Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-24
THE FOUNDING OF WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Sponord Delivers an Interesting
Lecture in Baltimore.

the Protestant Episcopal Brotherhood of Balti-
more was delivered in that city last night by
Mr.. A. R. Spoford, librarian Of Congress, who
spoke on the interesting theme, "The Founding
Of Washington" After reciting the historical
facts concerning the naming of the capital
city and the federal district, by which the great
names of Columbus and Washington were
linked together, Mr.. Spofford sketched the
great leading causes which have ever prevailed
to bring about the location of great cities near
to Underwater or upon navigable rivers. The
| obvious advantages derived by capital city.
from such location are o double accessibility,
cheaper means of transport and communica-
ton, thus lending greater facilities for COM
merce. To these considerations centrality of
territorial position and even salubrity of eli
mate were almost always found to yield None
| of the great capitals of Europe possesses much
elevation of SITE while all or nearly all Of them
are remote from the geographical center of
their respective countries. st. Petersburg is in
the extreme northwest Of Russia; Rome is on
one side of Italy; Constantinople hangs on the
southeast verge of Turkey; Lisbon Is in the west
OF Portugal; London is in the southeast OF
| England; Brussels is in the north of Belgium,
and Paris by no means near TO the center OF
France. None of the great American cities is
built far above the sea level any more than are
the capitals OF Europe.
THE SITE CONTROVERSY.
The early struggles and debates in the con-
stitutionai convention and in the first Congress
over the vexed question Of the proper site for
the seat of government were sketched at
| length. 1t was shown that the controversy ex-
tended over several years; that location on
| the Susquebanna or the Delaware, rather than
| upon the banks of the Potomac. was urged with
great pertinacity by the members from New
England and Pennsylvania; that much acri-
! mony. sectional spirit and even implied threat
n1xfpx h. Is
states attended the discussion; that a very
| decided majority at first existed against site
SO southerly as the present District of Column
bla; that Germantown, a suburb of Phlladel-
| phia, was at first agreed to by both houses;
that the House had twice voted to establish
the capital on the Susquehanna, and that finally
the site on the Potomac was accepted by the
| narrow majority of two votes in the Senate
and three votes in the House. These votes,
moreover, could not have been had, and the
question might have remained open for years
but for two circumstances: First, the accession
OF North Carolina to the union, giving the south
votes enough, with a few from Pennsylvania.
to carry the measure; and second, a grand
compromise Of interests and prejudices so often
seen in legislation, by which the assumption of
state debts (about $40, DOC, 000) by the United
States was made to carry by an agreement that
Pennsylvania should have the seat of govern
ment Chen at New York; for ten years. after
which it should be established on the Potomac
river.
LEFT TO wAsHINoroN's JUDGMENT.
1t is notable fact that this primary act of
Congress ostensibly fixing the site of the fed
eral capital actually defined no locality what
ever as the ultimate seat of government 1t
gave to the President Washington the sole
power to select any site on the river Potomac
between the mouth Of the Eastern branch COR
Anacosta) and Williamsport, Md, near
Hagerstown, distance of 100 miles, following
the windings of the river. Washington had it
In his power, under the provisions of this act
to have founded the capital at Harpers Ferry,
so miles west of Baltimore instead OF 40 miles
south OF that city. tie might even have To-
Gated IL, at his discretion, at the mouth of the
Conoccoheague, 100 miles farther up the river
than the present capital; and there is a con-
temporaneous letter OF Oliver Wolcott extant
which says: "In 1900 we are to go to the Indian
place with the long name on the Potomac"
Washington, however, with that consum-
mate judgment which marked every act Of his
career. selected Just the one spot in the entire
range OF the territory prescribed by Congress
which combined the advantages of the unfail-
ing hdewater navigation, convenient access
from Baltimore and the other great cities
northward, and superb natural sites alike for
the public buildings and for the varied wants
OF populous city. The magnificent dis
tances, once the theme of SO much cheap
rdicule, are found not a whit too liberal now
that Washington has grown from a struggling
'iiiaSO Al VIC WOOuo lutO u Well-Dullt ana Well
paved emporium for q population which has
by no means begun to reach its destined high
limit.
MARYLAND's INTEREST.
The liberal interest taken by Maryland in the
successful location and growth of Washington
was evinced by noble contributions in money
! and by an additional loan Of 100000 at q
critical period when Congress had failed to
make appropriations to carry forward the pub
lie buildings, and President Washington ap.
pealed with success to the state of Maryland
for the loan. The various agitations for the
removal of the capital westward were referred
to and their failure described.
The speaker closed with glowing tribute to
the national capital as the seat Of the political
union of great nation. With its unsurpassed
natural advantages, its slightly and beautiful
location, its moderate aud genial climate, its
suburban scenery and attractions, its. magnif-
cent public buildings, its fine broad avenues
and outrageous streets, its fine galleries of
art, its noble libraries and extensive museums
OF science, its national observatory, whose tele-
scope has added new stars and satellites to the
sky, its men of learning devoted to every
field of research its illustrious dead, its forum
of debate, where the great questions of con-
stitutional law and national welfare have been
decided, its records and national archives, so
rich in political history, the capital presents
f,1 A,t,o -