Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-30
HISTORY.
WASHINGTON'S WORK FOR THE CITY OF
HIS NAME
The Broad Design Of the National Capital TIT
Fruit of His Far-Sseing WisdOm-Ths
Story Of the Oity'S Building

ington which has never had Just recogni'
ton. 1t is, Of course, known that be
selected the site of the Capital, approved
the plan upon which it was laid out and
determined the location of the principal
public buildings and chose the designs OF
their construction. 1t is not, however,
generally known that he directed, person
ally, the details of tie great work involved
in founding a new city. The Star gives
a full account of this from which 1t APP
pears that for the last nine years of his
life his corre ponden,e, which has never
been fully published, but is scattered
about in various collections, great deal OF
it is still in manuscript form, shows that
he was the authority on all questions OF
apy Importance that came up in cOnnec-
ton with the new city. To his foresight
can he attributed thefact that the city was
planned on a scale of maguiicence provid-
ing for its wonderful expansion. Wash
ington believed that great future lay BE-
fore the infant Republic, and he carried
his belief into practical operation.
As early IS the year 1913, two years
after the site had bseA selected, IN writlr g
to the commissioners relative to the plau
of the White House, be says: Il was led
to this idea by considsriog that house
which would be very pTOpsr for Presl-
Gent of the United States for some years
might not be conside,ed as corresponding
with other circumstances at more DIS
tant period "
So when the French engineer. L Eafant,
presented for his approval a pan OF the
new city comprising SEINE 100 acres
with avenues $50 feet wide and four miles
long, with not a sirgle street less than
eighty feet wide, and with acres reserved
at different points fer parks and public
buildings Washington saw nothiT g extrav-
agant or ridiculous in the plan. Many OF
his contemporaries die.
1t ia not known that Washington hsd
taken any part in the contest which ned
been veg d so many years IN Congress
over the choice of location. But as soon
as the bill was passed ne entered upon The
DISCHARGE of his duties with alacrity. Al
though familiar with The country, having
traversed the entire length of the Potoma
in the interests of the Potomac Improve
ment Company, howtver, he selected the
ulain living between the eastern branch snd
Rock Creek, and in company with Len
FAINT he made careful inspection OF the
ground with the view of laying the plan
of the city.
The law authorizing the location OF 3
new city didn't appropriate penny TO en-
able the President TO carry out tbs pro-
visions of the bill. The President was
empowered to appoint board OF three
Commissioners to have charge of the work,
and Congress directed that public build
ings be erected for The accommodation OF
Congress and the Executive Departments,
and that the seat of government should be
removed to the new city in 1900 He APP
pointed as members Of the Board Of Com
missicners General Thomas johnson, WHO
was an intimate friend and comrade during
the Revolutionary wal; Daniel Carroll, a
member of the famous Maryland family o.
thai lime. and Dr.. Ste ggggt,;o 1 o A,
physician reSiulDg - Ale1hnuIla Al
there was no money available except the
donations of the S ates of Maryland arc
Vup,pis. Washington was anxious tina
:he sale Of lots, providing the only othel
source of revenue, should begin rs soon at
possible. L'Enfant was directed to haster
the preparation Of his map, and had made
coed progress when be became involved il
Quarrel with the Commissioners. LEN
faat had a rather quick temper, and a
Washington explained in letter TO th'
mmissioners, dated November 20, 1871
men who possess talsnts which fit then
for peculiar purposes are almost in
verbally under the influence o
untoward dispositions, or
sottish pride, or possessed of some othe
Discrimination, by which they plague al
those with whom they are concerned; M
| did not expect to meet with such per
verseness in Major L'Eufsnt as his lat,
conduc; exhibited"
After L'Enfant's dismissal Major Ellio
was appointed surveyor of the city, snC
he prfplred the fret engraved map of tn
] CITY MulNls noMFNOi' PiSNNA 'SN eAAS N'1NH
tia features OF L'Eufnt's plan.
To sho sow Washington attended "a
the details of the new city, letter TO th'
Commissioner datsd October 21, 1886
eta,es: "As the business of the executive
officers will be chiefly, If no
eltopetber W tn the President
sit-s for their Offices ,ught to be convent
eat to MS residence; hui as the ideotica
spots car be better chosen on the grounc
with tie pat OF tn city tefore one BIS
by the later alone l shan postpone my
decision until my arrival there"
After Washingtonretired from the Presi
dency he still manifested great interest i
Inc new city. This last letter he wTOt,
while President Or he subject of the city
was dated March 1897 On the mex
day President Adams was inauguratec
TINS letter is as fol,ws:
"Three things rlstive to the city o
Washington call for my decision, and thu
is the last day I hive power 10 give any
The first respects the dispute with tn
law regarding the Conveyance of lots; tn
second to my appreciation of the plans 70
| IUe Executive OulCtt N.4u ZIG illtAt W III
instrument You tranmitted to me in you
letter of the 31st o January. With re
gard to the first, however hard and unex
pected the case MAY be as it affects tb
public interest, whatever my private opin
ion on some points may be, think ]
safest, and, all thing considered, perhaps
the best to let The opinion of tn
law officer of the government, here
with inclosed, prevail, and I ad
wise it accordingly. The second not onl.
meets my appreciation, but is much ap
proved also by the heads of departments
and may, when the funds and other cir
camstances will permit, be carried int
effect, for which purpose the plan VAS re
turned with my approving signature. o.
the other, or third poinb the bill for incor
porating the Commissioners Of the City c
Washington has not ben passed into laV
in consequence of the superior claim q
more important mstteH upon the atten
tion of Congress in the close of the pre-;
emit session. The instrument you trans
| 20 no % a,H,nod bafo-a hav