Evening star., 1899-02-07
PRESIDENTS JOURNEY
Trip Of MI. Adams From Old to New Seat of
Government.
Data Concerning Early Days of the
Capital City Paper by
Mr.. Taggart.

ciety and their friends were entertained and
instructed at the meeting which was held
last evening In the banquet room of the
Shoreham, by paper on The presidential
journey In 1SD from the old to the new
seat of government" Ii was read by the
author, Mr.. Hugh r. Taggart, and dis
played the research for which Mr.. Taggart
is distinguished. 1t threw a great deal of
light upon one of the important events in
the early history of the city.
The arrival in the city early in June. 1Sn1
of the employees Of the government depart
ments was followed by the visit Of the Presi-
dent himself Mr.. Taggsrt gave an inter
estire account of Mr. Adams journey. He
left Philadelphia May %, 1890 he said,
and arrived In Georgetown June follow
ing, and Mr.. Taggart inferred. in the alb
sence of any definite information. that he
travelled the 800 miles in his own carriage,
making the Journey in stages of about
twenty-five miles daily. Instead Of coming
by way of Wilmington Baltimore and
Bladenshurg, the President took the route
through Lancaster and York. Pa. and
Frederick, Nd. and Mr.. Taggart explained
that this selection WAS probably due to
the fact that a presidential campaign was
in progress. and Mr.. Adams was perform
ing the political feat of what became known
in later days of swinging around the cir
cle"
At all the places above mentioned. ex-
cept Lancaster. as far as any record shows,
Mr Adams was given a public reception,
and was presented with addresses TO which
he made appropriate responses. He was
received at the District line by a de!ega-
ton of citizens OF Georgetown, and was
entertained at dinner by them.
stopped at Capitol Hill Hotel.
President Adams came to Washington and
stopped at Tunncffe's Hotel on Capitol
IL .-.1 .g+
by the citizens, but. as Mr. Taggart pointed
out, was spared the infiiction of dinner.
The President went to Mount Vernon to
pay his respects to the widow Of General
Washington, and was entertained by the
citizens Of Alexandra. lie stayed in Wash
lneton about ten days. and then returned
to his home in Brainlree. Mass, going,
however, by way of Baltimore and Phila-
delphia.
Mr.. Taggart also gave an account OF Mr.
Adams return to the city IN November,
when Congress convened here for the first
time. 1t was proposed by the citizens to
get up an escort for the President when he
went to Congress to read his message in
person, as was the custom of those days
at the opening OF the national legislature.
But no account of the procession, which
would have been the second TO escort a
President to the CdPitol-the first being
when President Washington laid the cor
ner stone of the bulldlng-cOuld be found
by Mr.. Taggart: ana il was explained by
Mr.. J. B. Osborn N the course of the dis
cussion which followed the reading of the
paper that he had seen in a letter written
by Mr.. Woicott. IN n recently the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, that the proposed ar
rangementS were not carried out because of
a disagreement as TO the person to be in
charge.
At the outset OF the paper Mr.. TaSgart,
In referring TO the selection of this site for
the seat of government, spoke of the boun-
daries of the ten-mile square and expressed
the opinion that it was a mistake that
would have TO be corrected. in giving up
the control of the portion of the territory
on the other side of the Potomac, known
now Alexandria county, Va.
Original District Lines.
Mr.. NJ l. Weller said in the course of
some remarks on the paper. that he thought
the time had come for the agitation of the
restoration of the District to it's original
dimensions of the ten-mile square.
1t was announced by the president of the
society, Mr.. John A. Kasson, that a bibli
ography of the District was being pre-
pared, under the direction of the society,
and II was thought that this catalogue OF
all printed matter relating to the District
would he of great value.
1t WAS also stated that the second vol
ume of the proceedings of the society, con-
tanning over 3OO pages, had been printed
aud would shortly be distributed 10 The
members.