Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-14
EARLY HISTORY.
Facts brought Ont in Discussion by
Oldest Inhabitants.


At a recent meeting Of the Oldest Inhab-
itants' Association the discussion of a de-
scription given by George Alfred Townsend
In The Star of a picture of Washington
city as it appeared about 1893 brought out
some interesting facts. A building repre-
scented to be either the patent office, 'front.'
ing on F street, OF the hotel building in
which the general and city post offices and
the patent office were located was identified
as the hotel.
Mr. Max Lansburgh substant.ated this as
sertion by producing letter to the Senate
from William Brent. Griffith Coombe and
John P Ingle, on behalf OF the proprietors
of the Brick Capitol" LIST and streets
northeast for the patent office. dated June
81 1896. offering to sell it to the govern
ment They incIased the recommendation
of the Secretary Of State. and referred to
the message of the President thereon, and
stated that as the property fronting the
Capitol square III by 192. might be too
small for the ultimate uses of the office,
the five adjoining lots might be purchased,
thus giving frontage Of 80 feet. and the
whole cost not 10 exceed s53,H0. Four
years before the Brick Capitol" and the
five lots appurtenant were offered for SIS
eco. the original cost having been $4,000,
and appeals had been several time made to
Congress to provide increased accommoda-
tons for the patent office.
II was stated that the BlodSett Hotel
building. used by the post office and patent
office until the fire, December Is, 1896 was
occupied by the city post Office. occupying
the east end, about one-fifth the patent Of
flee the adjoining fifth. and the general
post office the remaining three-ffths.
Mr.. Lansburgh read extracts from the
letter of Patrick AIagruder clerk of the
House Of Representatives, to the Speaker
in reference to the destruction OF the office
of the House by the British in August, 1914.
81 rod -N4t he i'm
during his absence on account of IndiSpusi-
ton; and referred to statement Of the
clerks. Messrs- 5. Buruh and T. Frost, that
August 10 the enemy was reported in the
bay in great force. and the whole body Of
the militia Of the District was called out.
Every clerk excepting Mr.. Frost was taken
to the field. that MIR. Burch was. August
p, fnrlOuShed by Gen. Smith TO return to
the city to take care of and save the books
and papers, and, under orders of Col Geo.
Magruder, they We're not to begin packing
until the War Department clerks COM
menced like work. Monday. the I'D, the
work of packing commenced. and Search
was made for means of transportation, but
almost every cart IN the District had been
Impressed into the service of the army and
the few they found We're laden with the
private effects of individuals. Having no
legal authority or force, the custodiars of
the records were unable to secure vehicles
The use Of q cart and four oxen was
finally obtained from Mr.. John Wilson. who
lived six miles from the city, but they did
not arrive TILL after dark Monday night.
We continued they wrote, ITO remove
as many of the most valuable books and
papers. having already removed the manu-
Script records, as we were able 10 DO with
our one cart. until the morning Of the day of
the battle of BLADE nsburg. after which we
were unable to take away anything. Every
thing belonging 10 the Office. together with
the library of Congress, we venture to say,
might have been removed in time II car
riages could have been procured, but it was
altogether impossible to procure them.
either for hire by force
The most material papers lost were the
last volumes of manuscript records of the
committees on ways and means. claims and
pensions. and revolutionary claims which
were removed to the house of Cen WASH
fHgtCn after the defeat at Bladrn sburg and
the house was, together with the papers
Consumed.
Reports from the cabinet officers were re-
feTred to by Mr.. Lansburgh, showing that
the Joss Of books and papers was small The
War Department saved the standards and
Hays captured during the revolution The
cost Of the buildings burned-n0t being yet
compieted-was TO that period 81 10 10 10
Dut the walls Were found to be not unsafe
or Insufficient TO rebuild on and il was 90.
tim3ted that S2.Jt.'pD would repair and ra
build the structures.
At the next meeting Of the association
Mr. Andrew Barbour will read paner on
the old roads of this section