Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-01
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
An Interesting History.
BY ARROYO.

An Interesting History.
II.
BY ARROYO.
The lines defined In the proclamation Of the
President of March 80, 1871, referred to in the
preceding paper, were probably run In the fol-
towing month, as letter of the commissioners
written in April OF that year, directs the pur-
chase OF tents and camp furniture for the sur
veying party. When the survey was finish ID
and the corner stone Of the District at Jones'
Point or Hunting creek erected, with Masonic
ceremonies the commissioners with Andrew
Ellicott, surveyor, proceeded to lay out the CITY,
Major p L'Enfant, French officer who had
served In the army of the Revolution had been
added to the engineer corps, and 10 him the
credit OF the plan OF the city is due. This plan
was drawn by him in Philadelphia, to which
city he went, after making the preliminary sur
veys, in order that he might have access to
books, and IL was while he was at work on the
plan there that the District and city were named
by the commissioners, the following letter
shows. He had written to them from Philadel-
phia asking what title TO place on the map
GEORGETOWN, Sept. g. 1I91.
Major u. LEHTInt:-Sir: We have agreed
that the federal District shall be called the Ter
ritory of Columbia, and the federal city 1.-THE
City of Washington" The title of the map Will
therefore be map Of the City of washington in
the District OF Columbia.
We have also agreed the streets shall be named
alphabetically one way and numerically the
letters, the latter into east and west numbers
from the Capitol. Major Ellicott, with proper
assistance will Immediately take and soon fur
nSh you with SoundingS of the Eastern Branch
to be inserted in the map. We expect he will
also furnish you with the direction OF proposed
post road, which we wished to have noticed In
the map"
We are &C.
Thos. johnson. D. Stuart, Dan1 Carroll.
"P. S.-n you have no contrary directions
we wish about ten thousand of the maps to be
struck on The best terms and as soon as possible,
leaving what number the President pleaSes SUBJ
Ject TO his ORDER onehaf the residue to be left in
Philadelphia, subject to our order and the other
half transmitted TO us. We shall honor your
order for the expenses"
MAJOR L'ENFANTs DESCRIPTION.
The following description Of the locality was
written by Major L'Enfant before the work was
commenced. The original of this paper bears
neither date nor signature but is in the Majors
peculiar handwriting, shows the difficulties
that he always found with the grammer and
photography OF our language, and bears internal
evidence OF having been written early in the
year 1891 as 1t speaks of the cape of Great Hunt
ing creek. below Alexandria, '!where the corner
stone of the federal district is to be placed"
''NOteS relative to the ground lying on the East
ern Branch OF the River Potowmack and being
intended to parallel the several positions pre-
pared within the limits between that branch and
Georgetown for the seat OF the Federal City
After coming upon the hill from the Eastern
Branch ferry the country is level, and on a space
OF above two miles each way presents most
eligible position for the first settlement OF a
grand city, and one which, If not the only one
within the limits OF the Federal territory Is at
least the more advantageous in that part lying
between the Eastern Branch and Georgetown.
The soil Is dry, and Notwithstanding well
watered with Astounding springs, it has whole
some air, and, being OF an easy ascent it Is
however, so high that 1t commands most of the
surrounding country, and may be effectually
guarded from those hills overlooking it. These
are on the opposite side OF the water, and branch
round and extends down on that Eastern Shore
bordering on the River POtowmack, and they may
rather be considered as means for projections
as the securing OF their submits with proper
establishments would render that situation most
respectable.
THE ''PoTowMACK" IN L'ENFANT's DAY.
With respect to navigation, it covers and
forms the bank Of an harbor in every respects
to be preferred to that OF the Potowmack toward
Georgetown. Less impeded by ice and never so
swelled with freshets-the channel is deeper
and Will admit any vessel as may pass over the
shallow down below at the MARYLAND Pt
being moored to warts, While they must remain
at half mile of from the bank of the Potoy-
mack, owing TO the main channel bearing fro n
the entrance into the Eastern Branch immedi-
ately and all the way UP on the Virginia shore
until 1t co mes to strike on MaSon's Island roun1
which In turning 1t comes to wash for a short
space on the rock at BampSted PIT or Funk
town, making its way to and from the warts at
Georgetown, where the grand navigation ends.
oPOt- " utIlSc every pUSSlDle al
vantage from water conveyance, would in
the same time be free from the great In
coDveniency attending. the crossing OF navi
r nos coming dhe a aeep Waf than E th1s
Point about half a mile above tho ferry. There
the large bed OF the river Immediately changes
into a small run over which bridges might easily
be erected TO secure constant intercourse with
the Easter, Continent ~ In the meanwhile 1t
would facilitate seats being fixed on each border
OF grand stream whose depths abound with
fish, and whose wild aspect would aid in afford
Ing deldssenaent from the grand site below the
city.
favour every Improvement and render the city
agreeable, commodious and capable OF promot-
ing all sorts OF title establishments.
On its water side from the mouth OF the East
ern Branch at CarrollSburg as far up as to
Loans Point, a distance OF above three miles,
the frequent winding OF the shore forms many
natural wet docks which though not having
everywhere great depth OF water neverthe-
less would become very convenient for the es-
tablishfng or naval stores and for arSenals, the
which, as We'll as ware-h houses for merchantmen
might safely be raised ON the water side with
out fear OF impeding the prospect from the high
nat behind, there where the level ground pre-
walls on the water. and all round where it de-
scends, but most particularly on that part ter
minating in a ridge to Jenkins HILL and running
In parallel with and at half a mile off from the
river Potowmack, separated by low ground, in
terSected with three grand streams. Many OF
the most eligible positions offer for to erect the
puDl1que ed1fceS thereon. From these heights
V'Ciy siduu "Oulu With II UItJISJlC
aspect over the country all round and might be
advantageouSly seen from twenty miles off.
While contiguous TO the first settlement of the
city, they would there stand for ages in a CEN
trail point TO IL, facing on the grandest prospect
OF both branches OF the Potowmack, with the
town OF Alexandry In front, seen TO its fullest
extent over many points OF land projecting
from the MARYLAND and Virginia shore in
manner TO add much to the perspective. At the
end OF which, the cape OF Great Hunting Creek
appears directly where cornerstone of the
Federal District Is to be placed and i'm the room
OF which majestick column or a grand pyra-
mid being erected, would produce the happyeSt
effect and completely finish the landscape.
Thus advantageously situated. the federal
city would soon grow OF itself, and spread as
the branches OF a tree do to where they meet
with most nouriShment.
Thus the attractive local will lay all round,
and at distance not beyond those limits within
which the Capital OF an extensive empire may
be eliminated.
BRIDGE AT THE 1.-TWO SISTERS"
Having a bridge laid over the Eastern Branch
somewhere above Evans Point, there the nat
Of fha Of .,itx