Evening star., 1900-12-12
Resurrection Of an Early Attempt to
Boom Local Real Estate.
PROPHETIC EXAGGERATIONS
Winterbottom's History Of WASH
ington in 1892.
AN INGENIOUS PAMPHLET

| That there were prospectus writers in the
| old days who welded pen with nibs point
| ing alluring vistas to those with speculative
| tendencies is indicated by perusal of some
| of the histories purporting to describe
| early American towns and ventures and
probably intended for circulation in Eng
| land Such an impression is gained at
| least where one reads at this late day
| Winterbottom's history of the city OF
| Washington in the Territory of Columbia,
in 1892" It is interesting, however in a
| variety of ways, because, no matter how
| exaggerated it's statements may have been
| originally time has pretty effectually
| proven that they were nearly all eventually
| establish as facts. The history follows:
| The territory of Columbia was ceded to
| the United States by the states of Mary
land and Virginia, for the purpose of estab-
| fishing a federal city, that might become
| the permanent seat of the Federal Govern
| ment This city, now building. Is called
after the name of that brave defender or
American liberty and supporter of the
rights of mankind, George Washington.
| who. having vindicated the rights of his
countrymen, and contributed to the estab-
| lishment of his country's independence, mas
| been called by the voice of gratitude ana
| affection to fill the highest office generous
| and brave people had to beStoW-thlS city
will therefore stand as the most honourable
monument of his worth and the peoples
gratitude that could possibly be erected;
| and we trust that when it becomes the seat
| Of government which is to be after 1900.
| that 1t will recall to the minds of future
| legislators his virtues and the principles on
| which American liberty is founded. and It's
| government established This city stands
| at the junction of the rivers Potomac and
! the Eastern Branch. in latitude 3S degrees
53 minutes north, extending about four
miles up each including a tract of territory
| 1n1 ir,r ntrf of
| and beauty by none in America, if any in
! the world: for although the land is appar-
| emily level. yet by gentle and gradual swell
| ngs, variety Of elegant prospects are pro-
| duced. while there is a sufficient descent 10
| convey off the water occasioned by rain.
| Within the limits of the city twenty
| five springs of excellent water; and by dig
| ging wells water of the best quality is
readily had. Besides these. the streams
that now run through that territory are
also to be collected for the use of the city.
The waters of Reedy branch and of Tiber
creek may also be conveyed to the Presi-
dents house; for the source of Tiber creek
is elevated about two hundred and thirty
six feet above the level of the tide in the said
! creek and the perpendicular height Of the
ground which the capital is to stand is
seventy-five feet above the level of the tide
| in the same. The water of Tiber creek may
| therefore be conveyed to the capital. and
after watering that part of the city may b.
destined to other useful purposes.
| The Eastern branch is one of the safest
| and most commodious harbors in America
| being sufficiently deep for the largest SHIPS
| for about four miles above its mouth, while
| the channel lies close along the edge of The
| city. and affords large and capacious har-
| Dor.
| The Potomac, although only navigable
| for small craft for Il considerable distance
| from it's banks next to the city. excepting
| about half a mile above the junction of the
| rivers, will, nevertheless. afford capacious
summer harbor, as an immense number of
shin, ride In the channel
| site to and below the city.
Eligibility of Location.
| The city. being situated upon the great
! post road. exactly equidistant from the
northern and southern extremties of the
Union, and nearly from the Atlantic
| ocean to the Ohio river. upon the best nav
| igation. in the midst of the richest CONNER
cal territory in America. and commanding
the most extensive internal resources, is by
far the most eligible situation for the resi-
dence of Congress; and as 1t Is now press
ing forward by the public-spirited enter
prise Of the people of the United States and
| by foreigners, ii will grow up with degree
nails of cities, and will probably soon be-
| come the admiration Of the world and one
of the principal emporiums Of American
commerce
The inland navigation Of the Potomac is
So far advanced that craft loaded with
produce now come down that river and its
several branches from upward of one hum
dred and eighty miles to the Great Fails.
which are within fourteen miles of the new
city. The canals at the Great and Little
Falls are nearly completed and the locks
i'll such forwardness that in the course rt
TIE present year the navigation will DE
entirely opened between tidewater and the
head branches Of the Potomac, which Will
produce communication by water between
tn. city of Washington and the interior
parts of Virginia and Maryland by means
Of ha hn n6 6nah ha n
BraEch. Opecan, Cape Capon Patterson s
creek, Conococheague, and Monocacy for up
ward of 200 miles, through one of the most
healthy. pleasant and fertile regions in
America, producing, in vast abundance to-
bacco of superior quality, hemp, Indian
corn, wheat and other small grain, with
fruit and vegetables peculiar to America in
vast abundance. and equal in quality to any
in the United States.
The lands upon the Potomac above the
city Of Washington, all around 1t. and for
sixty miles below, are high and dry,
aboundng with innumerable springs of ex-
cellent water, and are we'll covered with
large timber of various kinds. a few
miles below the city. upon the banks of
the Potomac, are inexhaustible mountains
of excellent free-Stone of the white and
red Portland kinds, oe which the public edi-
fees In the city are now building Above
the city, also upon the banks of the river
are immense quantities of excellent coal,
limestone and marble with blue slate of
the best quality.
The founding of this city in such an eligi-
BILE situation, and upon such a liberal and
elegant plan. will by future generations be
| considered as high proof Of the judgment
and wisdom of the present government of
the United States, and while its name will
keep fresh in mind to the end Of time. the
many virtues and amicabe qualities of the
President the city itself will be a standing
monument of their public spirit.
Perfection of the City Plans.
The plan Of the city agreeaby to the d.
rections of the President Of the United
States was designed and drawn by the cele-
brated Major L'Enfant and Is an incon-
ceivable Improvement upon all others, COM
b ming not only convenience. regularity, ele-
gaEce of prospect. and free circula ton of
air. but everything grand and beautiful tha,
can possibly be introduced into a city.
The city is divided into squares or grand
divisions by the streets running due north
south, east and west, which form the
groundwork Of the plan. However from
the Capitol, the Presidents house and some
Of the important areas in the city, run
transverse avenues diagonal streets
from one material object to another, which
not only produce a variety of charming
prospects. but remove that insipid sameness