Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-20


linear system OF Philadelphia. But the .dea OF
the Frenchman prevailed, and although In its
early days Washington was justly designated
has demonstrated the wisdom OF the plan
adopted. The enthusiastic engineer, however
did not long continue In charge OF the work.
He was superseded by Ellicott and refused just
compensation for hts services. BE keenly felt
this sting OF ingratitude, and boldly petitioned
Congress for redress OF his wrongs, Years
passed on, while his petition lay UNDECIDED
buried under piles OF legislative trash.
HIS GAUNr AND MELANCHOLY FIGURE
enveloped by long cloak, became well-known
on the streets and in the corridors of the capt.
tel At last Congress rendered compensation,
but OF such paltry nature that Major Enfant
Indignantly spurned its acceptance, retired to
the country, became recluSe, and died In
great poverty-an early illustration in America
OF the maxim that republics are ungratefuL"
Two small villages already occupied a poT-
t1On OF the DiStrict-Hamburg, near the site
where the observatory now stands, and Car
rollsburg, situated at the junction OF James
Creek With the Eastern Branch. The commits
Sioners experienced no little difficulty In tn-
duc1ng the proprletors TO convey their lands
They had to contend against the usual motives
of human nature. Finally all the proprietorS
conveyed ~1thtn the following bounds, to wit:
beginning on the east side OF Rock Greek, at
stone standing In the middle OF the road
leading from Georgetown TO Bladenspurg:
thence along the middle of said road to stone
standing on the east Side OF the Reedy Branch
an angle OF 81 deb rees, 30 minutes with the
meridian, to stone standing In the road leading
from BladeDSOurg to the Eastern Branch Terry;
then south TO stone 81 poles north OF the east
and west line already drawn from the mouth OF
Goose Creek to the Eastern Branch, then east
parallel to the said east and west line 10 the
Eastern Branch, then with the waters OF the
Eastern Branch, Potowmaok river and Rock
Creek to the beginning" This conveyance was
made to Thomas Beall and John NJ. CAN'T,
trustees, for federal city. The trustees We're
N n m iScf a
misSioners were to sell under the order and oil
rection OF the President
THE FIRST PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The commissioners next turned their atten-
tion to the erection of public buildings. Their
means were derived from the sale Of lots and
from grants of money from Maryland and VIZ
ginia, the former having given seventytxo
thousand and the latter one hundred and
twenty tn ousand dollars. They found 1t neces-
sary, however, TO borrow additional money to
complete the work.
The corner stone of the Presidents house was
laia October Is, 1892, and that OF the Capitol,
September IS, 1893, both b. George Washing
ton, with solemn Masonic ceremonies. An eX-
celient quarry was discovered at key Of All
Keys" point between Georgetown and the
then village OF Hamburg. Mr.: James Hoban,
ton In the records OF the infant city, was the
architect Of the Presidents "palace," and
Stephen Hallet was the first architect OF the
Capitol.
WASHINGTON : IDEA OF The USES OF THE CAP
lTOL DOME.
1t appears from a letter written to the Com
missioners by General Washington that the
dome of the Capitol was suggested by Mr..
Turner. Washington writes: "Tne dome sug.
gested as an addition to the center of the edflce
would, In my opinion, give beatty and gran
deur to the pile, ana ntght De uSefttI FOR the Pc
Ceptfon or q clock and betl."
The mere physical labor On these buildings
was performed by slaves, but skilled labor and
much Of the material had to be imported from
Europe The Treasury and War offices were
commenced in l79S. The Treasury building
occupied portion OF the site Of the present
Treasury department. The War Office was on
the west OF the Presidents house. General
Washington personally selected the sizes for
these buildings, for the purpose OF having the
heads OF the departments near the President,
for bus1nes IS reasons, and further, using his own
words, ''tO prevent their being interrupted In
their duties by the calls of members Of Con-
gress-"
In June, 1900, the public offices were trans
ferred from Philadelphia to the City of Wash
ingtOn, and opened here on the 18th of the same
month. President John Adams arrived about
the 10th OF June, at Alexandria, On a visit to
Mount Vernon. In his speech at the opening
OF the first Congress that assembled in Wash
ington on the 2Sd day OF November 1890, Presi-
dent Adams said:
81 congratulate the people of the United
States on the assembling Of Congress at the
permanent seat Of their government, and con-
graduate you, gentlemen, on the prospect OF
o. residence not to be ChdN0ej.v