Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-12-07
THE NATIONS CAPITAL
SOME INTERESTING FACTS CON-
CERNiNG IT.

CERNING IT.
Some National Evidences of a Country.
Growth-lt was at First Movable Head
quarters for the Covernment-Its History ir
Brief from Madison to Mckinley.
Washington Evening Star
Apropos the approaching capital
centennial celebration, it is well
worthy of note that the one hundred
years that have elapsed since the es
tablishment Of the seat of the Federal
government in Washington practically
represent for us almost the whole sub
stantial history of the United States
as nation, aside from its preliminary
beginnings. Prior to the year 1890
the governments operations can
scarcely be said to have been reduced
to an orderly system, since up to that
time they had been largely expert
mental and tentative. A nation with
out visible and permanent political
headquarters is hardly accounted and
recognized as a nation in the sense
now generally accepted with respect
to established governments, and hence
| it was only with the actual founding
and occupation of the Federal capital
that our career as an enduring power
really began.
From President John Adams to
President William Mckinley is a long
and glorious span in our governmental
history, and the themes it offers for
retrospection and reminiscence are
embarrassing in their riches. A few
little tid-bits, mainly in the way OF
comparison, will suffice here.
In 1900 the population of the na-
tional capital was only 5000, as
against 27S.SOO to-day, and most of
those 5000 were transient residents
artisans and laborers employed on the
early public buildings then in course
OF construction.
In $500 the civil list of the govern
ment in Washington embraced but
126 persons. distributed thus: In the
State Department, 8 clerks; in the
Treasury, Is; in the War Department,
II; in the Navy Department, 16; and
in the Post Office Department, 10.
To-day the government civil list in
Washington comprises 10000 persons.
President John Adams arrived in
Washington from Philadelphia on
June l, 1900. Mrs. Adams did not
follow until November, and even then
the habitable rooms in the White
House were only partially ready for
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. The removal cost $40, 600.
The transfer of furniture, records and
official paraphernalia began June 5,
and was completed by June Is, 1900.
The records must have been of consid.
cradle bulk, even then, for the govern
ment had been in existence ten years
and 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, 1900, but no quorum was obtained
in Senate or House until November
81. The preceding session had ad-
journed at Philadelphia May IA.
When Congress convened the only
government buildings even partially
ready for occupancy we're the White
House, the Capitol (the west wing OF
the old portion) and the Treasury.
The biggest thing visible above the
level OF the ground between the Capt.
tol and the White House was Samuel
Blodget's "Great HOTEL" which stood
near the corner OF Ninth and f streets
northwest.
The Treasury stood ON the site ol
the south front OF the present Treas
ury building, and was q plain two
story structure of brick and stone,
containing thirty rooms, with attic
and basement. 1t was destroyed by
fire in 1888.
The War Office building, at the
southwest corner of the White House
grounds, was not ready, and accord
ingly the War Department leased q
three-story private house on the south
side of Pennsylvania Avenue between
Twenty-first and Twenty-second
streets, nearly opposite the famous
hotel kept by William O'Neal, after
ward father of that beautiful and fas
cinating Peggy who subsequently, al
the wife of Secretary of War Eaton
made such a stir in Washington soci.
ETY. during the Jackson administers
ton.
The Post Office Department occu.
pied a rented building belonging to
one DR.. Cracker. at the corner ol
Ninth and E streets, near Blodgets
The other two departments then in ex'
istence State and Navy - secured
temporary quarters in rented houses
near the Executive Mansion. Mean
while, and until all the departments
were permanently located, a large
amount of governmental effects we're
| topf sfCrod IN a ctono uarQhOusp nm