Evening star., 1877-11-13
The Relations Of the District TO the
General Government.

General Governments.
We give space elsewhere in fall to the
report of the Improvements Committee OF
the Citizens Committee OF One Hundred,
because OF the conclusive force OF the array
OF facts presented, and because of the i'm
portance TO District interests that this COM
pact, logical, and statistical showing OF the
relations between the General Government
and the District of Columbia should have
wide and prompt publication. We trust it
will receive Thoughtful attention from MEM
bers of Congress. No doubt very many, If
not most of them, will be surprised to see
from this document how heavily the debtor
side of the balance is against the government
in Its dealings with this District, over which
Congress has Exclusive" csntrOl.
II appears that the present site OF the city
of Washington embraces an area of T,16I
acres Of ground, OF which the lands reserved
by President Washington for the use of the
government, and still held by the United
States, aggregate 81 acres. The government
paid for the lands thus selected the trivial
sum OF sixty-six dollars per acre, and the
remainder OF the lots were TO be divided be-
tween the United States and the proprietors
Thus the United States for the consideration
of $4,000 acquired title TO 1858 acres or
nearly four ifths of the entire area OF the
city. The title of the government to these
lands is so complete and absolute that 1t
may, whenever so inclined, close and occupy
and even ALLEVIATE any of the streets, and the
owners Of lots affected thereby be without
redress. Even the mOiety OF lots which fell
to the prOpTietOrs in the division OF the resi-
due above referred 10 was recOnveyed TO
them subject 10 such regulations as might be
prescribed by the President, in regard not
only TO the improvements of the streets
but also as 10 the - materials and
manner Of buildings to be erected thereon.
TIE plan OF the city, as approved by Wash
ingtOn, is on scale of unprecedented mag
nificence, with streets from 30 to 1C0 feet in
width, covering more than half its area. aud
at the period OF its foundation, and for many
years thereafter, It was without population.
The committee are justified In thinking il
clear from the facts set forth that Washing
ton was projected by its founders for a pure
ly national city, to be governed aud i'm
proved exclusively by Congress, without re-
gard 10 the voice or wishes OF its citizens
II appears further that in the deeds of the pro-
prietors il was stipulated that the moiety OF
lots donated 10 the government should be
gold, and the proceeds OF such sale, arte-
the payment TO them of the S35,OOO due for the
public reservations, should be held by the
government as "a grant of money to be
applied toward the erection of the public
Congress for establishing the permanent
seat of government, approved 10th July, 1870.
Inc sfact is set forth that the fund derived
from this gift, Notwithstanding its improyi-
dent management, paid not only the paIfTy
sum OF e5oiO0O due the prOprietors, but also
The cost OF erecting the public buildings,
Capitol, Presidents House, &C. as origi-
nally prepared for the reception of the GOV
eminent. and of their restoration after de-
suuction 10y the British in the war of lSl2. II
is demonstrated, then. that the public build.
lngs originally provided for the use of the
government, and the J41 acres ofpubIic reser-
walton, now worth from S25 600 900 to S}o.O0O.-
o0e, together with all the streets, avenues and
alleys, were free giN 10 the United States
from the original prOprietOrs; and the com
mittee cite an extended list OF authorities To
snow that Congress has again aud again.
through committee reports and other
wise fully recognized the national oh
legations and responsibilities in regard
to sustaining the due proportion of the
expenses OF the city of Washington laid
out upon scale of such magnificence
purely as the capitol city OF the nation.
An examination OF the comparative expen-
ditures by the local and federal govern ments
In this District for streets, sewers and other
Improvements for the common benefit, shows
that while the appropriations OF the general
government for these objects up to the pres.
ent time do not exceed 5000 900, the District
government has expended for these purposes
not less than sS5, coo, 900, which sum is repre-
sented by debt OF about So 900 900, and the
balance OF 81, 100000 has been furnished In
cash by the taxpayers OF this District. Fur
ther, 1t appears that these expenditures by
tne local government, except 50 600 OeO ex-
pended prior 10 1871, were made and s15 ,OOO,-
GOO OF this debt contracted by agents of the
United states, over whom the citizens
OF the District had 10 control what
ever, and for whose acts, therefore.
t1ey are in no manner responsible. A
large portion of these expenditures bv the
local government has been made for i'm
proyements In front OF the various reserya-
uons' and the federal property equally with
lhat OF private owners has shared the general
benefit OF all these expenditures, and the
committee cite the case Of the old canal
where more than fifty acres of land, valued
al $500 COO, have been reclaimed and added
10 the government grounds al the ex-
pense OF the District. The summing
up by the committee OF the facts
bearing upon the issue, and their argu-
ments upon that data, showing clearly ana
conelUsively the extent OF the obligations OF
The government TO the District and the utter
lnabllity OF the people here to shoulder the
vast expenses OF improving and running the
magnlhcently planned capital city, merit
Inc closest attention OF our guardians in
congress TO whom the appeal is directed.