The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02

the Inhabitants OF Trenton. in New Jer-
sey; Lancaster Wright's Ferry, York, Car
Isle, Harrisburg. Reading and German
town, in Pennsylvania, and Baltimore and
Georgetown. in Maryland. All expressed
their willingness 20 come under the aeGis
of Congress and the Constitution. and pic
tured in glowing colors the advantages OF
climate and scenery, and conreniences OF
access which their respective Localities
possessed. The newspapers OF the day ire
quently took a humorous view Of this pat
riotic competition. and in prose and verse
gave vent TO considerable good-natured
sentiment.
In the second session, the Capital ques-
,ion was again agitated. and Baltimore.
Wilmington. the Delaware, Germantown
between the Potomac and the Susque-
hanna we're all urged; but the act estab-
fishing the temporary seat of Govern
mert at Philadelphia, from the first Mon
day in December, 1890, and the perma-
nent seat on the River Potomac, between
the mouths of the Eastern Branch lana
costia) and Conogocheague, tributary OF
the upper Potomac, to be ready for the
sessions of Congress by the first Monday
in December, 1900, was finally passed and
approved by Washington, July 16, 1890.
In the Senate it received IA yeas and Il
nays, and in the House 80 yeas and %
NAYS. The immediate settlement was ef-
| fected as compromise with the advo-
Gates of fiscal measure known as the
assumption of the State debts. The ma
jority of the votes of the Middle States
going with the South, gave the majority
for the Potomac.
The Legislature of Virginia. in Decem-
Der. 1890, appropriated the S12O,0O0 pre-
viously offered. payable in three annual
installments In December, 1871. the
Legislature of Maryland gave an order
for the payment of the $4,000 donated
by that State The December before. the
, same Legislature passed an act for pro-
viding for the condemnation of land, If
necessary, for the public buildings. On
January %, 1891, the first Commissioners,
three in number, were appointed to su-
perintend the affairs of the city. on
| January "a the President issued procla-
nation directing the Commissioners to
| lay down the four experimental lines OF
| boundary as follows:
First. by running line from the
| courthouse of Alexandria. in Virginia,
| due southwest one-half mile. and thence
! due southeast course till 1t struck
| Hunting Creek. This was to be the mi
| tial point, from which the first line was
! to run due northwest ten miles. the sec-
! ond into Maryland due northeast ten
| miles. the third due southeast ten miles
| and the fourth due southwest ten miles
| to the beginning, on Hunting Greek.
| These were approved by Congress. The
original act required the location of the
district above the mouth of the Eastern
| Branch, or Anacostia River. To con-
| form the law to the experimental lines.
| an amendatory act, approved March .,
| 1891, repealed the conflicting portion OF
| the act of July 16, 1890, but required the
| public buildings to be erected on the
Maryland side of the Potomac
Arrival of Washington.
Washington arrived March 2S, 1871, and
put up at Suffers Tavern, a one-story
frame structure. the favorite resort OF
travellers arriving at Georgetown
On March 90, in company with
the three Commissioners and the
surveyors, Andrew Ellicott and
| Major Peter Charles L'Enfant, he rode
over the ground. The same night meet
| ing was held for the purpose of effect
ing a reconciliation with the proFerty
| owners. There were some who desired
| to derive all the advantages offered by
the proposed city without making any
| reasonable concession to its success. The
counsel Of Washington, however, had Its
| effect. The general terms agreed upon
were signed by nineteen of the original
| proprietors. The President issued a
| proclamation, dated March so, 1871, at
| Georgetown. which defined the lines oil
the Federal territory accepted by Cen
| Sress, and ordered the Commissioners TO
| proceed forthwith to have the lines per-
| manently marked.
The President now left for brief visit
to his home at Mount Vernon; thence he
| proceeded to Richmond, Va, to consult
with Governor Beverly Randolph respect
ing the payment of the $4,000 appropri-
ated by the Commonwealth Of Virginia to-
ward the building of the Capital. On
April 10 he wrote, informing the Commits
sioners that the Governor was willing to
advance the money at earlier periods than
agreed upon. On April Il the Commits
4 sioners held their first regular meeting al
| Georgetown On April 10 the initial, or
corner. stone of the lines OF the Federal
| territory was formally planted in the
presence of the three Commissioners, Ans
| drew Ellicott. the Surveyor, and the Ma
| sons and many citizens of Alexandria.
| James Muir, the pastor of that Episcopal
parish, delivered sermon. On June 20 a
final settlement was effected, by which
| the lands ceded to the Government were
conveyed in trust to Thomas Beall, Of
| Georgetown, and John NJ Grant,, of Ma
ryland, or their heirs, for the United
| States. The streets. squares. parcels and
| lots were to be laid out and conveyed BY
| the trustees to the United States: the res
| idue of the land was TO be divided
| equally. For their share the United
| States were to pay e25, or $685. % and
| the streets and squares went to the Gov
| eminent free. There were other stipuia-
lions respecting sales Of lands and pay
ment of Indebtedness TO the proprietors
They were also permitted to occupy the
| lands till required for public use. Owing
| a 10 gfr
vations were never conveyed to the Com
| missoners The Law officer CT the Govern
| ment and the Supreme Court OF the Uni
| ted States, however, have decided that the
1 United States have absolute control over
| them, notwithstanding their appaT ent in
complete transfer. An act of Maryland
| December 10. 1871, ratified the cession OF
| its portion of the Federal territory, and
| designated certain powers and duties OF
the Commissioners, who were also author
| lied to take possession in the same pro-
portion as agreed with the others. of lots
in Hamburg and Carrollsburg. The in
habitants Of Georgetown who SO requested
were to be included. provided they con-
| formed to the general terms of the agree
ment, which they declined
Laying Out the City.
The laying out of the city according to
the plans prepared by LEnfant, which
were approved by Washington in August,
1871. was carried out under the direction
of Andrew Ellicott, a native of Bucks
county, Pa, gentleman of fine attain
ments, and who had executed number OF
important surveys. He was born in 1854
and died at West Point in 1920.
The first step was the establishment OF
the meridian l;ne." through the site OF
| the Capitol and the east and west inter-
secting line. which were to form the basis
Of the execution of the entire plan. At a
h. r,;.