National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-13
BURLINGTON MANOR.
The District Commissioners Again BE.
commend Its Purchase.

me commissioners Again ke-
commend Hts Purchase.
\ few days ago Senator Harris chairman of the
Senate District Committee, transmitted to the Dis
tTict Commissioners the memorial of Mr. l. n Bur
rift i'll behalf of Mesdames Carroll and Fitzhugh,
proposing to sell the Duddington Manor" prop
erty of the late Daniel Carroll TO the United States
for the purpose of a general hospital for this
District for the purpose of obtaining the views of
the Commissioners upon the proposition.
In reply, they forward a copy of q letter sent by
them to the committee bearing date April H. 1885,
which contains all the information that they pos
sess, and from which the following extract is made
" At that time April H. the heirs of Daniel Carroll
proposed to sell the property for nebriate asy-
lum. The deceased was one of the original pro-
prietOrs of the present site of Washington REPRE-
sentative from Maryland in the First Congress of
the United States, and one of the three commits
sioneTS appointed by George Washington in 1871 to
establish the boundaries of this District and to
locate the site and lay out the plan of the Federal
City
THE land on which the Capitol stands was part
of the 'DuddingtOn Manor the house of Daniel
Carroll, who, with other proprietorS freely granted
to the United States the ALMOST unrestricted use of
their several estates for the purpose of locating and
planning the Federal City. By this munificent
grant the United States acquired absolute title al
most without consideration TO G53 acres or about
our-ffthS of the entire of the present CITY of
Washington. By recent changes in the grades of
the streets around the Duddimgton mansion and
the enormous taxes assessed against the property
it has been rendered comparatively vaiue1ess-
virtually COntiScated: and among the numerous
Of ruinOus injuries TO property in all parts of
Washington and Georgetown, growing out of re-
cent changes and Improvements by the municipal
authorities, this is, perhaps, the most fragrant
Certainly none appeals more justly to Congress for
relief
Besides these equitable considerations, itshouId
be borne in mind that Duddngton is among the
last and altogether the most interesting of the his
torical monuments that remain in the District OF
Columbia, and the Commissioners think therefore
that matter of public interest it should be per
peuated attractive and venerable relic of the
early history of the Federal Capital. The building
IS spacious and substantial and altogether suitable
for the use suggested. The grounds are well shaded
and improved inclosed with brick wall, and con-
tain one of the finest natural fountains in the Dis
triCt.'
In the letter accompanying the above the Com
missioneTs state that the cost of converting and
improving this property could be estimated only
on definite plans and specifications, but think that
expenditure of $4,000 would be sufficient to tit
it for use either an inebriate asylum or an in
dustrial and reform school for girls for either OF
which the property is admirably suited. The es
Enlistment of the last named institution has been
urged on the attention of Congress and is now
under consideration. The Commissioners renew
the recommendation that the property may be
purchased for some suitable public use.