Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

Potomac was selected. There had been q long |
contest in Congress, covering period Of some |
six or seven years. over this very question Of |
the new capital city, and the various rivals for
the honor Of having the seat Of the national
government in their midst had offered various
and divers Inducements in the shape of hard
cash and land. So Maryland and Virginia were
only keeping in line with the other states.
FIGURING on SALES OF LOTS.
OF course it was not supposed that $780,, 900
would be sufficient sum to get the new city in
readiness for the reception of Congress, but it
was expected that the capital builders would
come in for q share Of the profits from the real
estate boom which it was confidently believed
would set in as soon as the site Of the new city
was fixed upon. In fact. it was not believed
that the new city would cost the government
cent, and 80 the omission Of any appropriation
was not so surprising after all.
In the spring of 1871 President Washington
began negotiations with the owners of the
property included within the bounds Of the new
city. The owners, although as rule
men in humble circumstances, gaining a
small livelihood by cultivating their farms
and tobacco plantations, were not blind
to the benefits which would accrue to
them by the change. They entered into
the negotiations with good deal Of spirit and
with also a very human desire to make the
most out Of it for themselves Some of them,
like one of the largest landholders, Mr.. Burns,
were ulspOstu 10 stlCkit anu Dc CuptiOus. Dut
finally all came around and signed the agree
ment which was prepared by Washington. Ac-
cording to the terms of this agreement all Of
the Z, 161 acres lying within the bounds OF the
city, as indicated by the map of L Enfant, were
to be transferred to trustees.
THE DIVISION OF THE LAND.
From this total area the trustees, II was
agreed. should transfer to the United States
the title to all the land required for the streets
and avenues. For this land, amounting to
1904 acres, the owners were to receive no COM
pensation. Scattered all through the city, as
shown by the plan, were blocks Of land Of
greater or less extent. which the proprietors
were told were to be used as the sites Of public
buildings and for parks. For this land they
were to be paid by the government at the rate
of $50 per acre. Some 541 acres were devoted
to this purpose, and the remaining acres were
laid out into building lots, to be divided be-
tween the government and the original owners.
When this division was effected it was found
that the proprietors would have 10. 1876 building
lots and the government 10. 1876 lots.
The preliminaries being settled everybody
was anxious that the surveys should be COM
pleted and the land made available for imme-
date sale. The commissioners in charge Of the
work Of building the new city we're perhaps
more anxious than any one else. as it was the
only way to put money into an empty treasury.
The capital stock on which this city was started
was the donation of Maryland and Virginia and
the lots that would fall to the share Of the city
in the division with the proprietors. Every
energy was bent upon getting the lots on the
market and o necessary condition the work
Of preparing a map of the City or rather q plan
showing the location Of the principal bull dings
and their relation to the other property was
hastened as much as possible. The proprietors
were il possible poorer than the government,
and they wanted to get the money for the land
taken for reservations at the earliest practical
day. There WAS every reason to believe that
the lots would 60 of rapidly, as the news Of the
selection Of the city had brought here quite
number OF spectators. In quiet way
a good deal Of land had already changed
hands, and the hearts Of some of the proprietors
were rejoiced by receiving at private sale for
their land, which to this time had been
worth about ga per acre, $50 and $50 per acre.
The prospects Of the new city appeared to be
exceedingly bright and the atmosphere took on
a golden hue. perhaps more golden even than
the present assessors have been viewing WASH
ington city property during the past year.
WHY LENFANT LEFT.
At this time an incident occurred which
proved very embarrassing and was the first
cloud in the sky which was soon to become
overcast and heavy with the gloom which
shrouded the fair prospects Of the city.
l. Enfant, the engineer in charge, was busily
engaged, with a large corps Of surveyors, IN
uiaAinS surveys IN Oruer 10 uraIt u pl8n OF tQ6
city. He was q man of undoubted genius, but
Of choieric and naughty disposition. He had
some Misunderstanding with the commissioners,
and finding that their authority was supreme,
even when 1t came into conflict with his
own views. he threw up the work in
pet and refused to have any further con-
nection with the city. II that had been
all there would have been but little emtarrass-
ment- But the trouble was that he carried
away with him his manuscript plan Of the city,
which WAS nearly completed, and refused to sur
render it. The commissioners, rs well ~ the
President found themselves in an unfortunate
predicament. They had entertained the conf
dent expectation Of having plan OF the city
engraved and copies widely distributed prior to
the first public nle Of lots which was adver-
tised to take place in q few months, namely, Oc-
tober, 179l The seriousness Of the situation is
shown by the comment made by Washington in
one of the many letters he wrote relative to the
details of the work Of building the new
city. Had 1t not BEEN" he writes With
some indignation ..for the materials which he
(Ellicott happened to possess, it is probable
that no engraving from L'Enfants draughts
ever would have been exhibited to the public
for after the disagreement took place between
him and the commissioners his obstinacy threw
every difhcuity In the way Of its accomplish
ment."
However, Ellicott, who was the principal sur
veyor under L'Enfant and q man Of great
ability. was enabled to prepare q plan from the
field notes in his possession, and Ii 10 this plan,
engraved in Philadelphia in October, i792,
which il the first published plan Of the city,
cut Of which accompanies this article. The In
complete map of LEnfant was recovered and IL
now preserved among the other early o6hciai
records Of the city in the Office Of the connie
sioner Of public buildings and grounds few
years ago this map and another early manu-
script plan Of the city were reproduced BY the
coast survey for the first time. Il Il In ~ g.
sentials the same - the Ellicottma and only IN
expert could point out the di1ersnees.