Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-24

10TH avenue, In front OF wnere the PreSoyTertin
Church now stands; \ stirred north and Penu-
sylyanla ayeLue; aud Market Space.
AgIand avenue, four hundred reet in breadth
ana about mile In length, bordered with ga
0tns, enulng In slope from the houses on each
side This avenue was TO lead 10 the monu-
nIe MT OF Washington, and connect the Congress
garden withIh Presidents park The dust OF
coal, the smell OF train-otl and the distractions
or the Pennsy lTania Railroad Company now
meet the pedestrian who would traverse The
ground blended for this noble park.
-, me water OF Iloer creek was to be carried 10
the capitol Hill, and after watering that part
OF The city, Its oyerpluS would fan from under
the base OF the capitol, and. In a cascade OF ~
feet In height and 80 IN breadth, with reser
Volr below, thence to run. In three falls, through
tne gardens In the grand canal.
Inc newspapers OF the day occupied them
esves WIN much interest in discussing the pian
ment Is contained I'm the PhiIadelphla Herald
Jan: !, 1875, and Is as follows;
10 iouno city, Tor the purpose OF making
IL lhe depository OF the acts of the Union, ana
The sanctuary OF the laws which must one day
rule all North America, is grand and compre-
nehSlVe Idea, which has already become with
propriety, the object or publtc respect 1'he
city OF Washington considered under such i'm
poltant points of view. could not be calculated
On small scale; its extent, the disposition OF
us us avenues and public squares, should ali cor
respond with the magnitude of the objects TOR
"hiCh IL was Intended, and We need ouiy cast
our eyes upon the situation and plan OF The
Guy, 10 recognize liz them the comprehensive
OF The business has oeen committed Oy Con
gresS.'
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS
were then known as the War Office the Navy
Office, the State Office and the Treasury Office.
They were all erected In the immediate vicinity
OF the Presidents hous6-on the east and west
slde--ln accordance with the views OF Washing
ION ana In opposition to those OF Adams: WASH
Igton assigning reasons IN favor OF the proX-
unity OF these departments to the Executive
Mansion and Adams advancing reasons for a
location In the neighborhood OF the Capitol.
The distances between the public buildings are
from the northern end or the navy yard bridge
TO the Capitol. one mile and half. from the
Capitol TO the Executive Mansion one mile and
half; from the Executive Mansion to The cor
ner OF Bridge and High streets, Georgetown,
one nile and a half.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF THE CAPITOL
The southeast corner stone OF the Capitol
was laid on the 18th of September, 1893. The
Masonic ceremonies usual at that day were OBJ
served, In which Lodge o. OF Virginia, with
Grand Master P.J. George Washington, Wor-
shipful Master, took the leading part. A detail
OF the proceedings appeared in the Mariana
sazette, OF september 26th, 1898, published at
Annapolis. Washington placed In the hollow
stone silver plate-hauded him by the Com
mfSsiOners. The MasonS placed the wine the
corn and the oil. The stone bore the following
inscription: This southeast corner stone OF
the Capitol OF the United States or America In
the CITY OF Washington, was laid on the 18th
DAY or september, 1893, In the eighteenth year
Oh American independence, In The first year of
the second term OF presidency or George Wash
ingt0n, whose virtues In the civil adminiSJra-
zion or his country have been so conspicuous
and beneficial as his military vaIlr and oru-
Cepce have been useful in establishing her lib
critics. and In the year OF Masonry 1893, uy the
President or the United States In concert with
the Grand Lodge OF Maryl land several lodges
under Its jurisdiction, and Lodge No. - from
Alexandria, Virginia; Thomas johnson, David
stewart and Daniel Carroll. Commissioners;
Joseph Clark, r. W. g. n. P. T.; James
Collin Williamson, NJ. Mason An address
was delivered by Mr.. Clotworthy stevenson,
after Which the whole crowd retired TO an eX-
tens1ve booth, land partO0k OF an OK OF 500 lbs.
weight with every abundance OF other recrea-
ton
Fifty eight years afterwards. on the 4th day
OF July, 1851, Willard Fillmore, President OF
the United states laid the corner stone OF the
extension OF the Capitol and placed within
the stone the following document in the hand
writing OF Daniel Webster. Secretary or State:
ION The morning OF the lSt day OF the seventy
sixth year OF the independence OF The United
states OF America. in the city OF Washington,
being the 4th day OF July, 1851, this stone, de-
signed as the corner stone or the extension OF
the Capitol, according TO plan approved by
the President, Ia pursuance OF an act OF Con-
greSS was laid by Willard Fillmore. President
OF the United States, assisted by the Grand
Master or The Masonic lodges, in the presence
or many members or Congress- OF officers OF
the executive aha Judiciary department,
national. state ana District, OF officers OF the
army and navy, the corporate authorities OF
this and neighboring cities, many associations,
civil and military and Masonic, officers or the
Smithsonian Institution and National
teachers of schools in the District. with
their students and pupils, and VAST concourse
or people from places near and remote. includ-
Ing few surviving gentlemen who witnessed
the laying OF the corner stone of the Capitol by
President Washington on The 18Th day of Sep
TENDER, 1898.
God that this structure Shall fall from Its blSe
that its foundation be upturned, and This
deposit brought TO the eyes OF men, be IT, then
known that on this day the Union OF the United
States OF America stands firm; that their Con
Stltutfon still exists unimpaired and with all
It's original usefulness and glory; growing
every day stronger and stronger In The affection
or the great body OF the American people. and
attracting more and more the admiration of the
world. And all here assembled. whether belong
ing 10 public or to private life, with hearts
deVoutly thankful TO Almighty God for The
preservation OF The liberty and happiness OF the
country, unite In sincere and fervent prayers
that this deposit, and the walls anu arches the
domeS and towers the columns and entabla-
forever. God save The United States OF America.
DANIEL WEBSTER
Secretary OF State OF the United States
DANIEL WEBSTER UPON GEORGE WASHINGTON.
In his speech on this occasion Mr.. Webster
referred to the laying of the first corner stone
In the following eloquent language:
''Fellow citizens; what CONCENTRATIONS are
awakened In our minds, as we assemble here TO
re-enact a scene like that performed by Wash
ington! Meth1nks / see his venerable form
before me now, as presented in the glorious
statue by HOudon now in the Capitol OF Viz
ginia. He is dignied and grand; but concern
and anxiety seem to soften the lneaments of
his countenance. The government over which
he prestdes Is still in the crisis OF experiment.
Not free from troubles at home he sees the
world In commotion ana In arms all around
him. He sees that imposing foreign powers are
half disposed to try the strength or the recently
established American government. We per-
celve that mighty thoughts mingled with fears
as well as with hopes, are struggling within
him. He heads short procession over these,
then naked nelGS; he crosses yonder stream on
fallen tree; he ascendS the top OF this emf
nence, whose original oaks OF the forests stand
as thick around him as II the spot had been de-
voted TO Druidical worship, and here he per-
forms the appointed duty or Che day.
THE VIEWS OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS
OF the city were extremely liberal Much OF the
government land was given to Georgetown and
Columbian Colleges, st. Vincent de PaulS and
to other religious associations which accounts
for the large amount OF real property now pos
sesSed by some OF them. The policy of gratuit-
Gus donations Of lots to foreign ministers for
the purpose OF residence was approved both by
Washington and Adams. Such offers were
made TO all friendly powers and General WASH
1Dgton himself located site for the Queen of
hn mo