Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15
THE DISTRICT CORNER STONE.
Interesting Ceremonies when It Was
Laid . Century Ago.

IT ~ now IN VIRGINIA AND FORMS 4 PART OF Tn r
WALL OF THE LIGHT HOUSE ON HUNTERS
cREEK-rHY EVENT TO BIZ CELEBRATED MKT
APRIL.
II ID proposed to celebrate in this city in
April next the centennial anniversary Of the
| laying Of the corner stone Of the District This
stone marked the initial point for the surveys
OF the lines Of the ten miles square which
originally were included within the District of
Columbia 1t IL curious fact that when the
location Of the corner stone was selected by
Gen. Washington 1t was outside of the limits Of
the District, a. described in the act of Congress
authorizing President Washington TO choose
location for the permanent seat of government
This act, which became q law July l6, $780,
gave the President power to select site any
where along the Maryland or eastern side of
the Potomac river between the mouth Of the
Eastern branch and the Conococheague, the
latter being a stream which enters the Potomac
at Williamsport, Nd. not far from Hagerstown.
WHERE WASHINGTON PLACED THE INITIAL POINT.
Gen. Washington, however, reached the con-
clusion that a portion Of tine territory Of vir-
ginia, including the city of Alexandria. ought
to be made part Of the new federal District,
and in announcing the selection of the site he
stated that the initial point OF the surveys of
the District boundary limo would begin at
Hunting creek south Of Alexandria. Congress
gave its sanction to this change and passed an
amendatory act which extended the lines OF
the District so rs to take i'll q slice Of the soil
of the Old Dominion, as we'll territory south
Of tho Eastern branch. The site Of the corner
stone, having for q few months pending this
action Of Congress been outside OF the District,
was allowed to remain within the jurisdiction
OF the federal government for period OF fifty
hva years Then in the year is+6 the act OF
retrocession was passed and the state Of Vir-
ginia again assumed authority over the terri
tory where the corner stone was located.
THE CORNER STONE NOW IN VIRGINIA.
1t is, therefore, now on Virginia soil. The
corner stone, which was laid April Is, 1891, was
established on Jones' Point south OF the
present light house. Immediately afterward q
survey was commenced and lines were run as
directed by tho Presidents proclamation.
These lines were marked by hewn stone posts
placed at intervals of one mile. The posts were
inscribed on the District side with the words,
''Jurisdiction of the United States and on the
opposite side, according TO location. we're in
scrlbed either with the word Maryland or
Virginia" On another side appeared the
number Of the stone and tho date
1871 or 1872. The survey was completed
during the year 1902. The corner stone is
about two feet high and one foot square, aud
stood isolated until the United States built the
wall inclosing the light house. Tho stone was
then included in and forms part Of this wall on
the south. From this stone Andrew Ellicott,
the surveyors located the longitudinal and me-
ridian center Of the District The stone mark.
ing the exact center OF the ten-mile square WAS
located about $50 yards southwest from where
the Washington monument now stands
CEREMONY OF LAYING THE CORNER STONE.
The ceremony of laying the corner stone was
quite an event at that early day. There was as
granda procession AZ the sparse population Of
this section of the country could muster Two
OF these newly appointed commissioners of the
District were present. A contemporary ac-
count states when Hon. Daniel Carroll and Hon.
David Steuart, District Commissioners, arrived
in Alexandria on the 18th OF April, 1891, the
mayor and commonalty, together with the
members OF the Civic Association, at 3 o'clock
waited on the Commissioners at Mr.. Wise's
Getty HoteD, where they dined, and, after
drinking glass OF wine to the fol-
lowing sentiment VIZ, May the stone
which We are about to place in the
ground remain an immovable monu-
ment to the wisdom and unanmity of North
America the company proceeded to Jones'
Point in the following order: First the town
sergeant; second, District Commissioner
Carroll and the mayor; third, District Engineer
Ellicott and the town recorders fourth alder
men and common council; fifth. strangers;
sixth, the master Of Lodge "a, with District
Commissioner Steuart on his right and Rev.
james Muir on his left; seventh. Masons in the
usual form of Masonic procession; eighth, citi-
zens. two by two.
The master of the lodge, Commissioner
Stenart, and others placed the stone and it was
laid i'll accordance with the Masonic ceremony
REV. MR. NUNS ADDRESS.
Rev. James Muir, An eloquent Scotch clergy
man. delivered the address of the occasion. 1t
was almost all in scriptural language and the
speaker closed with the following: "Amiable it
is for brethren to dwell together in unity; it is
more fragrant than the perfumes in Aaron's
garments; it is more refreshing than the dews
on Hermon's hill. May this stone long CON-
memorate the goodness OF God in those uu-
common events which have given America a
name among nations Under this stone may
jealousy and selfshness be forever buried
From this stone may superstructure arise
whose glory, whose magnihcence, whose stabil-
ity. unequaled hitherto shall astonsh the world
and invite even the savage OF the wilderness to
take shelter under its roof.
The company partoOk Of refreshments and.
returning to Wse's tavern. drank toasts, one
Of which, that Of DR.. L. q. Dick, has been pre-
served: May jealousy, that green-eyed mon
stcr, be buried deep under the work we have
this day completed, never to rise again within
the federal District"