Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-25

east. He also purchased a smaller tract north
of where the Jail now stands In connection
with Greeneaf and Nicholson, Morris made a
contract with the commissioners to sell 5000
city lots at not less than $50 each, but the con-
ditions imposed purchasers to erect brick
houses prevented the disposal of the lots. Nor
ris was a man of great wealth. and his magnifi-
cent style of living in Philadelphia was the
heavily involved by some investments in west
ern lands and died in debtors prison.
1t Is tact of some interest that of all
that early date and bought up land
Robert Morris and his associates were the
only ones who bought east of the Capitol. All
the rest made their investments the other
side of the Capitol Daniel Carroll who owned
large tract of land on the north and south
future city would be located there Tradition
has 1T that he was the cause of L'Enfant aban-
doning his work in connection with the city
after his plan had been adopted. The original
cause of the trouble was CAROLS insisting upon
erecting his house directly in the middle OF
what was to be New Jersey avenue L'Enfint,
one night, ordered his men to tear the house
down, which was done, but an appeal was made
to Washington, who directed that the house be
of preservation just south of the Capitol. When
LEnfant retired, Andrew Ellicott, who had
been associated with him, carried on the work
of laying out the city.
OTHER EARLY SPECTATORS.
Benjamin Stoddert was another extensive
Spectator. He was resident of Georgetown
and carried on mercantile business there
ne was afterwards appointed by President
Adams the first Secretary of the Navy. His
purchases were quite large in Hamburg
and in these he was associated with Deakins.
He also purchased quite n tract Of land south
Of Ohio avenue between 9th and 14th streets
Lynch and Sands, as Indicated on the map
became purchasers of quite good deal of real
estate. But little is known of either of these
phia, made very extensive purchase of land
lying about Dupont Circle, and extending to
Rock Greek, as far south as NJ street, and then
between 18th and Dist streets, as far south as
ii. This was known as the "Widow's Mite
Anthony Holmead also bought just to the north
of Lingan's land, and his heirs retained por-
ton of it down to the present time. Among
other purchasers at this time may be found the
names of James Greenleaf, John H. Stone
sioners of the city,, William Bailey and Benja.
min Oden. The prices paid for the land seemed
to average about $50 per acre, and the price
was apparently regulated by the valuation
placed upon them by the government.
After the transfer OF the land to the govern.
ment and its division, the sales especially
those made by the government, were mainly
single lots, and large transactions were unusual
AS was stated above, Washington discouraged
advised the commissioners to have care as to
the disposition of land in the vicinity ofthe pub
lie buildings, lest it might be used for undesira-
BILE purposes, or unsightly buildings erected II
would appear that at these sales which were
held from time to time the preference
seemed to be for lots east of the Capitol
although L'Enfant purchased a lot on 18th
street opposite the Corcoran Art Gallery.
washington, however, bought two lots in the
Capitol street, facing the Capitol, for which he
paid 5000. Also four lots in the So uare between
and streets southwest along the Eastern
branch Tor twelve cents per foot. These lots
however, were located in what was formerly
Carrollsburg. The prices paid for lots at the
first sale ranged from $40 to $780, but it is re-
corded that the commissioners bid in for the
government, as they regarded the bids too low,
lot 8 in square 1O7, at $3.50; lot 8, in square
81, at SlOO; lot 10, In square 1O5, at $175. and
lot L., In the same square, at $145. All these
lots were located in the extreme northwest
DESIRABLE CITY LOTS.
The property on Capitol Hill was re-
garded for many years as more desirable on
account of its proximity to the Capitol: but 1t is
stated that Mr. Carroll, who owned the larger
part of it, held it at such high figure that a
very active movement was prevented. Gen.
Van Ness who married the daughter of David
Burns, and fell heir to his large estate which
extended on both sides of Pennsylvania ave
nue., nearly to the Capitol comprising what is
now the heart OF the city, adopted the policy of
house, and in this way he made his land more
desirable and more valuable. The early ten
dency of investors. which continued for some
years was to the purchase of lots in the vicinity
OF the Capitol and the Presidents House. the
former locality having the preference among
the early purchases. After the year 1894, spec
ulation ceased to be the prevailing feature of
property movements in the capital city land the
era OF more solid improvements set in. The
the loans made by the states of Maryland and
Virginia was about the only source of revenue
to the commissioners for carrying on their great
work of building a city. When Congress moved
to the new city in November, 1900, the Capitol
Presidents House, the Treasury and War build
lngS were the only public structures erected,
while a few private residences were collected
about the Capitol, the Presidents House and
at Greenleafs Point
CONTEMPORARY DESCRIPTION
In letter which was written by John Cotton
q m of cnu fv<,v,,
he gives the following interesting description of
the appearance of the city and the condition
OF things when the government was moved:
"Our approach to the city was accompanied
with sensations not easily described. One wing
OF the Capitol only had been erected, which,
with the Presidents house, a mile distant from
1t, both constructed with white sandstone were
snlnlng objects in dismal contrast with the
scene around them. Instead of recognizing the
avenues and streets portrayed on the plan of
the city, not one was visible, unless we except
called the New Jersey avenue. The Pennsyl-
van1a avenue, leading, as laid down on paper,
from the Capitol to the Presidential mansion,
was nearly the whole distance a deep morass,
covered with elder bushes, which were cut
through to the Presidents house; and near
Georgetown block of houses had been erected
which bore the name OF the "six buildings -
s,!sting Of two or three dwelling houses in
lated wooden habitation the Intervening
spaces, and, indeed, the surface of the city gem
eraiiy being covered with scrub oak bushes on
the higher grounds, and on the marshy soil
either trees or some sort Ofshrubbery. The desc
late aspect OF the place was not q little aug
mented Dy number of unfinished edifices at
Greenleaf's Point and on an eminence a short
distance from it, commenced by an individual
whose name they bore, but the state of whose
appeared to be but two really comfortable hab-
tatlons In all respects within the bounds of the
ION Capitol HilD, and the other to Motley Young,
ION 6 street southwest. The roads, In every
direction, were muddy and unimproved. A
sidewalk was attempted In one instance by q
covering formed of the chips hewed for the Cap
itol. 1t extended but little way, and was of
little value; for, in dry weather, the sharp frag
cred them with white mortar. In short. it was
q new settlement"