Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-22
FOX'S DISCOVERY.
How Boundary Street Was DETECTED
The Land in Question.


Under the above caption there appeared q
paragraph in your issue Of the 18th instant, in
which it was stated that Capt. symons had
recommended legal proceedings to establish
title in the United States to the land lying q,
the head of 18th and Boundary and known as
Fox's discovery. 1t is with considerable diff
dence that ask space for the insertion Of the
accompanying statement in regard to the mat
ter, for the reason that may be in error in
supposing the subject to be one in which the
public may have any special interest. But
every time the matter has been alluded to in
print the buildings at the head OF 18th and
Boundary have been located upon Fox's dis
covery, whereas, in fact, they are on the COL
lege land and belong to our enterprising and
hlghly-esteemed citizen, W. c. Hill.
BOUNDARY STREET.
By glance at any map of Washington city il
will be seen that there are at least two sudden
reflections in the course Of Boundary street.
the one at the head of 18th street and the
other at the head Of 9Th street. The former
is accounted for in the following manner: The
Columbian college derives its title from the
Rev. Obadiah Bruen Brown by deed dated
November 80, AID. 1921, who acquired his title
from George Peter by deed dated December
II, A.D. 1920. The plats and maps show that
at that time there was an old road running
along this portion OF the city called the George
town and Badensburg road, and when it
reached 10th street northwest it took a short
cut to 14th street. In this way it ran across the
southern extremity of the college land, thereby
forming triangle between the said road and
the north line OF the present boundary. The
same thing resulted between 18th and 18th
streets on the south Of Porters land, or Meridian
hill.
THE TENLEY PROPERTY.
When the college buildings were erected, be-
tween 1881 and 1884, 1 am informed by a then
resident of College Hill that the college au-
thorlties allowed one of the builders or nrinci-
pal workmen. a Mr.. Paradise to erect a frame
building on the extreme southern portion of
their land, the triangle in question. out of the
lumber that was left over. This building thew
rented to him at first and afterward to others
When ! came to the college to live in the year
1856 the said house was then occupied by
widow named Tenley. In the year 1868 the
trustees of the college sold the house and tri-
angle of land to William II. Tenley, a son of
Mrs. Tenley. To that deed the name of Amos
Kendall is affixed as president of the board of
trustees and my own as secretary. The
Bladensburg road above referred to had been
entirely abandoned at that time and the little
Tenley home was inclosed with neat fence
On the property was an elegant spring of water,
large and beautiful shade trees and a spring
house. 1t formed in my mind a picture that /
shall never forget. I did not then know that
Mr.. Paradise had ever had anything to do with
the house. When the board of public works
was in power, Gov. Shepherd being at its head.
made a request that the lines Of Boundary
street be run from 18th to 10th streets north
west. Gen. o. z. Babcock was commissioner
Of public buildings and grounds. Every ia
cility was afforded the authorities for getting
at the maps and plats of the city as originally
laid out. This investigation resulted in the To-
cation Of Boundary street on the present lines.
THE REAL Fox's DISCOVERY.
Now in regard to 'Fox's discovery" il am
TO 60 down to posterity a. the propounder of
this claim, earnestly desire that may be cor
rectly reported-at least by contsmporaneous
authorities. This claim has no reference what
ever to the college triangle, but to the one
south Of Meridian Hill or Porter's land, living
between 18th and 18th streets northwest. and
on this piece Of land no house has ever stood.
within my recollection, save a small frame
shed erected by VIM. b. Tenley during the time
he had the ground inclosed for q garden. Ii
10 no part Of my purpose to discuss the legal
aspect OF this question. It seems that it will
come ultimately before judicial tribunal NV
judgment 10 that Boundary street between 14th
and 18th streets can never be detected from
the present lines, save by condemnation. To
change it otherwise would be 10 run il through
the southern portion OF the college. land to
which the college had an indefeasibIe title prior
TO Conveyance 70 present owners.
Roman @. Fox.