Evening star., 1894-04-07

AAL5 cott had baan oriqi-
~[1S<rJ.~ nally employed at the
-<seksssskzks5 same time with Mai.
LEnfant, but in a
subordinate capacity. his duty being to sur
vey and plat the ground in accordance
with the plan laid down by L'Enfant. His
experience and knowledge Of the ground
gave him advantages over other candidates
Tor the position, and he had performed
ms duties as assistant to the entire salts
iacuon OF the commissioners.
Naj. Ellicott Employed
1t was finally determined to employ him.
and Thomas Jefferson Secretary of State
writes them. that Maj Ellicott is to go
on and finish laying off the plan on the
ground, and surveying and plating the
District. He is fully apprised that he is
ehureiy under your orders, and that there
VIII be no person employed but under your
orders This stipulation for subordi-
nation to the commissioners was made in
the light of their experience with L'Enfant,
ana 1t was hoped would insure harmony.
but the hope, will be seen, was an illu-
sive one.
MAJ. Ellicott at once entered upon his
duties, and proceeded to lay Off the streets
ana squares on the ground, according to
Il Il En1ants plan. In doing this he found
I
showing that, in some instances squares
ana parts of reservations shown on the
pat as high land were really in the mid
die Of the creek.
The survey of the oity beinp thus rro
Vldsd for the commissioners now turned
70 the Important subject of obtaining funds
Ior the contemplated improvements TINS
was the greatest problem they had 70
solve The dismissal of Mai L'Enfant
was very distasteful to his friends, OF whom
ne had many, not only in the District but
an over the country, who had heard OF his
plans and admired them. 1t also gave en-
couragement to those who were opposed
to the location of the permanent capital
on the Potomac, and who now predicted
the failure OF the enterprise. With some of
theSe the wish was parent to the thought.
they were interested in other sites which
they hoped might be chosen if the Potomac
was abandoned. Even some of the friends
OF the District gave signs Of doubt aud
uespondency. 1t was dark time for the
new city. Fortunately for it, WASHINGTON
It's patron, was not one of those who gave
way to doubts. He had selected what re
peleVed TO be the most eligible spot for the
national capital and he was determined
that the permanent seat OF government
should be there. He writes the commission
sIoners: The doubts and opinions of 9th
ers, with respect to the permanent seat
have occasioned no change in my senti-
ments on the subject. They have alwlys
been that the plan ought to be prosecuted
with all the dispatch the nature of the case
VIII w nile nlnSelt determined. he
was fully aware of the importance of MAX
ing friends among the members of Con
gress, and in private letter to Dr. Start
he suggests that the commissioners see the
southern members of Congress as -hev
pass through Georgetown. on their return
home. Many advan tages would result in
my opinion, If pains were taken to make
them better acquainted with these mat
ters than most of them seem to be-"
Proposed Loan of S5OO.OOO.
10 ha of
money for the erection of the public buil1-
ings was pressing. Many schemes were ad-
vanced. Among others Mr.. Samuel BIodgett
of Philadelphia, who had purchased several
lots at the first sale, and had become con-
siderably interested in the city came for
ward with a proposition to float loan for
$500 900, which he said he could negotiate
His plan was examined and approved and
the Secretary OF State had the bonds en-
graved and part of them were signei by
the commissioners and ready for nego-
tia ton, when a financial crisis took place.
which completely frustrated the scheme.
Meanwhile the commissioners. on the faith of
the expected loan, had made arrangements
for some necessary improvements. Among
these one of the most pressing was bridge
over Rock creek, to facilitate communication
with Georgetown, whence most of the ma
terial for the new city was transported, and
where many of the employees lived. A con-
tract for its construction was made with
Leonard Herbaugh of Baltimore for e. 30
When the contract was submitted to Wash
ington he thought the estimates high"
but he was not on the spot to see for
himself approved it. He writes Dr. Stuart
however: Not for this reason but because
you have jealous and indisposed people
about you. my advice to you is to act with
caution in all your contracts" The site of
the bridge was near the mouth of Rock
creek, where it empties into the Pa:ow-
mack" correspondent of that day. in the
ATnr rt-1n
eral bridge will exceed, when finished, for
elegance and strength, anything of the kind
heretofore attempted in this country" The
corner stone of the abutment on the eastern
or Washington side of Rock creek was laid
with great pomp and ceremony by the COM
missoners, July 4, 1872. A large crowd at
tended, and a procession was formed. head
ed by Major Ellicott, geographer general of
the United States, bearing the flag who was
followed by fifteen gentlemen representing
the fifteen states which then constituted the
Union. An address delivered by Mr.
William II. herr. after which the procession
proceeded to Suffers tavern, where the re-
mainder of the day was spent as the oc-
casion merited."
Prophetic Toast.
The first toast was: May the Union of
America be as strong as an arch, supported
by the pillars of justice and equal liberty.
and the city of Washington become the
keystone" The toast seems to have been
P4oPhSiS' Aoa tiiS lily VI washington proved
to be the keystone that held the federal arch
together in the civil war. Had it been cap
tured the confederdcy would have been rec
ogniZed, or, had the federal capital been
located north Of Maryland. that state and the
other border states would probably have
Joined the confederacy, and the arch of The
Union might have been broken.
The corner stone Of the abutment on the
Georgetown side was laid August t. the
same year, by Cen Uriah Forrest, mayor of
GEORGETOWN, who that occasion gave
dinner at Suffers tavern to the workmen en-
gagged on the bridge.
The Capitol and President's House.
In March, 1892, the commissioners offered
a premium of $500 in cash or medal of
that value. and a lot in the city, for the
best plan of a Capitol. and one of $500 in
cash or medal Of that value for the best