Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-14
THE OLD LAND RECORDS.
Col. Ernst Thinks He Should Have All
the Original District Papers.

| Recently the chief Of engineers Of the Cnitet
States army received letter from Col Ernst
In charge Of public buildings and grounds, in
which he called attention to the fact that the
records Of his Office relating to the origins
laying out Of the city and the subsequent sal.
Of lots was far from complete. He also called
attention to the fact that many importan. plats
| reports and other documents to which refer.
ence is made in the Proceedings Of Commits.
sioners," and which should be on file in hi,
office, are missing. Also that IL appears from
the evidence Of Surveyor Forsyth Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia in . recent case Of the United
States agt NJ F. Morris ct al. that there are on
file in bis Office certain original documents
which would seem to properly belong to Col.
Ernsts Office, such as the original plats Of the
city prepared by Nicholas King under order OF
the Commissioners In 1898 and other original
work Of Mr.. Kings and the original note book
OF Jas. X. Dermott, containing the soundings
taken for the Dermott, or Tin Case Map.
WANTS THEM TRANSFERRED
As It is desirable that all such documents
should, as far as practicable. be in the care of
single custodian, Col Ernst suggests that
steps be taken to secure the transfer to his Of
fee OF all original books, maps, reports or
other documents which have at any time
formed part Of the records Of his Office, which
are now IN possession Of the surveyor of the
District OF Columbia. Secretary Proctor in
closed to the District Commissioners copy Of
the letter from Col. Ernst and requested that
steps be taken TO cause the transfer to the War
Department Of the records in question.
THE SURVEYORS REPORT.
When the matter came before the Commits
sioners for action they submitted il to the sur
veyor for his report This latter report was
forwarded several days ago. In it he says that
there are number of plats and papers in his
once relating to the matters of surveys in the
city OF Washington and that these have been
IN the office Of the surveyor to his personal
knowledge forty years. While operations in
the city OF Washington were under the charge
OF the first Commissioners, under the act of
congress OF l19l, he says the Commissioners
employed the surveyor and his Office was a
branch or division of theirs When the Com
missioners were succeeded by the superin-
tenuent the surveyor was employed by him.
Inc nrst distinctive mention of the surveyor of
washington by Congress. he says, seems TO be
under the acts of March 3, 1903. and March q,
1894. BY various acts of Congress constituting
the charter OF the former corporation Of WASH
ington certain powers and jurisdictions were
conferred upon it in relation to Streets &C., of
this city to the carrying out of which the as
sistance OF the surveyor Of Washington was
necessary, and by the act of MAY IL,
lSaS, continuing, altering and amending
the charter or the city OF Washington
that office was recognized as part Of the city
government and section provided for his
election by the voters Of the city. Section
gave the corporation certain powers in regard
to the making Of plats of squares and subdivis-
ions. and by the concluding part of the section
the office Of the surveyor was made "the legal
office OF record Of the plats of all property in
the city of Washington" which. it seems,
clearly contemplated making that Office the re-
pository OF al. plats, papers and documents re-
iating TO the surveys OF property in the city.
THINKS THEY SHOULD REMAIN.
In view of the foregoing report Surveyor
Forsyth says, in his opinion, the plats and doc
uments referred to now properly form a part
of the archives Of the surveyors Office and to
remove any of them would occasion the great
est inconvenience to title searchers real estate
men and District offices. Much Inconvenience
he continues, is now experienced for want of
data pertaining to the laying out Of the city
now in the Office of the superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds. Capt Rossell has
recommended that copy of the above report
be sent to the Secretary of War. What other
action the Commissioners will take is not
known, but it is understood that the matter
will be thoroughly discussed at the next board
session.