Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-09

part OF them. with the subordinate agents.
reside in Georgetown, the concerns OF the
city will be conducted uninfiuenced or to the
best advantage" He adds that for this
reason the old board had suggested. and he
had approved. a plan for building a house
Tor their accommodation between the two
| principal public buildings. and does not
know why 1t was abandoned And again
| he writes: For sure 1 am. be the state of
the public buildings in the year 1900 what 1t
may there will not be accommodation for
Congress at that period within such a dis
lance as to induce removal from Phiia-
delpnia II those whose particular duty II
| is to be there and to set an example hang
aloof and fix the attraction another way
| The consequences of such deficiency, not
only to the city, but to Georgetown and all
| the interests thereabouts, Is too evident to
stand in need of prediction" It is not sur
prising that Messrs. Scott and Thornton
were unwilling to exchange their comfort
| able homes and the society of Georgetown
| for the woods around the Capitol. How
| they appeared at that time we may gather
1 from the description given by Col Twining.
| British officer, who came to Washington
| IN 1875 on visit to Mr.. Law. He arrived
| at Georgetown In the evening. and stopped
| over night at the Fountain Tavern" The
| next morning he started on horseback and
! thus describes his ride from Georgetown to
| the Capitol: Having crossed an extensive
] tract OF level country, somewhat resembling
an English heath. 1 entered large wood,
| through which a very imperfect road had
beer made. After some time this indistinct
/ way assumed more the appearance of a reg
| ular avenue. the trees here having been cut
| down In a straight line. Although no hab-
1 itation Of any kind was visible, i had no
doubt but l was now riding along one OF
| the streets OF the metropolitan city. 1 con-
| unued in this spacious avenue for half a
| mile. and then came out upon a large
| spot, cleared of wood, IN the center of
| which saw two buildings on an extensive
scale. and some men at work one Of
] them. Advancing and speaking to these
| workmen. they Informed me that I was
now In the center Of the city, and that the
building before me was the Capitol. and
| the other destined to be q tavern" This
| extract is taken from '"rwinins's Travels
| IN America" very entertaining little
| COOK. recently published by Harper Bros.
| Confronted by n Deficiency.
The scheme for raising money by a loan
In Holland having failed. the new board
found itself without funds to defray the ex-
! penses OF the public buildings In course of
construction. The commissioners called up
on Greenieaf and Morris to pay the arrear-
ages due on their purchase. but in vein.
Finally they invoked the Presidents inter-
! vention. and he wrote Morris, September IL.
| li35, Il am SO thoroughly Impressed with
] the ruinous consequences which must result
| to the public buildings from delay OF the
| payment which the commissioners request
| that should think my official conduct rep
| rehensibe If l did not press them upon you
| most urgently" Morris replied that he
| hoped to raise the money soon and that the
| present embarrassments were caused by the
| failure of Mr.. Greenleaf to keep his agree
| meat to furnish the money for the opera
| tons of the syndicate, owing to the fac;
| that the French invasion OF Holland had
! OF his power to do SO. Norris himself seems
| to have made every effort, but TO no pur-
pose In March. 1875, he writes one Of the
| syndicate. I'VE must Gee Gen. Stuart this
day, and II you will! not attend. the city of
| Washington will so -" II began TO look
| like the city was going In that direction. In
| application 20 the state of Maryland for q
| loan. and the legislature agreed TO let them
| have 100000 in United States stock at lar.
provided the commissioners would give their
| personal bond for the full amount with @
per cent interest. The commissioners re-
! cetved the stock. which they sold for $780,
! SI3.41 They had to pay the state interest.
amounting to $4,000, so that the net pro-
soon expended, and. in 1T0s. Congress au-
| thorized the United States treasurer 20 ad-
| vance them 100000. The next year they
again applied to MARYLAND. and that state
| loaned them $50 600 more This time how.
ever. they were required not only to give
| bond. but security. Gen. James NJ. Lfnean
| and Col. Criah Forrest became securities
| and Col. Forrest, In addition gave a mort
| These two private citizens. who thus came
| to the assistance of the city in the time of
her need. deserve to be remembered. Gen.
| Lngan had been a brave officer In the revo-
| luton. and was appointed by Washington
| collector Of Georgetown. He was a strong
federalist. and. having volunteered to de-
fsnd the ONCE Of federal newspaper in
Baltimore against a mob. In 1912. received
| Injuries from which he died. His death
caused great Indignation His funeral was
attended by an immense concourse. and G.
| w. p. Custis washington's adopted son,
! delivered an grafton in his honor and q
salute was fired from the deck OF the first
ship ever built in Georgetown. named. after
| him, the Gen. Lingan."
| Col. Criah Forrest was also q veteran of
| the revolution. He served with distinction
in the Maryland line. and lost a leg at
| Brandywine. In 1Is6'S7 he was a member
| OF the Continental Congress. representing the
Georgetown district. He lived near that
town on his fine estate 'Rosedale." where
| he dispensed a generous hospitality. He
married Miss Rebecea Platter. one Of the
beauties OF her day. and daughter Of Gov.
Platter Of Maryland. One OF Col. Forrest 9
! daughters married Mr.. John Green OF the
Navy Department. and they lived at Rose
dale. She gave a portion Of It to her son.
George F. Green. and he erected a stone
| mansion on a very desirable Site called
| Pretty Prospect This property was sold
In 1856 to President Cleveland, and he oc-
| eupied 1t as his summer residence during
Ills first administration. Another of Gov
Plater's daughters married Judge Phillip
| Barton Key, who owned Woodley the place
which Is now leased by Mr.. Cleveland
| SOtuIuOuOTe cTenCn FOrTeSI was son OF
| Col. Criah Forrest. and Rev. Douglas For
| rest, formerly assistant rector Of Trinity
| Church, Is his grandson. One of Mrs
| Green's daughters In 1860 married Don
! Angel d'Iturbide. secretary Of the Mexican
| legation. whose father was the first emperor
! OF Mexico. The son Of this marriage, Au-
| gustln d'Iturbide, was adopted by Maxi
] milan and named as his successor.
| Win Struggle.
| Morris and Greenieaf for two or three
years struggled to stem the tide Of financial
| disaster that had set so strongly against
] them. but In vain. In March. lT9S, Green
leaf made an assignment for the benefit OF
! his creditors. A month before, on February
10 Of that year. Robert Morris had been ar
rested for debt. and on February is he was
consigned to the debtors prison In 'Phila-
delphla. The country which had enjoyed
] the use Of his purse when he was rich and
| it was poor. now allowed him, in his old
| age and poverty. to remain there for more
| than three years. On August %. 1901, he
! was released under the general bankruptcy
| act. While he was In durance Washington
| went to Philadelphia to assume command
| of the army. to which he had been appointed
| Ivy President Adams in anticipation Of
war with France. The first visit he paid
| was to his old friend in the debtors prison.
What they talked about We do not know,
but the gratitude of republics might have
been a topic. Washington doubtless re-