Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-14

WHO ARE STILL LIvrNa-wELL-KNowx NAMES
on THE LIsT-rHE SURROUNDINGS OF THE
sUnDINa-cHARAcTHkso OF THAT DAT.
es1T,HE ANNUAL STATEMENTS PRE-.
l. pared by Mr.. John Sessford, !" remarked
the old department clerk TO TEE SrAa reporter,
''will give one some idea a. to the growth Of the
city In the old days. Take for instance, the
statements for 1898 and 1s45, the first showing
total Of 2. 9o1 dwelling houses and an esti-
mated population Of 1880. During that year
about $50 buildings were srected-12 three
story and So two-story bricks, "a two-story and
one and half story frames. In1s45 the num-
Der Of dwellings was 6,6ss, and the estimated
population Sc, 7H. In that year 101 brick dwell
ings and 212 frames were erected. In 1928
there were but 81 ,665 running feet Of brick foo,
pavement In the city. Of which 10.066 feet had
been laid the previous year. In 1S45 but
Il, 81 feet were laid. The total valuation OF
property was in 1923 s5, zoe, 69e and in 1s4s
e12, as, 667. I note this that you may have
some idea Of how slowly the city then advanced.
1t is interesting nevertheless to ~ old timers,
and win explain in manner the establishment
shown now by those who have been long absent
when they return to the city of today"
THE OLD TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Here the veteran resumed the little volume.
"Let's take the Treasury next" he said. 1.-THE
old sandstone building with its long collonade
was built in place Of the old drab building de-
stroyed by FIRE in 1888 and was several years in
the course Of construction. II was over 800
feet long and might be called . three-storied
and three-winged building, each containing a
hallway with six rooms on each side on each
story and today II form. q part Of
J. Walker, the father Of Gen. Duncan
s. Walker, was in 1845 the Secretary and with
his clerks occupied the rooms Of the second
story Of the west wing. From the west window
OF his room he could overlook the President's
grounds. McClintock Young was then the
chief clerk and lived on the south side of T near
18th street. He was q most popular gentle
| man and - good citizen as an official.
For some years he was the president
Of the old Franklin Fire Company.
flee. OF whom Mr.. Charles Albert, q well-known
member of our bar, John r. Hartley, some
years after chief clerk and assistant secretary,
and George Harrington, also subsequently
chief clerk and assistant secretary, are living,
Mr.. Hartley in Maine and the others in this
city. There we're eight watchmen under the
superintendence Of Mr.. John p. Pepper, for
many years an alderman Of the fourth ward,
and Of these. but two, Messrs. G. w. Petit and
John W. Smith, survive.
1uc hIsb COuhoheT ONCE was tuen, unuer
James McCulloh, located in the south wing of
the second floor. There was a force of about
twenty, including the messengers, and among
them were the venerable N. b. Van Zandt
Gather Of Capt. Van Zandt), Thomas Feran,
]. Bartram North. Robert Cochran (whose heirs
are itigants in the Choctaw claims case) and
l.. Q. Washington, the well-known newspaper
correspondent. The latter is the only one
living know Of.
THE first auditor was VIM. Collins, who had
for his chief clerk Mr.. George H. Jones, who
presided over q force OF seventeen. The first
auditor was located on the first floor Of the
north wing, and subsequently in the building
occupied by the Home, now the Interior De-
partment, southeas corner Of 18th and IF
streets Among his clerks. were David w.
only one now living; Mitchell H. Miller one of
the originators Of the Y.MC.A.. and James
Collegiate, who died few years since on E
street. near 7th.
TIE TRRAsuRER's OFFICE.
"Ths treasurer, Hon. W. Selden, the father Of
Mr.. John Selden Of our bar was located on the
first floor Of the west wing and had force of
fifteen clerks, headed by Col. W. B. Randolph
Of Virginia, who for number Of years was in
spector general Of the District militia, school
trustee and member Of the board Of health.
the cash room and vaults were two of the ordi-
nary rooms on the north side, in charge of Maj.
W. d. Mutt and Anthony Mclean, both Of vir-
ginia. Among the other clerks were Hon.
W. 8. Morgan, who had represented q
district in Congress- Robert Latham, after
ward banker here; 8. N. Bootes OF
last named il the only one living, and he now
resides near Tenleytown. Mr.. Selden then re-
sided on New York avenue, opposite DR.. Bart
let's Church, in what was then frst-class
brick structure Of two stories, basement and
attic. His chief clerk, Col. Randolph, in the
wi 0f Me- nd
18th street southwest.
In the south wing Of the second story Daniel
Graham occupied the position Of register and
here and on the lower floor were his force of
twenty-eight- OF these ex-Mayor J. @. Berret,
A. L. Hazleton of It'll street, ]. c. Haviland and
8. Yorke At Lee are living. The late John d.
Barclay and Dr.. John B. Blake and Capt. Es-
telle were clerks then and Michael Nourse after
ward the register, was the chief clerk. The office
Of solicitor, Hon. R. H. Gillet was in the south
wing on the first floor and BENZ. r. Pleasants
was the chief clerk and Perry E Broochus,
afterward United States judge in New Mexico,
the law clerk. There we're six other clerks and
a messenger, all Of whom are dead. Richard
n. Young was the commissioner Of the land
Office and with his clerks occupied the third
story. There we're ifty-six clerks in this office,
Of whom John Scott Cunningham, Moses Kelly.
w. H. Minnix and A. 8. b. White are living.
Tho Attorney General, Hon. Nathan Clifford,
was located in this wing with Mr.. J. 7. Reed,
CLERK, ana H. A. AlOp1er, messenger.
"The third auditor, Hon. Peter Hagner, father
Of our present Judge Hagner, had but recently
removed his quarters from the War Depart
ment building and was then located in the west
wing Of the main story and in the basement.
The chief clerk was James Thompson and there
were twenty-nine other clerks. Among these
were Col. W. H. g. Taylor, Maj. @. 8. Wallach,
BENZ. L. Began, father Of Drs. Van and Sam.
Began, and A. F. Cunningham, . leading tenn
perance man. The following are now living:
Samuel Norment president Of the Central Ma
tional Bank, then an $500 clerk, who subse-
quently went through all the grades to that of
chief Of division; T.. G. Daniel Of Richmond.
Va; A. N. Gangewer and Richard Dove Of this
city.
"Before referring to other departments, F"
continued the old staSer, II should not forget
to state that there was in the yard of the build
ing an engine house in which an old-fashioned
fire engine was kept for the protection of gov
eminent property. This house was sur
mounted by large clock which had bell at
| tached that announced the passing hours to the
public Whereabouts. There were no such mod
ern conveniences then running hydrants,
steam heat, &c. The closets and fuel sheds
were in the south yard, now the southern inner
court Of the building.
SOME ODD CHARACTERS.
"Any odd characters among those old wor-
thies? 1 should say %. Every man has q
habit or hobby. As have before stated the
rules then were not 90 strict or at least not 80
strictly enforced as now. The duties OF each
desk were peculiarly its own, and in some bu-
reaus SO unlike was the work Of the different