The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-05-08
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, ID, c., Nav 3rd. 1877

WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 3rd, 1873.
DEAR WHIG:-While the people of the
country are absorbed in centennial ami
versaries, the first of Which has been cele-
brated at Lexington and Concord, it is
interesting to the curious to trace the his
tory of Washington, which is exactly a
quarter of century junior to the indie
pendence of the nation. In 1775 COM
menced the great struggle for national
Independence. Ten years later in June,
1885, in Congress-then assembled in New
lork-the first effort was made to estab-
lish the National Capitol on the Potomac
river. In 1889, both the States of Mary
land and Virginia, by legislative acts, ten
dered to the United States, tracts of land
ten miles square, in their respective States,
for the seat of Government.
In July, 1890, an act passed Congress
establishing the permanent seat Of Govern
ment on the Potomac river between the
mouth of the Anacosta and the Conecoche-
ague. In April, 1891, Gen. Washington,
in communication concerning the future
capital, called it the Federal City,
About this time it was agreed to by Con-
gress to name the District of ten miles
square the Territory OF Columbia. and the
city, Washington.
In September, 1898, the corner stone of
the Capitol was laid with Masonic honors
Washington himself participating as Grand
Master in the ceremonies.
Congress had enacted that the seat of
Government should be removed to this
city in 1900. The financial condition of the
country was such that it required an al
most superhuman effort on the part of the
commissioners to accomplish the prepare
tions for this event, and to Gen. Washing
ton, more than to any other person, is due
success. Virginia made a donation of $780,
600 and Maryland SO, ZOO for the expense
of putting the public buildings in readi-
ness. Congress refused any aid whatever,
and President Washington, almost unaided,
appealed to Maryland for loan of 500,
600, which he eventually succeeded in Sc
curing; but the credit of the country was
in such deplolable condition the State of
Maryland required the additional guaran-
tee of the private credit of the commits
sioners for the payment of the loan. Wash
ington did not live to see the Federal City,
the child of his own conception, occupied
as the capital of the country he had done
so much to establish.
In 1900 the Government was removed to
Washington. One wing of the Capitol,
the Presidents house and temporary build
ings for the War and Treasury Offices was
already erected. No streets were visible.
Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to
the White House was deep morass, COW
cred with alders, except the road way which
had just then been cut through. A row of
houses had been erected on the east side of
what is intended as the Capitol Square
for the accommodation of congressman
and a few other blocks about the city. The
only substantial residences were those of
Dudley Carroll and Motley Young. The
Carroll mansion is still standing. The
whole population of the city did not exceed
five hundred persons. Congress assembled
in Washington for the first time Novem-
Der 81, 1900. By act of Congress, iurisdc-
ton was assumed over the District of Co
lumbia in 1901, and the laws of Virginia
and Maryland declared to continue in force
over those portions of the District coded
by these States respectively. In 1909, a
municipal form of government was estab,
lshed for the city, and the levy court for
the county. The appointment of Mayor
was vested in the President of the United
States every year. and the City Council was
elected by the people on general ticket.
LEAPING OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
we find in 1926 population of 5000, and
the number of houses in the city a little
upwards of $500; the value of real and
personal property was, in round numbers
$1,000, 900, and the tax $4,000. During
this lapse of a quarter Of century the
Capitol and Presidents house had been
burned by the British invaders, and with
the Capitol the library of Congress was
entirely destroyed. The two wings of the
Capitol had been rebuilt, and foundation
laid for the center and dome. The Presi-
dents house had also been rebuilt substan-
TALLY as it now appears.
The first bank, the "Bank of Washing
ton," was chartered in 1911, the "Bank
of the Metropolis" and also the " Patriotic
Bank were chartered in 1917.
Streets and avenues were opened; parks
laid out, and the city had assumed a metro,
politan aspect. Again we leap over quar-.
ter of century and take view of