The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-01

HE WHILE
architect of the Capitol, and was sue
ceeded By Mr.. Hadfeld and Mr.. Hoban !;
but few years after, the magic touch
of the peerless Latrobe made it habit
able and imposing building.
Philadelphia was far more attract
i've city in all respects, and the MEM
bers Of Congress who attended the first
session held in Washington were un-
happy over the discomforts that besct
them. They wrote most dismaily of
the condition of everything. Their let
tiers give graphic descriptions of the
new Capitol, and, in fact, give the only
picture We have of the city at that time.
The following letter by
JOHN COTTON SMITH,
member Of Congress from Connecticut,
portrars wildly the cherries state of
affairs at that time.
"0ur approach to the city was accompanied
with sensations not easily described One
wing Of the Capitol only had been erected,
which, with the Presidents House. a mile
sandstone. were shining objects in dismal
contrast with the scene around them
Instead Of recognizing the avenues and
streets, portrayed on the plan Of the city,
not one was visible, unless we except road.
with two buildings on each side of il, called
New Jersey Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue. leading, as laid
down on paper, from the Capitol to the Presi-
dental Mansion, was, nearly the whole dis
tance, deep moTass covered with alder
bushes, which were cut through the width of
the intended avenue during the ensuing
Winter Between the President's House and
Georgetown, block Of houses had been
erected, winch then bore and may still bear,
the name of the six buildings There
were. also. other blocks consisting of two or
three dweliing-houses in different directions
and. now and then. an isolated wooden babi-
tati0n. the intervening spaces and indeed
the surface Of the city generally. being cover
cd with scrab-olk bushes on the higher
grounds and on the marsby soil either with
trees or some sort of shrubbery. Nor was the
desoIate aspect Of the place a little augment
ed by a number of unfinished edifices at
1reonleafs Point on an eminence a short
distance from it, commenced by an indi-
VidRal whose name they bore. but the state
of whose funds compelled him to abandon
them not only unfinished. but in a ruined
condition.
There appeared 10 lie but two really
comfortable habitations within the bounds of
the city. one of which belonged 10 Dudley
Carroll, Esq, and the other to Motley Young.
=" The reads in every direction were muddy
and unimproved. A sidewalk was attempted
IN one instance by covering formed of the
chips oi the stones which had been hewrf for
the Capitol 1t extended bat a little way
and was OF little value: for in dry weather
the sharp pavement cut out shoes, and in wet
weather covered them with white mortar.
la short. il was 4 new settlement"
CHRISTENING OF WASHINGTON
On the 22d of November, with the
Houses Of Congress in joint session
Thomas Jefferson presiding, Presiden,
Adams made the annual address, from
which period il was considered that the
National Capital was cliristened and
that, for all time, il would remain in the
City of Washington.
The accommodations of the Distrie,
al that time were so meager, that il was
with great difficulty that members Of
Congress obtained any of the convent
ences that they had enjoyed in New
York and Philadelphia.
The friends Of the District expected