The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-16
JACKSON CITY'S BIRTH
Hopes Fostered When the Corner
stone Was Laid.
The Town en- the Virginia Side of
the Long BriJge-f;xpected by Its
oriEinators to Develop Into
Great ccIan' FciaI Anrt-samc In
te-.stinE OfJcinI correspondence.

te-estin- OrJciuI Correspondence.
OGe can scarce believe with what cir
cumstances of military and civil pomo
Jackson City-which now sits at the south
end Of the Long Bridge, behoIding mag
niicent Washington, like a toad squat in
marsh beholding an eagle-was ushered
into being as the prospective port of entry
and commercial facto: for Washington city
Yet on the sth of January, 1886. the Presi-
dent of the United States, with his Cabinet
and goodly assemblage OF soldiers and
citizens. laid its cornerstone.
a number of New York gentlemen hay-
ing made an arrangement with General
Mason, who owned Holmes Island where
the Long Bridge terminates. determined to
add another District city to Washington,
/ Alexandria, and Georgetown and toward
/ the close of the year 1885 addressed to
| General Jackson. then the President of the
United States. the following letter:
/ 10 Andrew jackson, President of the
! United States.
Sir: \ number of gentlemen of
enterprise and capital. looking TO the
! great increase of the commerce of the
District OF Columbia by the opening OF
| the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal nave di-
reeted their enquiries as to the proper
and probable point where this trade viii
concentrate: and they have been led TO
the conclusion that Masons tract at the
south abutment of the Potomac Bridge is
the place which uncomfortable natural
causes obviously designate. They have
therefore with the view to the erection
OF permanent city at this point, formed
an association, of which we are made the
organs. to address you on the subject
Consider ng your name as the property
OF the nation and of posterity, they f,ave
I appropriated 1t to the contemplated city
and called it Jackson City. They are well
aware that the enterprise as presented
does not exhibit grandeur corresponding
with the splendor of your name, but they
equally know that great results are from
small beginnings, and they cannot but
feel sanguine that at no distant day Jack
son City viii not be unworthy the name.
1t has appeared to us as peculiarly
proper that the second man of the nation
should have his name placed by the side of
the first; and We trust that by the efforts
of ourselves and successors, a.ded by the
strength Of this great country, Jackson City
viii grow into happy union with Washing
ton city. 1t might be proper. sir that we
offer you an apology for this use of your
name without your consent, but we hope
10 fnd forgiveness in the uniform kindness
of Jour character, and relying upon this,
We are emboldened to ask of you a further
favor. that you would honor us and give
dignity to our enterprise by assisting with
US to lay the cornerstone OF the conte,n-
plated city on the day -
with every sentiment of respect and ad-
miration for your private and public sery-
ices, We have the honor to be your obedi-
ent servants, Daniel Jackson, John Trotter, |
George Hall, W. L. Hudson. Morgan L. |
Smith, Samuel Cassidy, Henry Wyckoff, Y. |
d. Strong"
To this letter President Jackson made |
the following response:
Washington, October %. 1885
"Gsntlemen: / shall cheerfully assist you |
in lariug the cornerstone of the city which !
you propose to lay on the banks of the /
ntoinac, opposite Washington. at such |
lime as you may designate.
Il duly appreciate the honor paid me
by the name given to the new city, and
trust that its prosperity, as the neighboi
and friend. If not part. of this. which |
bears the name of the Yenerated Father
of His Country. may equal your expecta-
tons l am, respectfully. your obedient
servant, ANDREW JACKSON"
Arrangements for the laying of the cor
nerstone on Mason's land we're at once be-
gun, and few days before the Christmas
Of 1895 the committee addressed him in
second letter as follows:
New York. December 20. 1885
To Gen. Andrew jackson, President OF the
United States:
Sir: With a high sense Of the honor
conferred by your consentiEg to assist US
In laying the cornerstone Of Jackson City,
we make you our most respectful acknowl-
and beg leave 10 name as an
appropriate date the Sth day OF January
next, al such hour as shall be most con-
venient to you.
III selecting a day so distinguished in
the annals of our country we confess a
desire to shed ever the destinies of this
embryo city a ray of reflected glory by
identifying its birth with a great national
anniversary; that he who brought into ex-
istenee an era so momentous, should on
It's anniversary. give a helping hand in |
laying the foundation OF city honored by
his name, are circumstances peculiarly
delicious, and bring together a crowd of
associations which cannot fail to fill with | ,
Just pride the minds of those who shall
nhabit this gifted city. With sentiment, ,
Etc, ,
DANIEL JACKSON AND OTHERS
COMMITTEE
To this letter General Jackson respoU,i- ,
ID By informing the committee that at +
2 o'clock of the day they have deeigned !
VIII give me pleasure 10 walt upon Z
HEM
Accordingly on the sth Of January, 1886.
procession was formed at Browns Hotel
now the Metropolitan at 10 o'clock a m. ;
to the following order: !
Marshals, Col H. K Dulaney. chief. and
iessrs. r. Beale, J. Moulder, Colonel :
srearly, Capt. Robert Brockett, Coloae!
Iodgson, John O'Sulliyan, Col. T. Coco
an. Major T. b. Kelley, z. Mason, John ;
Jason, and f. j. Hume. The marshals
,ore blue sashes and carried batons.
Then in the following order came the
larine Band, the Marine Corps, the Jack :
on City Association. Grand Lodge F. A.
/. Masons. of the District, the orator, C.
Y. P. Custis; members of Congress and !,
Ulcers of Congress; civil officers of the +
nited States; military officers of the
nited States; naval officers OF the United \
tates: officers of the militia of the Dis .
riot; the city councils of Washington. =
georgetown. and Alexandria: judges and
Ulcers of the courts of the District of Co :.
lmbia; literary, mechanic and other So
ieties; professors and students of col
sges and schools; volunteer companies.
This line marched to he east, or Wash :.
1gton, end of the Long Bridge, where ii
as Joined by the President of the United |
tates and suite, and then moved across
he bridge to the place chosen as the site
I the new city.