Evening star., 1900-12-12

| generally contain from three to six acres.
! and are divided into lots of from forty to
eighty feet front and their depth from
about 10 to 300 feet. according to the size
| OF the square.
! The irregula divisions produced by the
diagonal streets are some of them small,
but are generally invaluable situations.
| Their acute points are all to be cut of at
| forty feet. so that no house in the city will
have an acute corner. The lots in these
| irregular squares will all turn at right
angle with the respective streets. although
the backs of the houses upon them will not
| stand parallel to one another which is a
| matter OF little or no consequence.
Building Regulations.
By the rules declared and published by
| the President Of the United States for reg
ulating the buildings within the city. all
| houses must be OF stone or brick-their
| walls must be parallel to the streets and
| either placed Immediately upon them or
! withdrawn therefrom. at pleasure. The
walls of all houses upon streets one hun
dred and sixty feet wide must be at least
| thirty feet high, but there is no obligation
imposed to build or improve in any limited
| time.
The area for the Capitol or house for the
| legislative bodies Is situated upon the most
beautiful eminence in the city, about a mile
| from the Eastern branch and not much
more from the Potomac. commanding a
| full and complete view of every part of
the city, as well as a considerable extent
| of the country around. The Presidents
| house will stand upon a rising ground not
| far from the banks Of the Potomac. pos
sessfng delightful water prospect, togeth-
| er with a commanding view of the Capitol
and some other material parts of the city.
| Due south from the Presidents house and
due west from the Capitol run two great
| pleasure parks malls, which intersect
and terminate upon the banks of the Poto-
| mac and are to be ornamented at the sides
by variety of elegant buildings and
,;,.;,-t
Parks and Reservations.
Interspersed through the city, where tie
most material streets cross another.
are a variety of open areas. formed in
various regular figures. which in great
cities are extremely useful and ornamental.
Fifteen of the best of these
to be appropriated to the different states
composing the Union; not only to bear
their respective names, but proper places
for them to erect statues, obeisks, or col
umns, to the memory of their favorte emf
nent men Upon the small eminence, where
a line due west from the Capitol and due
south from the Presidents house would in
tersect is to be erected an equestrian statue
Of General Washington. The building
meets Is intended for a marine hospital,
with its gardens.
The area at the south end of East Sth
street is for the general exchange, and it's
public walks, etc The broad black line
which runs along part of north street.
and, separating, joins the Eastern branch
at two places, Is canal which is to be
eighty feet wide, and eight feet deep. The
area, where south G street crosses the
caral is intended to contain a city hall
and a basin of water there being a very
large spring in the middle of it.
The area at the junction of the rivers is
for fort, magazines and arsenals.
The Bridge That Was Never Built.
At the east end of East Capitol street is
to be bridge, and the present ferry is at
the lower end of Kentucky street, where
the great road now crosses the Eastern
branch. The Tfber, which is the principal
stream that passes through the city. is to
be collected in grand reservoir beside the
Capitol, from whence 1t will be carried in
pipes to different parts of the city. while
its surplus will fall down in beautiful cas-
cades. through the public gardens west of
the Capitol into the canal In various parts
of the city, places are allotted for market
houses, churches, colleges. theaters, etc.
In order to execute the plan true meri-
dional line was drawn by celestial obser-
walton. which passes through the in
tended for the Capitol. This line was
crossed by another, running due east and
west, which passes through the same area
These lines were accurately measured. and
made the basis on which the whole plan
was executed.
All the lines were ran by a transit instru-
ment. and the acute angles determined by
actual measurement, thus leaving thing
to the uncertainty of the compass.
The President Of the United States in
locating the seat Of the city. prevailed upon
the proprietorS of the soil to cede certain
portion of the lots in every situation. to be
sold by his direction, and the proceeds to be
solely applied to the public buildings. and
other works OF public utility within the
city. This grant will produce about 1900
lots. and will be sufficient. not only to erect
the public buildings. but to dig the canal.
conduct water through the city, and to pave
and light the streets. which will save a
heavy tax that arises in other cities, and
consequently render the lots considerably
more Valua BILE.
The grants of money made by Virginia
and Maryland being sufficient, few of the
public lots were sold till the 18th day Of
September, 1893, when the demand was con-
siderable. the monied men in Europe and
America had turned their attention to this
great national object.
Alleged Conditions in 1892.
+ At the close Of the year 1892 most of the
streets were run, and the squares divided
into lots. The canal was partly dug, and
the greatest part of the materials provided
for the public buildings which are entirely
ing on with all possible expedition. Several
private houses were erected, and great
many proprietors of lots were preparing to
build The city now makes a noble appear
ance, many Of the public buildings being in
great forwardness. or finished and great
number Of houses built. In the month of
June last II, 600 artificers, besides laborers,
were employed in the different works.
The public lots in the city Of Washington
open large field for speculation in Amer
lea, and there is every probability of their
being run up to an enormous price as the
public buildings are advanced, for al
though lands in America, from their quanti-
ty, are less valuable than those in Britain,
yet lots in cities generally sell high.
THE SCRIBE IN.PERsIA.