Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-12
DESCRIPTION OF THE HISTORIC FED
eRAL CITY.
When Washington was "ROms"-lts
Growth and Progress-The Seat OF
Government To-0ay-Pennsyl-
yania Ayenue-The Grand
est Promenade in
The World.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM OUR WASH
iNeION REPORTER.
..ol., corr,sDonhenoe Of The Register.

the city of Washington was laid out and
called Rome. A gentleman by the name
"Pope" was proprietor OF the soil, and
the Tiber ran through the tract. The
stream still flows at the foot OF the Capl-
taline Hill, and has its
Ancient Name of Fame.
Here, also, even when these names
were not remarkable among the people
OF those days, and when, though they
were not looked upon as pro-
phetic, the Indians OF many tribes con-
gregated and deliberated in council
Here they made treaties and declared
war. The legend is that, and General
Washington, it is supposed, was aware
OF the fact.
How singularly, ten, has its location
become the sest OF a great empire.
There is a romance around every isci-
dent OF life, and here We find it. Here,
where the name ci Rome, the mighty
mistress OF the world, dead but unfor
yotten, was familiar word, how strange
~ has it happened that
An Empire Greater
than the mother OF empires herself has
been established,
The site OF Washington covers an un-
dulating tract, which lies along the left
or east, bank OF the Potomac river, be-
tween Rock creek and the Anacosta.
From the rugged elevations on the
banks OF Rock creek crescent-shaped
ridge crosses the northern portions OF
the city. About two thirds Of its length
it suddenly parts TO allow the iitful cur
rent OF the Tlber to pass through. From
that point it raises and spreads out into
the expansive plateau Of Capitol Hill,
which overlooks the Anacosta on the
east. Within this epcircling ridge the
surface falls away in terraces
and gentle slopes to the
banks OF the Potomac. In different
parts of the city are eminences which
afford commanding situations for the
public buildings. From the lower falls
OF the Potomac at Georgetown, where
the outlying spans Of the Blue Ridge
Mountains give the
Face of Nature
a somewhat rugged appearance, chain
of low, wooded nils range on the north,
and continuing on the opposite shores
of the Anacostia and Potomac, merge
again in the hills on the Virginia side.
These give the appearance oi a vast
amphitheatre, in the centre OF which
stands the city. The Tiber-sO named
more than 3 century before Washington
was founded, in the belief, it is said, that
some day upon its banks would rise a
capital greater than Rome, like its his
torlc anu larger nanIesake-runs through
the city, dividing it into two parts.
Its fountain streams rise in the
hills to the north, and enter
the city in several branches, the princi-
pie one in the vicinity OF First Street
West; it then pursues course around
the base OF Capitol Hill and across Penn.
sylvania Avenue and the Botanical
Garden. Originally its course continued
along the Mall and emptied into the
Potomac Immediately west OF the
Washington Monument
Subsequently il was diverted into the
Washington Canal, and then the filling
of the canal led to further changes. The
Tiber and its tributaries have since been
utilized by diverting them into the sew
eraVe system of the central and south
ern portions OF the city; hence, although
the stream traverses one OF the most
popular sections, the coar is not trace
able, the current flowing beneath heavy
brick arches, upon which buildings have
been erected and avenues, streets and
parks laid out. In primitive days the
banks OF the Tiber were lined with for
ests, and shad and herring in their
season were caught in its waters, under
the very shallow OF the hill where the
Capitol now stands.
The Plan OF Washington
was prepared in 1891 by Peter Charles
l.. Enfsnt, French engineer OF notice
able genius, but eccentric habits, who
had served in the Continental army with
distinction to attract the attention OF
Washington. In the work he was great
" assisted by
The Advice Of Thomas Jefferson
Who, when a diplomatic representative
of the United States at Foreign courts
had, with an intuilive vision OF the wants
OF the future, studied the plans OF the
cities OF Europe visited by him, and
WAS competent and prepared with the
aid OF plans and his personal knowledge
Of their details. to contribute an inyalu.
al l. amount OF information on this i'm
portant subject. The plan adopted it
is said combines the artistic beauty and
grace OF Versailles and the practical al
vantage OF Babylon, revived by William
Penn in Philadelphia. In the concep-
ton OF the plan, the preiominating OBJ
ject was to secure positions for the diff
erent public editices; also squares and
areas OF different shapes, which
would afford fine prospects. 1t was the
original design that the Capitol should
occupy the centre OF the city. From
where il stands the streets are counted
east, west, north and south. Several o:
the avenues also diverge from hers, at
eoui-dis,ant points This development,
however, 50 lar as the building up OF
thecity was concerned, was by an unfor-
seen
Circumstance Frustrated.
The owners OF the high ground lying
east of the Capitol, and facing which is
the main front OF the building, raised
the prices OF their land to such an exor-
bitant sum that it was not "tsken up"
That lying down the hill, west and be-
hind the Capitol towards the Presidents s
house, was built up instead Itis along
this that Pennsylvania avenue stretches.
Jotting out from that, in all directions,
streets are built up, and here lies the
main PORTION OF the present city. The
sections lying east, originally the most
eligible, remains for the most part un
improved an expansc OF unbuilt
building lots, interspersed with
some few fine Old houses, and occasion.
al rows of shabby tenements-an in.
stance OF over-reaching greed it would
be vain to hope would teach others a
useful lesson.
The Streets Of Washington
cross each other at right angles, as did
those OF ancient Babylon. Those run
ming east and west are called after the
letters OF the alphabet, as A, B, C, and
ID streets, &c. those running north and