The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06

ers relative 10 these PORTIONS OF ground
was the power Of non-insertion. but it ap-
| pears to me that their not having been
| inserted. leaves them exactly in the same
| predicament as the other portions OF the
city intended for appropriations. but
| neither yet expressly designated as appro-
priations. nor even as reservations. They
may be considered as reservations. because
the points Of squares have been cut of.
and these latter. therefore. are rendered by
your declaration Of Goth OF December. 1876
subject to payment. and consequently to
public appropriation.
If no objection can be made to this.
I which, indeed, is warranted by the deeds OF
1 trust, surely less validity must be given 20
| objections against the adoption OF areas.
| heretofore considered only as streets,
which. by adoption. will be paid for and
rendered highly useful and ornamental. II
any objection can arise. It has been justly
observed in your letter last quoted that
they might with equal propriety ask pay
ment for streets. for these spaces diner in
nothing from the avenues but in extent,
and every avenue might. by parity Of claim.
be reduced to a street or be charged 10
the public No individual has ever con-
tended for the insertion of these irregular
portions. except Mr.. George Walker; but
the principle being admitted. the right
will be universally claimed. Many have
sold lots fronting on these open spaces
the map OF the city has been published
without them. and complaints Of injustice
will certainly be made by persons who
have already purchased If these spaces be
filed up by private lots; besides. these in
sertions not accompanying the maps now
| dispersed. strangers might be liable to
continual mpOsitons by purchasing lots
apparently on open areas on the map. but
in reality only fronting stables or greater
uuisances; for these lots are too small to
admit OF houses all around and convent
ences within: SO that It appears not only
against the plan Of he city to insert them
(unless for public appropriations. which /
should ADVOCATED but il would be highly
unjust to individuals. as well those who
may purchase. as those who become pro-
prietors and it would materially injure the
convenience Of the city by occupying for
private purposes those places so easy OF
access and so necessary for the public.
Il have the honor to be. sirI with sincere
regard. your very respectful friend. etc.
WILLIAM THORNTON.
General Washington"
General wasbington's Reply.
The following is washington's reply to
the above:
Federal City. June 1, 1893
"Sir: In replying to your favor Of yes
terday's date. I must beg leave to premise
that VIXEN left the chair of government 1t
was with a determination not to inter
NEEDLE in any public matter which did not
Immediately concern me. and that l have
felt no disposition since to alter this de-
termination. But as you have requested
that I would give you my ideas on GER
tain point which seems to have occupied
the attention Of the Board OF Commission
ers ami on which / presume my letters to
that body whilst / had the honor to ad-
minister the GOvernmentl have not been
so clear and explicit as il was my intention
to be. / have no hesitation in declaring
unless | have entirely forgotten all recol-
lection OF the fact1 that it has always been
my invariable opinion. and remains still TO
be so. that no departure from the engraved
plan OF the city ought to be allowed I'M
less imperious necessity should require 1t,
or some great public good is to be pro-
noted thereby. Minor considerations con-
tribute to this opinion; but the primary,
and to my mind, unanswerable one. is. that
after the original plan with some altera-
tionsJ had been adopted. ordered TO be en-
graved. and published. and was transmit
ted to several il not to all our public
agents abroad. for the purpose Of invit-
ing purchasers. it would, for reasons too
obvious and cOgent to require Illustration.
be receptions to lay of lots for private
purposes, where none appeared in a plan
which was intended to inform. aid and di-
rect the judgment Of foreigners and others.
who could not, on the premises. make
choice.
1T is not difficult to form an opinion of
the way Of thinking and views Of others by
ones own. under similar circumstances. I
declare. then. without reserve. that if /
had made choice of a site for a house on
an open area in the published map. Oc-
casioned by the intersection of avenues,
and an angle thereof should afterward be
filled up in manner l might not approve,
l should not scruple to complain Of both
the deception and injury
But l am straying from my purpose,
which was no more than simply to say Off
am not, as before mentioned. greatly for
getfuD, that l have never had but one
opinion on this subject and that is. that
nothing ought to justify a departure from
the engraved plan but the probability Of
some great public benefit, or unavoidable
necessity.
with great esteem and regard I am,
sir, your most obedient servant.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
william Thornton Esq
Pie danger anticipated by Washington
that the portions Of triangular lots which
were necessarily public parking might be
used for different purposes after a house
had been erected upon the other portion
is no longer felt. and in fact in some cases
buildings have been carried to the extreme
point Of such lots At all events it is to
be inferred from the extracts quoted that
Washngtons wishes in regard to one Of
the most important esthetic features Of the
city have not been fulfilled, and il is the
intention of those proposing the plan de-
scribed to meet. even though it be at a
late date. the views Of the great man after
whom the Capital City is named.
FOR EXPOSITION VISITORS.
Lectures. Guides. and Linguistic Spe-