Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-15

How 1t Struck Strangers a Century
AgO-A City Of Charming Prov.
poets, and " ith Every lht0g Grand,
Convenient and Beautiful.

Convenient ana Beautiful.
Nearly century ago book was published In
Edinburgh, entitled The New Universal GA-
etteeI; or, Modern Geographical Index, con-
else description OF the Empires, Kingdoms,
Cities, Towns, Seas, Rivers, &C., &C.. In the
known world; the government, manners and
religion of the Inhabitants, with the extent.
boundaries, produce. revenue. trade. manutac-
lures, &C., OF the different countries, with six
elegant maps" The second edition was pub
lished In 1896. In this curious Old work is to be
found the following description of the plan OF
Washington, as made by Major LIE lfant:
Washington. a city of North America now
building for the metropolis OF the United States.
IL Is seated at the junction OF the rivers Pc
tOmac and the Eastern Branch, extending
about four miles up each, including tract OF
territory scarcely 10 be exceeded In point O.
convenience, salubrity aud beauty, by any In
the world. This territory which Is called
Columbia, Hes partly In the state or Virginia
and partly In that Of Maryland, and was ceded
oy those two states 20 the United States or
America and by them established 10 be tie
seat OF government after the year 1879. Tue
plan combines nor only convenience, rGgl-
iarfty, elegance OF pToSDe { AMI free C!rCEla-
ton OF air, but everything grand and beautiful
that can be introduced into city. 1t is divided
Into squares or grand divisions by streets run
ming due north AMI south, and east and VET
which form the ground work of the plan. HoE-
ever, fron the Capitol. the Presidents House,
run diagonal streets from one material obie:f
10 another. which lot only produce
A VARIETY OF CHARMING PROSPECTS,
but remove the insipd samenes5 which renders
some other great cities unpleasing. They were
devised TO connect the separate and most d.
tant objects with the principal and to preserve
through the whole reciprocity Of sight. These
great leading streets are all 100 feet wide. IN
GLIDING pavement Of 10 feet, and a gravel walk
OF 80 feet. planted with trees on each side
which will leave so feet OF paved street for car
RACES. the rest OF the streets are, in general
ITO feet wide, with few only 80 feet, except
North. South and East Capitol streets, which
are TO feet. The diagonal streets are named
after the respective states composing the Union,
while tho3e running north and south are, from
the capitol eastward named East 1st street
East I'd street, &c, and those west of Ii are IN
the , same manner. called West 1st street,
and west are, from the Capitol north
ward, named North A street, North b
street, &c, and those south OF 1t are called
or divisions of the city amount to 1,15O Tue
rectangular squares generally contain from
three TO six acres, ana are divided into lots OF
from 40 TO so feet In front, and their depth from
about no to 300 fee. according to the size OF
the square. The irregular divisions produced
by the diagonal streets are some OF them small,
but generally In valuable situations Their
acute points are all 20 be cut off at 20 feet. 50
that no house In the City will have an acute
corner. All the houses must be of brick Or
the legislative bodles1 Is situated upon the most
beautiful em1nence IN tue city, about mile
from The Eastern Branch aud no. much more
from the Potomac. commanding full view OF
every part OF the city. as we'll as a considerable
extent OF the country around.
TIE PRESIDENTS HOUSE,
VIII stand upon a rising ground not far FROM
the DaLks or the Potomac, possessing delighf-
full water prospect, with commanding view OF
the Capitol, and some other material parts of
the city. Due south from the Presidents House
and due west from the Capitol, run two great
pleasure PARKS. or malls, which fnterSecG and
terminate upon the banks OF the Potomac AMI
are 10 be ornamented at the sides by a variety
OF elegant buildings, houses for foreign minis.
ters &C. 1nterSpefsed through the civ where
the most material Streets cross each other q 20
a variety OF open areas, formed in various reg,,.
lar ngures. which, IN great cities, are extremely
useful and ornamental. Fifteen OF the best of
THESE areas are TO be appropriated TO the differ.
