The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-16
THOSE WHO MADE
NATIONS CAPITAL
Something About the Founders and
Builders.
METROPOLIS IN A MGRASS.
Plans or Those Who Made the City
One Of the Most Beauti-
ful in the
World.
METROPOLIS IN A M0RAss.

'TAS1INGToN, D. C., December A.
That tho National Capital is located 50
ncar VirEtnia's borders is due to George
Washington. de selected the site and
laid the fouudation-stone Of that grand
and stately building in which our nations
laws arc made. Ills prophetic eye looked
q century forward. He saw into the flu
eure SIS few others could. His wonderful
mind perceived that the little struggling
Union WAS destined to grow up TO be a rich
and powerful government; that its power
and influence must some day amaze the
world was TO him no idle dream.
When Congress, In July, 1870, decided TO
remove the scat OF government from
Phiiad elPhia, Washington wanted it located
on the banks Of the Potomac, near Mount
Vernon. and Wcshinestoas wish became
taw. Here he planned In ample territory,
p great city. to be within Il district be-
longing to and entirely under the control
OF the General Government, and for this
purpose the States of Maryland and Vir-
ginia oeded a tract Of land, ten miles
square. on both sides OF the Potomac. talk
fas In tht city OF Alexandria in Virginia.
and the town of Georgetown, il Mary
band.
There were those who severely criticised
this move. There were hints of congress
6lonal jobs, Of real estate booms and of
sectional favoritisIn, just as may be heard
at the present day from opponents Of
many measures passed upon by Congress
The unsuccessful rivals for the site of
the nations capital 10 doubt wished the
new city to prove failure. Even within
recent years, strenuous and serious eff
forts were made 10 have the ca Dital re-
moved TO western city. But our great first
president builded well. The struggles for
the removal Of the capital farther west
H1aS ,1nt no
earnings of those who envied its location
arc no more heard, and Washington at
The beginning of lis centennial year is
alone a magnificent monument to the
wisdom OF its founder. rendering imlnorta'
as no towering shaft can do the illus
trious name OF him who planned and caus-
ed to be wrought out of the virgin forest
this beautiful and now world-famed city
TTID WONDROUS MAMIE.
Washington! What name to conjure
np 10 the ambitious mind-dreans of power
Ind wealth and fame. AT the mention
Of the name what longing hopes so float
snE through the brain of adventurous
9outh-the goal, a presidential mansion
or a Justices robe! What memories cling
about the name itself.
And SO to The news from this capital
city daily turn with duialie1led in
4erest-studyiug the debates in Congress,
following the career of our representa-
tive, noting with selfish satisfaction the
introduction there of any measure prom
Using gain TO our own homes or 10 our
own community.
But when it is realized that the site
of this city a little more thau a century
ago was a virgin forest. we become GU
Gfous 10 know something of its history,
and naturally inquire to whom are we in
debted for all this wonderful creation
who were its founders and its builders?
Besides George Washington the founder
there are Three mon whose names stand
out pre-eminently above all others a the
Builders OF the capital city.
The first is 1-'Enfant, the young French
officer who. grasping the idea of the
founder. committed To paper on grand
scale that splendid system Of streets and
avenues which has made the city both
unique and preposSessing above all others.
Then comes the miller Of Ellicott city.
Maryland, Andrew iillicott. who surveyed
and staked ont The city from /. En-
Sant's plans.
And the third IS the Washington plumb
tr of the early seventies who. as Gov
ernor or The District, inaus11rated and
carried into effect that radical system of
improvements which made the capital
city take front rank among American
titles, and marked the beginning OF a pro-
Eressiveness which has been steadily
keeping pace with the times. This was
Alexander +. Shepard. now of Mexico.
REPUBLICS UNGRATEFUL.
Republics are said 10 be ungrateful, and
certainly lnSrdtitude was the portion of
j. Enfant, who was discharged from his
position Of surveyor of the new city and
another given his plans TO work out: he
finally dying in poverty. And Shepard
received more curses than money for his
laborS here. He encountered such stub
born opposition TO his plan of improve |
1nents from the property-f olders that |
only the iron Will of the Boss could
have over-riddan such obstacles and ac- |
complisled the task which he success |
fully performed. Some years ago return |
Ing from HIS Self-eXie TO visit his native
city in a foreign land, ne found the peo- |
pies former indignation had melted into
admiration for he was the recipient of |
such an ovation at the hands OF the PEOPLE
OF Washington as IS given only to a hero
in war or to great benefactor of man
kind.
Under the law Of 1890, three commits
stoners were appointed by President
to receive the cession of the
district and To lay out the Federal CITY.
and erect buildings for the reception Of the
Federal Government These commission
ers were David Stewart, Daniel Carroll
and Thomas johnson. The chief owners
of the site were David Burns. Samuel
Davidson, Notely Young and David Car
roll.
When the commissioners began their
work the population OF the country was
about four millions. Virginia led all
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