The morning times., 1895-09-08

III hAAA'L VI AllN AaA Al tAAf AAA
times as at present, and before the site Of
the National Capitol was finally chosen a
long wordy war had been waged in Con
gress between the advocates OF the respect
i've cites-New York, Philadelphia, Wash
ington and Georgetown, the last city losing
it 10y one vote, the defeat having come
through the representatives OF Virginia
and Maryland.
When the decision was reached, how
ever, and the ground surveyed, frenzy of
speculation broke out, battling all control
IN its intensity. Men We're CraZed by vi
sions of wealth accruing from the pur-
chase and sale OF lots, and the genius Of
Pierre L'Enfant, borne from over the sea,
and. his magnificent engineering skill, dis
played in his plans for the future Capitol,
added TO the excitement.
Foremost among the most sangUine
stands the name OF James Greenleaf, STYLED
the king OF spectators, whose immense
fortune was converted into money for the
purchase Of 5000 lots, and OF which moth
ing remains save the bare slab marking
his last resting place 10 the Congressional
Cemetery.
GREENLEAF's BOLD PLUNGE
"Kiug James" was a daring speculator,
and the lots OF which he became possessed
lie principally IN the southeast section
Of the city. Greenleaf's Point on the maps
being named for him, and Buzzard's
Point was also a portion OF his estate.
After receiving the deeds and obtaining
maps ana charts OF the plan OF the city,
p 2
them 70 ihe old banking house OF Bundt &
Cr0mclin, OF Amsterdam and The Hague,
be talked in such glowing terms Of the
rising Capital, its wealth Of scenery ana
future possibilities, that the sluggish old
Dutch blood caught The contagion OF the
speculative fever, and king James
returned to Washington with his spirit
buoyed up by 1900 600 in gold TO aid him
IN his visionary schemes
With this capital he formed a syndicate,
agreeing to pay a large percentage, bus
the lots failed 10 sell at the immense
profits calculated upon, and the Dutch
benkers, becoming alarmed, crossed the
water 20 look after their own interest.
This threw the property into litigation,
which was followed by a number OF in
divldual cases OF more OF less import, until
Er. Greenleaf, from being the giant king
Gpeculator, became the king litigant and,
like the famous case OF the English novel
ist, through the slow passage Of years, IL.
lengthened until generations were born
and grew up, while il wended its way
through the maZes and intricacies OF its
endless legal technicaliues.
His face grew so familiar in the old
courtroom that judges and clerks alike
wondered when he failed TO appear, and
90 on through forty-nine years, extend
ing long after his death, the slow ma
chmery OF the law ground on, aud with
every revolution OF its mighty wheel the
impoverishment OF its victim drew nearer
Its Accomplishment until when death came
nothing was left save the record OF his
untiring energy, indomitable Will and
disposition that won him friends despite
his varied fortunes.
PIONEER HOTEL MEN.
Sam Blodcett, the owner and proprietor
OF the first hotel ever built il Wash
ington, was another Of these pioneer
spectators. His property was seized and
be died In chancery.
Robert Morris, the first fiancier Of the
country, invested in the Northwest sec
eADll. HE AAAG eAA NAleN N4A-lE DDo'ANA LoA
1900 Inhabitants and these were scat
tered from q point that might now be
located near X or NJ street northwest
following the Avenue from the White
House TO the Capitol and extending 10 the
extreme Southeast.
Robert Morris was more closely allied
90 L'Enfant and the original maps Of the
city have numerous marginal notes in his
handwriting He, too, failed 10 dispose
OF the larger tracts he had purchased and
the taxes becoming due, as well as the
accumulation OF Indebtedness Of more
personal nature, Robert Morris, too, saw
Rsplcndid fortune shrink into insignificance,
and the law which sanctioned Imprisonment
for debt, gTasping him in its clutches, the
brilliant first financier Of the country
died In a prison cell
Tom Law, the confidential friend Of
Warren Hastings, brought his fortune from
India, where he had lived so many years
when the reverses came, his life was i'm
FILTERED, he brOoded over his changed
fortunes with his splendid literary and
fortunes until his splendid literary and
diplomatic talents added 10 the wreckage
and mentally any physically. the brood
ing sapped his vitality, his mind gave way,
and history asserts that he died OF nielan-
oholia.
The vast property OF the Youngs was sold,
too, IN course or time for unpaid taxes, and
Tor many years The original families were
40 extreme poverty. Some OF their posses
Gions were reclaimed later by younger gen
erations OF the family, and these increasi
80 value, regained in measure the ruined
fortunes
To all the original property holders and
Gpeculators, excepting the old Scotch farm
or, David Burns, the location OF the National
Capitol proved a curse rather than a bless
tng. The sanguine temperament Of the specu.
iators themselves led TO investments il
which they ssalled all on the cast Of the die
II was presumed by them that when the site
OF the Capital was decided positively in
vestors not only from the States, but from
al The civilized world would flock 10 the
new country, bringing with them untold
wealth, with which they could refill their
empty Golfers Maps and charts were sent
90 al the banking houses within the reach
or The limited mail facilities Of that period,
and when they failed to bring the response
40 eagerly waited for despair and disap-
pointment usurped the throne that Hope k-1
erected on tiles OF gold.
PALATIAL MANOR HOUSE.
The only substantial relic OF those days
Is the Duddington manor, which was
palace when the Capitol and White House
were but story high. TIE grandfather
OF Daniel Carroll, Of Duddington, who was
q brother OF the father Of Charles Carroll,
OF CarrOllt was born in Kings county,
ireland, ana came to this country to escape
the persecution on account OF his faith and
settled In Maryland But little is known