by David Ramsey, for Bell &
Bradtute, j. Dickson, W. Creech and p. Hill
MDCCXCVI" In this book, unde, the he I'd
OF Washington" we find the following CO.
pious description OF our c1ptll city and of the
plan upon which it was des, gned:
"W ashington, a city of North America, now
building for the metropolis of the United States.
1t Is seated at the junction of the rivers POto-
mac and the Eastern Branch, extending about
fOGr miles up each. including tract of terri
tory scarcely to be exceeded in point OF cOnve-
nlence, sRlubrity, and be 1uty, by any in the
world. This territory, which is called COlum.
bia, lies partly in the state OF Virginia, and
partly in that of Maryland, and was ceded by
those two states TO the United States of Ameri-
ca, and by them established to be the seat of
government, after the year 1900. The plan COM
blres not only convenience, regularity, elegance
Oh prospect, ana q Tree circulation OF air, but
every thing grand and beautiful that can be in
troiUced Tito city. It is divided into squares
or grand diyis one, by streets running due north
and south and east and west, which form the
grOuT dwOrk of the plan. However, from the
Capitol, the Presidents house, and some of the
important areas in the city, run diagonal
streets, from one material object TO another,
which not only produce variety OF charming
prospects, but remove the iDsipid sameness
which renders come other great cities unpleas-
ing- They were devised to connect the separate
and most distant jects with the principal, and
to preserve through the whole a reciprocity of
s ight. These great leading streets are all lGO
feet vide, including pavement or 10 feet, and
a gravel swalk tof so feet planted with trees
on each side, which will leave 80 feet or paved
street for CARRIAGE The rest or the streets are,
in general, 10 feet vide, with few only 90 feet
except North, South and East Capitol streets,
which are leo feet. The diagonal streets are
named after the respective states composing the
Union, while those running north and south are,
from the Capitol eastward named East First
Sueet, East Second Street, X c., and thOGe west
OF 1t are. in the same manner, called West First
Street, West Second Street, &c. Thooe run
ming east and west are, from the capitol north
ward, named North A street, North b Street,
sc, and those Gouth OF it ere called South A
Street, South Is Street, Sc. The squares or
divisions Of the city amount to 1850. The rec
tsngular squares generally contain from three
TO five acres, ana are divided into lots of from
30 to so feet in front, and their depth from about
ITO TO $50 feet, according - the size Of the
quaTe. The irregular divisions produced by
IL
in valuable situations. Their acute
points are all to be cut off at 40 feet, 81 that no
house in the city will have an acute corner. All
the houses must be OF brick or stone. The area
for the capitol (0r house for the legislative
bCdies) is situated upon the NEST beautiful emi-
/ euce in the city, about mile from the Eastern
branch, and not much more from the Potomac,
commanding full view of every part of the
city, as we'll as a considerable extent of the
around. The Presidents house viii
stand upon a rising ground, not far from the
nj n mos -iFNT dali Il
water prospect, with a commanding view of the
CO pitol, and some other material parts of the
city. Due south from the Presidents house,
and due west from the capitol, run two great
pleasure parks CT malls, which intaTseet ard
terminate upon the banks of the Potomac, and
are 10 be oTnRmeDted at the sides by yarie "
o1 elegant building, houses for foreign minis
tfTs, &c. lnterspeTSed through the city, where
The most material streets cross each other, are
o variety Of OPeE are IS, formed in various Tegu-
.ar figures, which In gTelt cities are extremely
usei al and ornamental. Fifteen of the best
Of these areas are TO be appropriated to
the different states cOmpo7ing the Union; not
11y to bear their respective names but a.
proper places FOR them to erect statues, ohelisks
or columns, > the memory of their faVOrite
eminent men. Upon a small eminence, where
a line q ue west from the capitol, and due sonth
from the Presidents house, would intersect,
s - be erected an equestrian statueof General
Washington, now President OF the init ID States
PIoper places are mark d'out for other public
building; as marine hospital, with is gardens;
a general exchange, and its public ws'ks; fort,
and arsenals; a city hall, churches,
colleges, market houses, theatres, &c. The
President of the United States, in locating the
seat OF the city. prevailed upon the prOprIetors
or the Col to cede certain portion OF the lots in
every situation, TO be cold by his direction, and
the proceeds to be .olely applied 70 the public
buildings, and other works OF public utility
within the city. This grant will produce about
Is, eco lots, and will be suffi cent, BOT OILY to
erect the public buildings, TO dig a canal, con-
duct water through the city, and to pave and
light the streets, which will save a heavy tax
that arises in other cities, and consequently
der the lots considerably more valuable. The
Eastern branch of the Potomac is one OF the
SAFEST and most comnOdious harbors in Ameri-
ca, being sufficiently deep for the largest ships,
for about four miles above its mouth, while the
channel lies close along the edge of the city,
and is abundantly capaciour. The river con-
talns so and 35 feet to near the upper end of the
city, where il is Is and 20 feet deep. The city
being situated upon the great post road, exactly
eqnidistant from the northern and southern ex-
tremite1 OF the Union, and nearly 20 from the
Atlantic ocean to the Ohio river, upon the best
navigation, and in the midLt of the richest COM
meIcial territory in America, commanding the
most extensive internal resources, is By far the
most eligible situation for the residence Of Com
grtss, and it is DOW pressing forward, by the
public spirited enterprise, no. only OF the peo-
PIE Of the United States, but also Of foreigners
The inl3nd navigation OF the Potomac is so far
advanced, that craft loaded with produce now
come down that river and its several branches
from upward OF $50 miles TO the great falls,
WHICH hIC Nilulu Ia IullSS OI Ile CITY, by means
OF the c cInsls az the great and little falls the
4 navigation is entirely opened between tide wa
ter and the head branches of the Potom &C,
which produces communication of water be-
tween the city of Washington and the inte-
rior parts of Virginia and Maryland, by means
OF the Potomac, the ShRnnandoah, the South
Branch, Opecan. Cape CapOn, Patterson's
Creek, Conoochegue, and MOnOeasy, for mp
wards ofs2o0 miles, through Que sf ths most
healthy, pleasant, and fertile regions in Ameri-
ca. producing. in vast abundance, tobacco of
superior quality, hemp, Indian corn, wheat,
and other small grain, with fruit and vegeta-
lies peculiar to America, in vast abundance
The lands upon the Potomac, above the city of
WashiDgton. all around it, ard for dfty miles
below, are high and dry, aboundng with iunu-
merable springs of excellent water, and well
covered with large timber Of various kinds. A
lew miles below the city, upon the banks of the
Potomac, are inexhaustible mountains of ex.
cenent freestor 9, of the white and red Portland
kinds, or which the public edinces in the city
are now building. Above the city, also upon
the banks of the river, are immense quantities
of excellent coal, limestone, and marble with
49,