The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-25
THE BURNS COTTAGE.
The Old Structure in Westinghouse
be Torn Down.
ITS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS
How David Burns Long Resisted the
Taking OF his Plantation bythe Gov.
crnmeut-Thomas Moore, tho Irish
Poet, once aa Inmate OF the Cottage,

Cottage. Half u eentlry haa passed
since it was occupied, The old land
mark is now ruin, fast falling to pieces,
in spite of associations which had much
to do with determining the site OF the
national capital.
Full 100 years ago when Thomas JET
ferson was secretary Of state and Alex
ander Hamilton was secretary OF the
treasury. Burns cottage was Burns man
sion. It was the home OF David Burns,
whose broad acres stretched away to the
Potomac on the south and as far east as
the present site Of the patent Office.
The 800 acres had been grant to one
William Langworthy, dated July5, 1851,
and then called the Widows Mite"
In 1901, fifteen years after the INDIE
pendeRce OF the colonies, the permanent
capital was determined ON and the site
located. The continental congress was
itinerant, holding its sessions from
place TO place, and New York, Phila-
delphia, Baltimore, Lancaster, York,
Princeton, Annapolis and Trenton, each
In turn, was the seat OF government
There was much controversy over the
location OF the capital. According to
Jefferson, one proposition was ITO fix
the seat OF government either at Phila-
delphia or Georgetown on the Poto-
mac" Even in that day geographical
lines wero tightly drawn, wre-puIling
was known by another name and din
ners were given to bring men together,
who settled differences over their wine.
Secretary Hamilton's scheme to assume
the state debts OF $20,000,000 was
favored by the North and opposed by
the South, 1t was brought to bear on
the question OF the permanent capital,
and, as Jefferson said, "the assumption
was passed, twenty millions OF stock
divided among favored states, and
thrown in as pabulum to the stock
jobbing herd, and the permanent capi-
tai was fixed on the Potomac"
After all the controversy Congress-
fixed no definite site, but left it with
President Washington to make his own
choice anywhere on the river within 100
miles from Georgetown. Whether it
was the picturesque beauty OF the SUR
rounding country or the nearer beauty
Of fine farms, owned respectively by
David Burns, Daniel Carroll, Motley
Young and Samuel Davidson, no fairer
domain could have been found than the
territory located in Washington's proc
lamation-"B eginning at Jones Point,
beiug the upper part OF Hunting creek,
in Virginia, at an angle Of 40 degrees
west OF north, and running in direct
line ten miles for the first line; then
beginning again at the same Jones
Point, and running another direct line
at right angles to the first across the Po-
tomac, ten miles for the second line,
running two other direct lines OF ten
miles each. The one crossing the east
ern branch aforesaid and the other the
Potomac, aud meeting eNch other in q
point" The plot, ten miles square was
named the territory OF Columbia by
the three commissioners, Thomas Jel-
ferson, Daniel Carroll and Daniel Stuart,
who were appointed by President
Washington for the surveying and lay
ing out OF the federal city.
Maryland and Virginia willingly
coded their rights, but the four land
holders whose farms had captivated the
eye OF Washington we're not so easy to
deal with. The commissioners were in
structed to negotiate for the purchase
OF the lands, and after q con siderable
time were successful with all the own
ers but David Burns. One by one Car
roll Young and Davidson surrendered
their lands on terms by which "the
ownerscouveyed to the United States,
on consideration that when the whole
should be surrendered and laid of us
city the original proprietors should re-
tain every other lot, the remaining lots
to be sold by the government from time
to time and the proceeds to be applied
to the Improvement OF the place"
This was all very we'll MS far as the
land would 60 to make the site for the
capital city, and it was satisfactory to
the owners. But David Burns was" not
in it." The commissioners could make
no impression on the hard-headed
Scotchman whom they could not per.
suade to part with his precious posses
sious. Burns had no mind to give up
his farm for city, though destined to
BIO the most beautiful in the world
When the commissioners had failed in
negotiations they declared nothing
short OF President Washington's per-
sonal efforts would move "Davy Burns"
There we're the coveted acres, and
Washington at once brought his powers
of persuasion to bear on Farmer Burns.
He made his way to BURNS Mansion"
and there, seated on rustic bench
shaded by tho big trees that still spread
their branches over the roof, he talked
business TO the master-of the situa.
ton. One can fancy the Father Of his
Country-a stately figure as invariably
pictured, in knee breeches, silver
buckles, velvet waistcoat, lace rutlles
and powdered wig-Sivlng formal
speech to the sturdy Scotch farmer in
homespun garb, but mono the less q
dispenser OF favor to the president.
Ii was not one visit but repeated Wis.
its, for obstinate Mr. Burns" as
Washington called him, held out with
remarkable tirmness. There were fire..
quent sittings on the rustic bench, and
many arguments in favor of tho bur.
gain by Washington, and logic to con-
vino Farmer Burns OF the advantage
which would result in turning his farm
into city lots. On ono OF these visits, II
is said, Burns replied sharply: ~ sup
pose you think people here arc going to
take every grlst that comes from you Rs
poor grain. But what would you have
been II you hadn't married the Widow
Custls2" II is not surprising that
nfter many interviews even Washing.
ton, with his equable temper and self
control, lost his patience. He finally
gayo Farmer Burns TO understand that
ho had been authorized to select site
for tho capital, and said;
Mr.. Burns, have selected your farm
% . part Of the site and tho govern