The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-16

the States with about 75o,ooo-nearly equal
ling the combined population of Pennsyl-
vania and New York, and greater than
the whole population of the New England
States. irsinia. always generous, voted
the sum of Sl20,0Go as a concession for
planting the government city on her Dor
ders, and Maryland likewise gave So, 600
as her tllank-offerng to the General Gov
ernmeut.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
The original plan of the city as already
mentioned was drawn by the French Of
ficcr and civil engineer Major LEnfant
in the year 1871, under the direction of
President Washington. and later Andrew
Ellcott surveyed and laid out the city
in accordance with these plans Little
time was lost in carrying into effect the
mandate of Congress. and preparation for
building the new city had so far adj
Vanced that the cornerstone of the new
Capitol was laid by Washington on Sep
TENDER is. 1893, and seven years later
the machinery of government WAS moved
and set up in its own buildings. The Fed
cral city was at that time described as "a
backwoods settlement in the Wilderness
The greater part OF the site lying west
of the Capitol was a. moraSS well-nigh i'm
passable. Vehicles constantly stalled in
the mud of the streets. Small wonder
u
ferred 10 ride horseback to the Capitol.
Tom Moore, after a visit TO the Fed
cral city in 1904 describing i'll sarcastic
verse the second Rome wrote Thomas
Hume:
This famed metropolis where fancy sees
Squares in morasses, obelisks in trees:
Which travelling fools and gaZcteers adorn
With shrines unbuilt, and heroes yet I'M
born.
So here I pause, and now my Hume, we
part;
But oh! full oft in magic dreams of
Thus let us meet, and mingle converse
BY Thames at home. or by Potowmac
here,
Ger lakes and marsh, through fevers
and through fogs,
Midst bears and Yankees, Democrats and
frogs,
Thy foot shall follow me: thy heart and
With me shall wonder, and with me de-
spise.''
In this ycur quails and other birds were
shot within a hundred yards
of the Capitol during the sittinss of
Congress, and in 1SO6 it is said that
strangers We're apt to inquire for the city
While in its very centre.
CAPITOL BURNED.
In 1914 the city had a decided setback
when it was captured by the British
troops and the Capitol and most of the
other public buildings burned.
In 1889 Washington had made little
progress towards becoming large city,
for at that time it was described as 4
large struggling village reared in a drain
ed swamp.
In 1916 the people of Alexandria county
by act Of Congress We're permitted to
vote for retrocession from the District.
The votes cast were 763 for and ODD
against; and September 9Th of that year
President Polk pronounced the act COM
Piled With.
With no manufactures and little COM
merce TO stimulate growth. up to 1871.
the city was exceedingly backward in all
improvements. In, that year
Congress abolished the charters OF the
cities of Georgetown and Washington,
and instituted a form of territorial gov
eminent, with u governor and ieg1sia-
tive assembly. The matter of municipal
was placed in the hands OF
a board of public works with authority
TO carry out comprehensive scheme Inc
work was commenced and pushed LOT
ward with the greatest energy, ana al
most fabulous results We're achieved. In
a few years the appearance OF the city
was revolutioniZed. The cost was enor-
nous. but il has been long since con-
reSed that the money was We'll spent.
Boss Shepard and the board OF public
works did their work well. even if the
Methods were arbitrary and unpopular.
In 1874 Congress abolished the terri
-orial form of government and establish
I'd the present government by three COM
nissioners, thus presenting the spectacle
If the capital of the greatest republic
governed by absolute power 1t has been
United that this form of government was
adopted chiefly to cut off the large and
Increasing negro vote: but be this as it
nay. the present form of government has
stood the test OF twenty years and has
proven itself generally satisfactory, |
being noted as the best gov
,rned city in this country.
MANY AIDED.
II would be impossible TO mention the
many names of these who have been as
ISOLATED directly or Indirectly With the
ounding and growth of the national cap
al, or TO follow the career Of those who
lare given their aid and encouragement
owards building and adorntng; this sp!en-
Id c.ty-of the friends of the District in
congress who have been liberal with APP
of the architects who have
planned, or the unassunling and unnotic-