Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16
THE GOVERNMENT s BIG SHARE.

THE GOVERNMENT BIG SHARE.
By the agreement with the proprietors the
United States was given the title to 1858 acres
OF the ,161 acres which comprised the entire
area of the city. This extensive domain the
commissioners obtained from the proprietors
without the expenditure of a dollar with the ex-
ception Of the 541 taken for public reserva-
tons, which they paid for at the rate of S66 per
acre. Ellicott made as rapid progress as was
possible with the map, but the commissioners
concluded not to wait until it could be pub
lished The public sale of lots advertised to
take place in October. 1871. was accordingly
held. The results hardly justified the expecta-
tons that had been formed of the eagerness on
the part Of the public to own building lots in
the new city. There. were only twepty-three
lots Sold the purchasers selecting them in the
squares in the vicinity of the Presidents House.
The prices ranged from S454 to S135 per lot. and
considering that no improvements had been
made, not a single street had been opened and
the land was still farm land and not very good
farm land at that may be concluded that spec
ulation in real estate was much the same 100 years
ago as it is today. However. the commissioners
needed cash, and the only method of getting it
was out of the land. The proprietors made
sales as fast On they could. and although they
could not give exact descriptions Of the lots
sold they gave certificates describing in gen.
eral the location Of the land, which appeared to
satisfy the purchasers. In this way the market
was kept pretty well supplied although some
Of the proprietors. after they had secured a
little cash, showed tendency to hold on with
the hope Of getting higher prices. The COM
miseioners, however, had another source Of
revenue, and that was the donations promised
by the states OF Virginia and Maryland. They
lost no time in making an application for this
money, and after some correspondence with
the state authorities an arrangement was made
by which these sums were paid in in INSTALL
ments.
THE CAPITAL BUILDERS.
The work undertaken by the commissioners
was no ordinary one. They were to erect
city in a comparative wilderness. There was
no supply Of building material convenient,
there were no workmen, and even if there had
been there was no place for them to live. In
many particulars the commissioners were
thrown upon their own resources. Fortunately
there was found to be an abundance of excel
lent clay for brick making right in the city and
brick yards were at once started. One was
located near the site of the Capitol building.
and, in fact, fine beds of clay, is the case to-
day, were discovered in all parts of the District.
Then it was necessary TO erect buildings for the
workmen and to import men in some cases,
sending to England and Scotland and paying the
passage Of men to the new city. Bridges were
built over Tiber creek and James creek, large
streams which now form part Of the sewer
sick employees, wharves were built, stone quar-
ries purchased, and, in fact, all the
work Of securing plant for build
ing WAS done. All this involved
the expenditure of money and it is not surpris-
ing that the com missioners were anxious that
the engraved plan Of the city should be pre-
pared in order that the sale of lots might be
facilitated and the necessary funds secured.
Finally Ellicott's work was completed.
THE FIRST MAP.
A copper plate was made in Philadelphia and
the plans Of the city were printed and freely
distributed throughout this country and sent to
various points in Europe. An agent Of the city
was employed, whose business it was to travel
through the country and endeavor to dispose
of the lots in the federal city. The second sale
OF lots took place here in October, 1892, as soon
as the plan OF the city was published, and the
result was much more satisfactory than that of
the first sale. rs no less than ninety lots were
sold at prices which were about the same as
those that prevailed at the first sale. However,
nearly one-half of the lots disposed of at this
sale were bought by two men. which did not in
dictate the general interest on the part of the
public that was confidently expected.
Those interested in the city, however, were
not disc outraged. In fact, it was still the san
guine period in the early history of the city.
MORRIS BIO SPECULATION.
There was general feeling that the boom
was just beginning, and This opinion was
greatly stimulated by the appearance on the
scene in the fall Of 1898 Of Messrs. Greenleaf.
Morris and Nicholson. Mr.. Robert Norris was
the great fnancier Of the revolution and was
considered one OF the wealthiest men of the
day. bis associates were also men of wealth,
and with others formed the North American
Land Company. At the close of the revolution
Mr.. Morris believed that there would be great
influx OF immigrants from Europe and that
there would be promising market for land.
He and his associates bought land in vast
tracts, and at one time owned no less than
5000, 600 acres. Their most extensive holding
was some 5000 900 OF acres located in the
western part Of New York state, which had
been purchased from the state OF Massacbu-
setts and which came to be known as the Hol-
land Purchase. No adequate account has yet
been written Of the extensive land investments
made by Mr.. Morris, which. perhaps, may
be accounted for by the fact that
they involved in ruin the protector SO that
he died in poverty after having been
debt. However, when Mr.. Morris negotiated
his famous deal in Washington city property he
stood high in financial circles. His purchases
here amounted to nearly 81 900 900, transact
tion which would be considered large even in
this day, but which from the standpoint Of
yesrs ago must be regarded as simply stupend-
Gus. His contract with the commissioners
alone was for 5000 lots at $50 each, and the
conditions which, were exacted shows that the
city authorities Of that day had no mean
opinion Of the value Of Washington property
According to the contract entered into BY the
commissioners and Mr.. Morris and his asso-
ciates the purchase money was made payable
IN seven equal annual installments. without in
terest, commencing May I, 1874, and With the con-
dition Of building twenty brick houses annually
two stories high, covering 100 square feet
each, and with the further condition that they
should not cell any lots previous to the LIST Of
January, 17o6; but ON condition Of erecting on
every third lot one such house within four
ysazs from the time Of sale. They also pur-