Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02

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II IE8E@EdSMN\\ of the city, was read
hEZ;BMMDN\! by Mr.. w. B. Bryan.
HN MM44AAh4 The paper was as fol-
S1N, m4RUH lows:
I|H3Hl. 'WfA Neglect, lack of ap-
<MI\ probation and in
EN gratitude are gen.
orally conceded to
have been the lot Of LEnfant. the
designer of the plan of the nations
capital. This was his fate in life
and posterity has done but little to make
amends for the wrong and injustice. 1t
may be that in the near future his lonely
and unmarked grave may be the site of
suitable monument, and that in some ap
propriate place in this city a statue or
other memorial will be erected to the
genius of the man who designed the plan
which confessedly has made Washington
the most beautiful and attractive city in
the world. Without wishing to detract
anything from the fame of the man to
whom honor is properly due and has been
withheld too long, indeed, in spirit of the
heartiest admiration for his genius. I have
thought that it would be of interest to call
the attention of the society to some iso-
lated facts about LEnfant which are not
generally known.
Whatever may have been the lack of ap-
Gated by his lonely and neglected later
years, and the absence of any public recog-
milton OF his name and fame in the city
which constitutes his chief claim to fame,
1t is quite certain that L'Enfant himself
did not place slight estimate upon his
abilities and his services. The estimate of
his contemporaries as to his ability in the
line or his profession seems to have been
practically unanimous; although, no doubt
some of the early land owners would have
entertained a higher opinion of L'Enfant's
plan Of the city If it had allowed less space
for streets and reservations and conse-
quently added to the number of the square
feet in the lots which they had for sale.
But among those in authority, L'Enfant
as as designer stood high. and if it had
washington put it. his connection with the
city might have had a different termina-
tion. In contrast with the unanimity of
OPINION OF L'Enfant and his contemporaries
as to his abilities may be placed the re-
markable and striking divergence in regard
to the value of his services 10
The Naughty Engineer.
In March. 1871. he received from Mr.. JEFF
1erson. the Secretary of State, instructions
TO proceed to Georgetown to make draw
1ngs or the particular grounds most likely
to be approved for the site of the federal
town and buildings" He was told by
MIR. Jefferson that the money for his neces-
sary expenses would be supplied by the
mayor OF Georgetown. In accordance with
these instructions L'Enfant, In March, 1901.
proceeded to the site of the future city.
Inc earliest visitor to the new city of
whom we have any record was Col John
Trumbull, whose historic paintings fill the
panels in the rotunda of tho Capitol. About
the time the city was begun he was en-
gagged in travelling around the country for
the purpose of securing portraits of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
On his way north from Richmond in May,
rtot1 hi
he arrived in Georgetown, where 1 found
Major L'Enfant drawing his plan of the
city of Washington; rode with him over
the ground on which the city has since
been built; where the Capitol now stands
was then a thick wood
L'Enfant's connection with the city ended
in March, 1882. when, it being found i'm
practicable to employ him, as jefferson ex-
presses it, 'in that degree of subordina-
ton, which was lawful and proper, he has
been notified that his services are at an
end" 1t seems that no definite arrange
meHt was made in regard to his compensa-
ton, and Jefferson, in letter to the COM
missioners. states that it is the wish that
the reward for his services should be lib
eral and +. that at the President thinks of
commissioners, in reply to Mr.. Jefferson's
letter, inform him that they have adopted
the Presidents idea about compensation.
They state that LEnfant had already re-
ceived about 5000 from them besides his
expenses Of living. and they express the
opinion that he will have no cause to COM
plain of having met with an inadequate
reward
On the same day the commissioners
write to L'Enfant, who is in Philadelphia.
notifying him that they have deposited the
sum of 500 guineas with firm in phila-
delphia, where he may apply for it. In
addition they inform him that they will
give him lot either near the Presidents
house or near the Capitol, as he may
choose. AS is well known. LEnfant.
few days later, rather CURLY Informed the
commissioners that he would accept nei-
Their the money nor the lot.
Difference of Opinion.
He was evidently too proud to enter into
any explanation of why he did not accept
the commissioners offer. How far the es-
innate of Washington, Jefferson and the
commissioners of the city Of the value Of
the services rendered by L'Enfant fell
short of the engineers own estimate may
be accurately determined, for L'Enfant has
left record of what he believed to be
justly due him. 1t seems that his naughty
attitude in regard to this matter was main
tanned for some eight years, and then, in
1900, appeared L'Enfant's first memorial
to the President and to Congress, stating
his claim, and asking settlement. Ac-
cording to the summary made by the COM
mittee on claims, which reported the claim
adversely In 1903, L'Enfant mentions in de-
tail the various items in his bill against the
government as follows: For his labor for one
year, $1,000; for the profit he had right
to receive from the sale of maps, $3I 500;
and the further sum of $oO0OO. to use the
petitioners own expression, "for perqufs-
ties of right in particular negotiations and
enterprise" The total claim amounted to
$95. 500.
The difference between $955O0 and s., 800.
even when the value Of a lot in the city
is thrown into the balance, is sufficiently
striking to make even an impression on
such an artistic temperament as LEnfant
even poet would have noticed this dis dis
crepancy between anticipation and realiza-
ton, and therefore 1t need not be SO surpris-
ing that L'Enfant was rendered speech
less and remained SO for nearly eight
years.
After leaving the service of the city he
seems to have found some employment as
an engineer, but it was probably OF IT.
regular duration. Tradition has 1t that ne
spent considerable time in haunting the
corridors of the Capitol building In the
interests of his claim. He failed, however,
to induce Congress to take the same view
of the value of his services to the city as
he did