ent states composing the Union; not only 10
Gear their TeSpectiycS names. but as proper
places for them TO erecS ST aIues oSalfsks or co,
unnS, 10 the memory OF their fayorite eminent
men. Upon small eminence, where line due
west from the Capitol, and cue south from thf,
iIesloents House would ntersect,i Is to be erected
an equestrian statue or Gent WaShtny ton nos
PRESIDENT OF the United STATES. Propar places
are marked out for other pubic buildings as a
marine hospital with It's gardens; a general
exchange, and its puol1c walks; fort "a aoa-
zines ana arsenals; city hail, churches col
leges, market HOUSES, tteacer5, &C. The Pre5t
Gent or The United States In boating the seat OF
the CITY prevailed upon the proorfetors OF tho
Soil 10 ccde Certain portion Or tue lots in every
situation, 10 De sold by his direction. AMI fnG
proceeds to be solely aDplie3 20 the pubic
CUMMINGS ana other works OF public Ilifrv
within tue city. This grant sill oroiIc, an ri
1900 lots, and Will he sufficient, not oa.y r.
erect tue puoiic buildings bur to dig a cana:
cotuuct WAFER throIgl the city. and 70 pave
ana Lgut the streets which viii save haa;y
TAX that arises In other cities and con seu1 an-I
IenOef tDe lots considerably Inoce valuable Tho
Eastern bfdnch OF The Potomac Is one III the
safest and most c0nu!n0iouS narb3cs In AMIR
ca, DelIg sufficiently deep for the LARGEST shin.
Tor about four miles above its mouth: Ehila :u,,
clanhei iles close aioag the edge OF til, city,
t.inS 30 and 35 feet to hear the uoper end of tho
city, where IL Is Is and 80 feet deco,
THE CITY BEING SITUATED Upon THE GREAT
POST ROAD
exactly equt-distant from the norrbarn o,d
southern extTemities of the union. and nearly
50 iICm the Atlantic ocean to the river Ohio
upon the oest navigation. and in the midst O,
'ne 1eheit commercial territory In America
commanding the most extensive internal 70
sources, Is By far tie most eligible sitnaf1on for
. tAe IeSioebce or Congress. and It IS nov Dress
ing FORWARD, By tie puoIic spirited enferoriSa
ana OILY OF the people OF the United Slares bat
also OF Foreigners The inlaui navioati9n or
,Ne iotomac Is so far advanced That craft
iod0eC WIFE produce nov come down th sr rivar
anu us several branc leS from un7fari OF $50
yntIoo ~ - ala " ~ IA are Within Ia
t LII OF the ci.y; BE- ule"as OF the canals a.
ent,r.Ir ona anu -1se' falls tie navigation is
head hIs p 49, ,ween t.ds water AMI the
a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the Potomac which produces
WaSbinn.n" ion by waer batWeea the citT of
end NJ Il and the Interior paris or Vlrgia,a
Shenar ,lan1, by means OF me Potomac the
CsDe Ldoah. the South Branch, OpGcau Cane
81 Ill. PatterSoG'5 creek. Conoocheaue ana
Inacaly. for upward OF 800 miles, through one
OF the most healthy. pleasant and fertile re-
g.ohS In America, producing. IL vast abuud-
ance, TOBACCO OF superior Quality, hemp Indian
corn, wheat and other small grain vita fruit
ana vegetables peculiar to America, Ia vast
abundance.
TaE LANDS UPON THE POTOMAC,
above the city OF Washington, all around u.
and for sixty Files below, are high and ory.
aboundibg with innuIlerabie springs OF excel
lent wafer aDo wen covered with large timber
OF various kinds. few miles below the CITY.
rpOn the banks OF the Potomac are fneXhausr-
Idle mountains OF excellent freeStOne OF tho
white ard red Portland kinds of which ire
pubic eGifces Ia tie city are nOG building
ABOVE the city, also Gpor the banks OF the
liver. are immense quantities OF excellent coal
limestone aid marble with blue slate OF tns
best qcahty. The t. Der, whica IS the prfncI-
PAL stream that passes through the city IS TO
ee Corrected in grand reservoir, beside tht,
S8pitoi, whence II viii Be carried In pipes ~
inherent parts OF the city, while It's SiroIrIs
water VIII fall down 10 beautiful CASCADE
through the public gardens west OF the Capitol