Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-12-13
Why shepherdstown Isn't the Capital.

Why Shepherdstown Isn't the Capital.
Before the Sons of the Revolution
in Washington City a few days ago
Mr.. George Alfred Townsend deliv-
cred an address upon the lost oppor-
tunity of this section of Virginia and
Maryland to possess the American
capital in 1871, when President Wash
ington, by the act for the location,
was empowered to select any ten miles
square, or less, upon the eastern side
of the Potomac river between the
mouths of the Eastern branch and the
Conococheague. The date of this act
was July 10, 1890,
Washington in October Of that year
went to Williamsport and made some
inquiries concerning the situation,
which had been taken up for a town
four years previously by his collector
of the Port of Baltimore, General Will
lisms, who apparently felt that the
President had no idea Of selecting far
away from his own estates, for VIII
liams indorsed his brothers sanguine
letter on what the President said to
aatter Williamsport, Cali fudge !"
The following March 3, 1871, Con-
gress repealed the parts of the act
limiting the selection of the District
of Columbia to the eastern or northern
side Of the river, and allowed Alex
andria, in Virginia, to be included,
and also lands east of the Anacostia,
or Eastern branch.
Having thus drawn the land six or
seven miles nearer Mount Vernon,
where Washington had 5000 acres
and over, the estates of his connec-
tions, the Custis-Stuart family, some
1000 acres more, Arlington lying in
the center of the amended District and
Riverdale within the Eastern branch
floating Of the claim, the President
appointed two residents Of the lower
location, David Stuart and Daniel
Carroll, quorum Of his commission
ers. Thomas Johnson, the other one
who might have stood for the Upper
Potomac, was soon made Associate
Justice Of the Supreme Court. General
Williams held Washington's commits
sion in Baltimore and made no effort
to utilize his own urban situation.
Two out of four members of the Cabi-
net, Jefferson and Randolph, cousins
were Virginians, and with Washing
ton President and Madison leader in
Congress the Upper Potomac had no
champion, while Charles Carroll, the
Maryland Senator, had upon the low
er district his cousins Of Duddington,
owners of Capitol Hill, and his cousin
Rev. John Carroll rearing his George
town College. Washington county
petitioned the Legislature Of Mary
land to lay off ten miles square any
where in the county, but without avail
Yet, said Mr.. Townsend, Washing
ton had testified in 1855, whilst ex-
ploring the Potomac for canal, OF
the superior nature of the upper coun-
try Nothing can well exceed the
land from Monocacy south to Freder-
lex for convenient levelness, fertility
Of soil and luxuriant growth Of timber,
all under good cultivation"
Mr.. Townsend called attention to
the 1900 to 14,OOO acres of the
manor of Carrollton, then in an un-
sold tract and fit for the District
bounded by Potomac, MOnocacy, Ca
toctin Mountain and Fredericktown
Also to the ten miles square covering
Hagefstown from the ConococheaguC
to Antietam and South Mountain
and from the Potomac to tie free
States line, inexhaustible in building
and paving stone, lime, marble, pro
visions, milk, good roads. mountain
prospects. Either of these sites would
have made District impervious tc
war, and have saved the Government
millions in the Civil War to defend
Washington, off in the plain.
The Virginia part of the Distric