Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-12

dense forest only part OF which had
been cleared necessary for the building
operations together with the clearing of a
small space within the lines Of few of the
adjacent avenues and streets. There had
been no grading o. the grounds, and through
the southeast portion of East Park a small
stream with the drainage, had cut a ravine
across south Astreet which terminated
by flowing into stream south of c street
south. which coursed on to the Tiber.
OF the site, Mrs. S. H. Smith, wife of the
founder of the National Intelligencer
wrote:
This ridge of hills, of which Capitol Hill
forms a part, was covered with a growth
of fine widespreading forest trees, natives
of the soil, which, if properly managed
would have formed a noble park, but in
purchasing the ground no right to these
majestic trees had been reserved by the
government and they were felled and sold
by their original owners for fuel" Jeffer-
son was indignant at this devastation, and
it Is stated that orce witnessing the fall o., a
tree, he expressed himself: Il wish l was
despot that / might save those noble trees
Streams and Swamps.
AS will be seen, from the northward came
the Tiber or Goose creek, which from about
D and North Capitol street formed almost
a quarter circle, and from about Sd street
directly west of the building James creek
coursed southeastward to about a cor
responding point in South Capitol street
thus forming a semicircle west of the
grounds East of the streams much of the
ground was marshy, some of the growth
being almost impenetrable, but in the
neighborhood of the avenue was the best
crossing to be found both of stream and
swamp-a rude bridge over the former and
hummocks, which had been filled in max
ing roadway, in the latter. There was
much low swamp land along the Tiber we'll
up to 18th street and along the avenue.
A lady now lightweight states: Between
creek and market the Tiber and 7th
streeD II have picked many a bucket of
blackberries, and 1 have seen many men
and boys hunting in the same place. You
did not have far to go, when l was
child, for game, wild fruit or fish, and l go
back only about eighty years. l guess those
here before me found these more plentiful"
The erection Of the Capitol building, 1t is
well known, was commenced several years
before, but was then unfinished, the north
wing only being SO far advanced as to at
ford accommodations for Congress, and
beyond the foundation.
Letters on the Subject.
Mrs. Adams wrote almost Immediately
on her arrival Ga few weeks before the
time for meeting): I'm this city there are
buildings enough, If they were compact and
finished, to accommodate Congress and
those attached to it; but as they are. and
scattered as they are, I see no great COM
fort for them
OllVer WOlcOtt, secretary OF the Treas
ury, wrote Of the city about that time:
There is one good tavern, about forty rods
from the Capitol. and several other houses
are built or are erecting; but l do not see
how the members of Congress can possibly
secure lodgings unless they will consent to
live like scholars in a college monks in
a monastery, crowded ten or twenty in one
house, and utterly secluded from society.
There are few houses in any one place, and
most of them small miserable huts which
present an awful contrast to the public