Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-03
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
NOTABLE EVENTS .xsrs HISTORY
InteTes:;RG "Reminiscences of an Old
Citizen.

HOW TEE NAIG0NAI CAPITAL WAS FOUNDED AND
LAID OCT-FRTsIDENT wASfiIN|ToN's CRITICISM
OF MAJOR I-ENFANT's PLANS LEAD 10 THE RE-
TIREMENT 1F THE LATTEH-EARLY SETTLERS
AND NOTED HGsEsTEADs or TIE 0LDENTINE
CONGRESS. on The reconsideration OF former
vote by which the District. designed for the
permanent seat of the government. was ordered
to he located east OF the Susqnehanna, by an act
approved July ID $50 authorized the Presi-
dent to locate said District on the north side of
the Potomac west of the mouth of the Eastern
Branch and, by az act OF March 8. 1871. modified
the requirements of the former act so Is To in
eludr within the District the town of Alexan-
dria OF the Virginia side OF the Potomac. and a
portion Of Maryland east of the Eastern Branc'l.
The President was also authorized to locate the
national city. TO provide the plans therefor. and
TO have erected therein suitable buildings for
the accommodation OF Congress for the Presi-
dent. ami for the public offices of the govern
mrnt " III" United States and to have them
ready for occupancy by the first Monday of De
CenbeT. ISn- These Onercus responsibilities
We-e accepted 10y the President and discharged
with marked fidelity to the great trust involved.
The wisdom o; his selections of the sites of the
District and of the capital city has been fully
Vindieated by the searching tests of nearly CEN
fury.
PRESIDENT wAsBINGTGN'S NOTIFICATIONS OF
ENFASTS PLAN AND THE RESULT.
The site of tn city covers nearly 5000 acres
and Is distinctly outlined by natural boundaries.
1t is also endowed 10y nature with generous pre-
requisites for great city: so much so as to sug-
gest that Providence had reserved it for the
purpose TO which il has been dedicated. These
preTea uisites We're not overlooked by the enSi-
Heer. haiGT l. Entant. who was selected by the
President 20 project the plans for the city. but
were utilized by him. and thereby led to those
unique conceptions which gave to the plan of
the city q pre-eminence above all precedent
The drafts submitted by the engineer were care
fully criticised by the President who insisted
upon SOME notifications. which offended the
too sensitive MAJOR. and resulted in his retire
ment from the great work While the persist
eTce OF the President gave umbra@e to his subOr-
dlnlte. II secured a completeness of design
which Will commemorate. as no monumental
bronze or statuary marble could do. the marvel
Gus genius OF tie one and the preScenee of the
other.
IL is 10 be regretted that Major l. Enfant's IN
bridled spirit anil his want Of due Difference to
the views and responsibilities of his superior in
Office made il necessary for the President to
transfer 10 other engineers the completion of
the plans of the city, 50 intelli@ently begun by
him. Major l. Enfant relieved from all cOnnec-
lion with the public works retired with his
spirit deeply wounded. and. ere long, found
His remains rest beneath an uRnoticed mound
not far from the northern boundary of the beau
THU city his fertile genius had outlined The gov
eminent will never have discharged its obligations
TO the memory OF the great engineer until his
remains are transferred to one OF the beautiful
parks of the capital city and marked by becom-
Ing Obelisk
The TWO FIRST TTLEMENTS-''CARROI re-
AND 'HaNBURG.
The vast area selected as the site of the me-
trOpOlitan city was fortunately well nigh I'M
encountered by existing settlements. There
were two small haInlets which fringed the shore
OF the Potomac. viz; First. Carrollsburg in the
vicinity o. Greenieaf Point 1t was quite
email settlement. which soon disappeared,
leaving but little Of historic interest. Near the
locality was q snail Roman Catholic chapel
garry chapc,(. which antedated the founding
OF the city. and in connection with which tradi-
tiOn has preserved touching romance.
The other hamlet. Hamburg. occupied mar
row slip OF the northern bank OF the Potomac.
extending from about 10Th street westward I'D
To the southeastern base of BradiOck-now
Observatory Well sustained tradition SAYS
that on the big rock" in this locality General
Braddock. when prosecuting his campaign
against the French in 1155. landed his men and
munitions of war. from his largest TRANSPORTS
and made the hill above his camp ground The
pioneer OF the settlement was Me- Funk of
Hamburg. Germany His house was a queer
structure. built largely of imported materials.
after some pattern peculiar TO his native town
He lived To an advanced age. reyered for his
paternal relations TO the burg. He set apart an
eligible lot at the corner OF e. and 10Th streets
northwest for the use of the Concorda Evan
geilcal German church. which Tor many years
has been so occupied 10y the church OF his choice.
HOSTITABI.E JACK DAw.
Conspicuous among the Hamburgians was n
retired West India sea captain by the name of
King His home was near the river, in the
midst of ample grounds. studded with shade
and fruit tees. shrubb@ry. &C. The captain and
family. although OF swarthy complexion. were
highly respected As an indication of their hos
pitality the writer recalls the fact that they had
trained a jack daw to meet visitors at the front
gate. TO bow gracefully to them and say dis
tinctly. How dO:" Come in and then lead
the way TO the front door. At the east end of
the hamlet there was a large well constructed
wharf. and near by glass house, which.
under the skiilful and efficient management OF
one OF our earliest citizens. Andrew Way jr
(whO was also an inspiration TO many other
schemes locking to- the development of the
hidden resources OF the embryo city, acquired
reputation for the manufacture OF window
glass second 10 none at that day. On the sum
NIT OF Br;ddOck-now O6servatOry-hill nearly
one hundred feet above the river the deniZens
OF the hamlet buried their dead IL is a notice
able fact. that OF the many who had been buried
slab or painted board To preserve the memory
OF Its unconscious tenant. The hill becOmin"
one ofthc governments reservations i ceased
10 be place % SepultuTe.
''pUDpINGT0N." TEE HOME OF TIE CARROILs.
OF the hOmestea.is OF the former propretors
within the city limits the following merit special
notice viz:
''Dud1ington. the residence OF Daniel Car
roll. located square No. 80 short distance
to the southeast VI tie Capitol. The buildings
are Of generous dimensions substantially built
OF prich with Interior arrangement and style of
finish which. with its historic associations are
suggestive OF afi'uence and culture This old
homestead. embOwered by ancient oaks. re-
mains 20 the present cherished relic of the
olden time.
THE PALATIAI. HOME OF MOTLEY Young
was a large brick ediice built in colonial times
without regard to cost. The materials and
joinery 70 a large degree were imported from
the "Old Country The building was divided
through the center by very wide hail. in which
was grand stairway of beautiful design and
elaborate finish. Itsspsdous parlors, chambers,
&c. were finished with enriched paneled wains-
cotng, cOrnices and wood mantels of elaborate
design. The Mansion" was located about mid
way between the National Museum and the Po-
tOmac, in the midst of an ample lawn, enriched
BY choice selections OF floral and horticultural
sdOrnments Within the range of its horizon
there was an outlook for beauty but rarely sur
passed. The plan of the city. it is to be re-
GREETED. doomed the demolition OF this noble