Evening star., 1900-12-12
Data That is Virtually Diary of
Early Days.
WASHINGTON CITY Tn EMBRYO
Extracts From Old Newspapers
Tell all Interesting Tale.
WASHINGTON AND L'ENFANT


Il washington. only mere anu tnere are
occasional notices which attract attention
now only from their insignificance.
The following extracts taken from the
Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser
for 1T91-92 although few and far between.
are sufficiently interesting and historically
valuable to induce republication:
February t. 1871.
Where will Congress find resting place?
They have led a kind of Il vagrant life
ever since 1174. when they first met to op-
pose Great Britain. Every place they have
taken to reside in has been made too hot
to hold them: Either the enemy would not
let them stay, or the people made a clamor
because they were too far north or too far
south, and obliged them to remove.
If three removes are as lad as one fire,
then Congress may be said to have been
burned out several times. 1t seems. they
not fixed in the right place yet: Penn
sylvania. the arbitress Of the Union, vii!
not let them do the business Of the Union.
without meddling and debating to them
they cannot touch piece of work, but
every body of either offers to lend a hand,
or tells them to let that alone and do some
thing else. Some. who call themselves the
public creditors within that state, have
taught them how to fund the debt, and, IN
order to imprint the lesson of wisdom on
their memories. they tell them. with d great
deal of circumlocution and with all possible
respect and Difference, that the pursuit OF
some collateral purpose had de3tened their
ears TO justice. and hardened their hearts
70 gratitude, and that they have canvassed
their claims without favour. and curtailed
them without necessity" and, as of course.
that the gallows is too good for them.
The traGesmen of the city have shewn
Congress how to make milita-l law, and
the State-ASsembly, sitting under their very
noses have snapp'd hold of them, at the
same time telling them that if they meddle
with excise, which the Constitution has
empowered them to lay, they will subvert
the liberties of the people. We pity the
n TGS
about from post to pil.ar-wheTe can they
find home? Let them advertise for
quiet place to sit in, where if they are hon
est men, they may do the business of the
whole Union, which we sent them to do
and If they are not honest. let us turn them
out, and send better men in their stead.
February II. 1871.
An Act concerning an advance of money
to the Government of the United States
for Public Budings-Passed the 9th of
December, 1870.
Whereas the General Assembly Of Mary
land have acceded 20 a propg sition of the
General Assembly of this Commonwealth.
contained in their resolution of the tenth of
December. one thousand. seven hundred and
e.ghty-nlne, concerning an advance OF
money to the General Government to be
applied towards erecting public buildings at
;he permanent seat Of the Government Of
the United States. should the Congress
ieem it eXpeGient to fix it the bank of
the Patowmac: and whereas Congress have
passed an act for establishing the said seat
OF Government on the PdtOW mac: BE II en-
acted by the General Assembly, That one
hundred and twenty thousand dollars shall
be advanced by this Commonwealth to the
General Government, payable in three equal
yearly payments, and to be applied towards
erecting public buildings at the permanent
seat of the Government of the United States
on the bank OF Patowmac: And the Audi
tor of Public Accounts is hereby directed to
issue his warrants on the Treasurer to the
amount of hundred and twenty thou
sand dollars, payable In manner therein be-
fore-directed to the order of the President
of the United States.
March 1S 1871.
Georgetown, Patowmac) March II.
Wednesday evening arrived in this town.
Major l. Enfant, a French Gentleman, en-
plnyed by the President of the United
States to survey the lands contiguous to
Georgetown. where the Federal City IS to
be built. His skill. in matters Of this ma
ture is justly extolled by all disposed to
give merit its proper tribute of praise. He
S earnest in the business and hopes to lay
plat of that parcel OF land before the
President, on his arrival in this town.
April l. 1871.
Extract of a letter from Gentleman at
Georgetown TO his friend in this Town.
tBalt!more) dated yesterday (April IL The
President left this Town Yesterday: He
has ordered the Federal City to be laid off.
extending from Georgetown, with the
River. to the Mouth of the Eastern-Brancn
and up the Eastern-Branch. about two
miles. from thence a line drawn. to inter-
sect the road leading from Georgetown to
Bladensburg. about half Mile from the
ford on ROCk-Creek, and with the road to
the Creek. and down the Creek to the river
This will include about Four Thousand
Five Hundred Acres of land.-The Proprie-
tors in this District give up their Lands, on
the Condition Of receiving, after the Town
IS laid of. One Half of the Lots SO laid
off; and the President has the sale Of the
other half. for the of the public;-which
Will | am confident. produce the Sum of
Three Hundred Thousand Pounds:-The
Spot for the Public Buildings is not yet
fixed"
Georgetown. April =.
ON Monday last the President of the United
States. escorted by his Excelency Gov
ernor Howard. and the Honourable Mr..
Kitty, arrived In this town. and was met
here by the Commissioners appointed un-
Ter the act respecting the permanent resi-
dence OF Congress. He accepted an invita-
zion 10 n very elegant public dinner. given
~ the c!tizers; and had the pleasure, be-
tore his departure, "Wednesday. his
southern tour. to reconcile the various
views and interests of the propt.etors OF
lands in the different offers heretofore made
him for the Federal City, far as 10 leave
the fairest prospect Of being able fully.
% realize his wishes in obtaining a tract
OF country equal To that grand object,
tending from Rock Creek adjoining George
Town. to the stern-Branch; and proposed
to be bounded by the Potowmac. from the
mouth Of Rock-Creek to the mouth of the
Edstern-Pranch: by the Eastern Branch to
Evans Point. some distance above the
ferry: by line drawn from Evans Point
t. the road leading from Georgetown to
Bladensburg. and to intersect the road
about half mile from the fording place on
Rock-Creek: by line from thence TO Rock
Creek. somewhere above the fording- place
and thence by Rock-Creek. to the river
the whole including upwards of four thou
sand acres, in the very centre Of the Fed
eral Territory. surpassed by spot
earth. of equal extent, for commercial ad-
vantages ard elegance of situation.
The Patowmac Navigation is likely soon
to acquire powerful assistance-We near
that there is 10 be a special meeting OF the
President and Directors of the Company.
next month in expectation that moned
interest Will connect itself with the old
company. subscribe for the vacant shares
and purchase those which may be offered
FOR sale.
Previous to the departure of the President
!rom this town we hear that he instructed
Lieut. Col. l. Enfant. native of France.
who served with distinguished reputation
n the American corps of engineers In the
late war and whose taste and talents are
universally admired, to plan and map out
the Federal City.
We hear that the propretors Of land be-
tween Rock creek and the Tiber have. with
much credit to themselves made donation
to some lots in the proposed Federal City