Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-24
Washington City History From Mad
ison 70 Mckinley.
EVIDENCE OF A CENTURY'S GROWTH
When the Nation Was Without
Permanent Headquarters.
SAMUEL BLODGET'S HOTEL
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star
Apropros the approaching capital centen-
NAL celebration, it is well worthy or note
that the one hundred years that have
elapsed since the establishment of the seat
of the federal government in Washington
practically represent for US almost the
whole substantial history of the United
States as nation, aside from its prelim-
mary beginnings. Prior to the year $500
the governments operations can scarcely
be said to have been reduced to an orderly
system, since up to that time they had
been largely experimental and tentative
nation without visible and permanent po-
ltical headquarters is hardly accounted and
recognized as nation in the sense now
generally accepted with respect to establish
ed governments, and hence it was only with
the actual founding and occupation OF the
federal capital that our career as an endur-
ing power really began
From President John Adams to President
william Mckinley is a long and glorious
span in our governmental history, ana the
themes it offers for retrospection and rem
ir1iscence are embarrassing in their rlches.
A few little tid-bits. mainly in the way OF
comparison, viii suffice here.
Evidences of Progress.
In 1900 the population of the national cap
ital was only 5000 as against 2IS,S0o to-
day. and most of those 5000 were transient
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and laborers employed
on the early public buildings then in course
of construction.
In 1900 the civil list of the government In
Washington embraced but 126 persons, as
tributed thus: In the State Department 0
clerks; in the Treasury, IS: in the war De
partment, II; in the Navy Department, 10
and in the Post Office Department, lo. To-
day the government civil list in "ashlhs-
ton comprises 10000 persons.
President John Adams arrived In w ASH
ington from Philadelphia on June l. Lsoo.
Mrs. Adams did not follow until November,
and even then the habitable rooms IN the
White House were only partially ready Ioi
her occupancy.
The government archives and effects were
removed from Philadelphia in sloops and
schooners. coming by water down the coast
and up the Potomac to this point. ne re-
moyal cost $4,000. The transfer OF furnl-
ture records and official paraphernaha pc
gan June 5. and was completed by June TO-
1900. The records must have been or con-
siderable bulk. even then, LOT the govern
ment had been in existence ten years ana
had inherited all The state papers, RECORDS,
revolutionary muster rolls and accounts OF
the old government under the articles OF
confederation.
Congress (the SIXTH convened for the
first time in the Capitol November II, lSoo
but no quorum was obtained IN senate Oh
House until November p. The preceding
session nau al 1 iiiishuS'pAA-N >''e'
The Government buildings.
When Congress convened the only gov
eminent buildings even partially ready FOR
occupancy were the White House, the Cap
itol Ghe west wing of the old portion) ana
the treasury. The biggest thing Visipie
above the level Of the ground between the
Capitol and the White House was Samuel
Blodgets Great Hotel. which. stood near
az l, .sg.. No
The treasury stood on the site of the
south front of the present treasury build
ing and was plain two-story structure
of brick and stone. containing thirty rooms
with attic and basement. II was -ueSCroSeu
by fire in 1888.
The war office building, at the southwest
corner of the White House grounds, was
not ready. and accordingly the war De
partment leased three-story private house
on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
between DIST and 22d streets, nearly oppo-
site the famous hotel kept by William
O'Neal. afterward father of that beautiful
and fascinating Peggy who subsequently,
as the wife. of Secretary of War Eaton,
made such stir in Washington society
during the Jackson administration.
The Post Office Department occupied
rented building belonging to one DR..
Cracker. at the corner of 9th and + streets.
near Bodgets The other two departments
then in existence-State and Navy-secured
temporary quarters in rented houses near
the Executive Mansion. Meanwhile, and
until all the departments were permanently
located, a large amount of governmental
effects were kept stored in a stone ware
house on the water front at the foot of 25th
street built by Col. Tobias Lear, who
served as private secretary to Gen. Wash
ington.
Besides the public buildings in process Of
construction. there were. May 10. 1900. 100
brick and 253 frame houses in Washington,
all save half dozen of them having been
erected after the year l19l.
The Temporary Capitals.
1t is interesting to recall that before the
establishment of the permanent capital at
Washington no less than eight other cities
were occupied as seats of national legisla
ton at one time or another after the heroes
of 20 threw off tine English yoke. Phila
dephia Baltimore. Lancaster and York,
Pa; Princeton and Trenton. n. j.: Annapo-
lis Nd and New York city served in turn
the home of Congress, the visible center
of government and the sanctuary of its
laws. During the revolution the sessions of
the Continental Congress had been held at
the most convenient points permitted by the
exigencies of war. the temporary capital-a
sort of peripatetc and fugitive capital
being moved about from time to time and
from place to place as occasion dema nded.
Under the old regime Of that Congress,
and later under the articles of confedera-
ton the same anxiety and rivalry existed
among the original states for the honor of
having Congress sit within their respective
borders as We're experienced after the Con-
stitution was adopted and before the per-
manent capital was established. In the old
continental days the state of New York had
offered the town of Kingston as the abiding
place of the American government; Rhode
Island had rendered Newport; Maryland
had proposed her capital city, Annapolis,
and Virginia had proffered her ancient cap
ital. Williamsburg.
In October 1873. while in session in Phil
adelphia, Congress was grossly insulted by
a band of mutnous soldiery from Lancaster
county whose pay was in arrears and has
lilly adjourned for personal safety to Prince
ton, N. ]. This incident called attention
more Dertipently than anything that had
happened before to the necessity of provid-
ing permanent capital where the DELHI
erations of Congress would not suffer in
reference or disturbance from mobs or
other outside Influences
The subject was accordingly taken I'D
with vigor, and in 1854, while Congress sat
at Trenton an ordinance was passed au-
thorizing three commissioners to purchase
ground and lay out federal town on the
banks of the river Delaware and to enter
into contracts for greeting lin an elegant
manner" the necessary government build
ings. Repeated attempts Were afterward
made to repeal the ordinance and substitute
the river Potomac for the Delaware and
the consequence was that the Commission
ers, being in doubt as to the outcome did
nothing.