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

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An Interesting History.
II.
BY ARROYO.
The lines defined In the proclamation OF the
President Of March 80, 1884, 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 I'd,
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. EEnfant, a French officer who had
served in the army OF the Revolution had been
added to the engineer corps, and TO 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
books, and it was while he was at work on the
plan there that the District and city were named
by the commissioners, as the following letter
shows. He had written to them from Philadel-
phia asking what title to place on the map.
GEORGETOWN, Sept. g. 1891.
"AajOr y. LEntant:-Sir: We have agreed
ritory OF Columbia and the federal city '"The
City OF Washington" The title of the map will
therefore be map of the City of Washington, in
the District of Columbia.
alphabetically one way and numerically the
other, the former divided into north and south
letters, the latter into east and west numbers
from the Capitol. Major Ellicott, with proper
assistance will Immediately take and soon fur
nish 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.
TboS Johnson n Stuart Danr Carroll
"P. S.-If 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 plelSeS sub
Ject TO his ORDER one-haf 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'ENFANT'S DESCRIPTION.
The following description Of the locality was
written by Major LEnfant 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 1871, 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
After coming upon the hill from the Eastern
Branch ferry the country is level and on space
OF above two miles each way presents a 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 aboundipg springs, it has whole
some air, and, being OF an easy ascent, it is,
however, so high that it commands most OF the
N try md hn affnn IrnIItr
guarded from those hills overlooking 1t. These
are on the opposite side Of the water and branch
from the grand Western Mountains, which comes
round and extends down on that Eastern Shore
bordering on the River Potowmack, and they may
rather be considered as a 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, 1T 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
being mOored to warts, while they must remain
at half mile OF from the bank Of the Potoy-
mack, owing 10 the main channel bearing fro n
the entrance into the Eastern Branch immedl-
ately and all the way UP on the Virginia shore
until 1t cones to strike on Mason's Island, rounl
which in turning it comes to wash for short
SpdCt Ou tue EOSh DIT bdillpSleu III OF FuQR-
town, making its way to and from the warts at
Georgetown, where the grand navigation ends.
This spot, made TO derive every possible ad-
vantage from water conveyance, would in
conveniency attending the crossing of navi-
gable rivers, the deep water in that
branch not coming farther up than Evans
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
fhn
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 deldsSeHtent from the grand site below the
city.
All the local Of this ground is such as will
favour every improvement and render the city
agreeable, commodiOuS and capable OF prOmot-
ing all sorts OF Htfie 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-
tabliShing OF naval stores and for arSenals, the
which, as well as warehouses 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 or 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
publique edificeS thereon. From these heights
every grand building would rear with majestic
aspect over the country all round and might be
adyantageouSly seen from twenty miles off,
While contiguous TO the first settlement OF the
city, they would there stand for ages in GEN.
tral point TO IL, facing on the grandeSt prospect
OF both branches OF the POtOwmack, with the
town OF Alexandry in front, seen to It's 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 a cornerstone of the
Federal District is to be placed, and in 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 bridge laid over the Eastern Branch
somewhere above Evans Point, there the nat
ural limit OF the eastern part Of the city, while
In its western extremity may be included
Georgetown itself, which being situated at the
head OF grand navigation OF the PotowmacE
should be favored with the same advantage OF a
better communication with the South, by having