Evening star., 1900-12-08
Friction Engendered in Laying Out
the Federal City.
Observation-Disclosures
A Letter by Him on L'Enfant's
Eratic Ways.
AN INTERESTING RELIC

appointed in charge of the work by Presi-
dent Washington and l. Enfant, the French
engineer who had been selected by the first
President to prepare plan for laying out
the new city. AS is well known, the in
firmities of the temper of l. L'Enfant finally
resulted in his removal by Washington
from his position in connection with the
city The preliminary situation to this
final action is well set forth in the follow
ing letter from Washington. a copy Of
which has been furnished The Star by Mr..
Addison B. Atkins the Washington corre-
spondent of the Brooklyn Eagle, who owns
the original, which was written to his
great-grandfather. DR.. David Stuart of
Chantilly. Va:
Philadelphia. November 20, 1871.
Dear Sir: l had heard before the receipt
Of your letter of the 29th of October and
with a degree of surprise and concern not
easy to be expressed. that Major L Enfant
had refused the map of the federal city
when it was requested by the commission
ers for the satisfaction Of the purchasers
at sale. 1t is much to be regretted, how
ever common the case is, that men who
possess talents which fit them for peculiar
purposes should almost invariably be under
the influence of erratic dispositions, or are
scottish, idle or possessed of some other dis
qualification by which they plague all those
with whom they are concerned. But ala
not expect to have met with such perverse-
ness in Major l. Enfant as his late conduct
exhibited. Since my first knowledge OF
this gentlemans abilities in the line of his
profession l have viewed him not only as
a scientific man, but one who added con-
siderable taste to professional knowledge,
and that for such employment as he is now
engaged in for projecting public works
and carrying them into effect he was better
qualified than any one who had come WITH
in my knowledge in this country, or, indeed,
in any other, the probability of obtaining
whom could be counted upon.
had no doubt at the same time that TINS
was the light In which he considered him.
self, and. of course, that he would be so
tenacious of his plans as to conceive they
would be marred IL they underwent any
change or alteration but did not suppose
that he would have interfered further In
the mode of selling the lots. than by giving
an opinion with his reason in support of it
and this knowledge 1t might be well always
to have-as the latter would stamp the
proprety, or show the futility of it. To ad-
wise this l am the more inclined as l am
persuaded that all those who have ny
agency In the business have the same OBJ
jects in view although they may differ in
sentiment with respect to the mode of exc
cution. Because, from source even less
productive than L'Enfant's may flow ideas
that are capable Of improvement-and be-
cause have heard that Ellicot, who Is also
a man of uncommon talents in his way and
Of a more placid temper, has intimated that
no Information had been required either
from him or L'Enfant on some point or
points q do not now particularly reme.l-
competent to give. have no other mo-
tive for mentioning that latter circum-
stance than merely to show that the feel
ings of such men are always alive, and
where their assistance Is essentfais that it Is
policy to humor them. or to put On the ap-
pearance of doing it I have however. since
have come to the knowledge of Major
LEnfant's refusal OF the map, at the sale,
=:
channel. though not an official one as yet
(furtner than what passed between US
previous to the sale at Mount Vermont, that
he must In future look to the commissioners
for directions. That having laid the foun-
dation Of this grand design. the superstruc-
ture depended upon them. That was per-
fectly satisfied his plans and opinions would
have due weight if properly offered and eX-
planned. That if the choice Of commission
ers was again to be made. l could not
please myself better, or hit upon those who
had the measure more at heart or better
disposed to accommodate the various in
terests and persons concerned, and that 1t
would give me great concern to see good
ly prospect clouded by impediments which
might be thrown in the way, or injured by
disagreements which would only serve to
keep alive the hopes of those who are ene-
mics to the plan. But that you may not in
fer from hence he has expressed any dis
satisfaction at the CONDUCT OF the commits
sioners toward him, At is act of justice
ueCldfe tldl L never nave learu,
directly or indirectly, that he has expressed
any. His pertinacity would. l am persuad-
ed. be the same in all cases, and to all
men. He conceived or would have others
believe. that the sale was promoted by
Withholding the general map. and thereby
the means of comparison; but have caused
it to be signited to him, that l am of diff
ferent opinion. and that 1t Is much easier
to impede than to force a sale, none who
knew what they were about would be in
duced to buy-to borrow an old adage-"a
pig in a poke"
There has been something very unac-
cOuntable in the conduct of the engraver
yet l cannot be of opinion the delays were
occasioned by L'Enfant. AS soon, however
as correct draught of the city is prepared
the same or some other person shall be
pressed to the execution. l say "A correct
draught," because L have understood that
Mr.. Eliicot has given it as his opinion it
was lucky that engravings did not come
out from the first plan, inasmuch as they
would not have been so perfectly exact as
to have justified sale Of them
1t Is OF great Importance, in my opinion
that the city should be laid out into
squares and lots. with all the dispatch that
the nature and accuracy of the work will
admit: and 1t is the. opinion of intelligent
and wel-lnformed men. not in this city,
who are friends Of the measure, that for
this purpose and to accommodate the two
burg, 1t would be advisable. rather than
delay another public sale until the whole
can be completed, to lay all the ground
Into squares which shall be west of the
avenue leading from Georgetown to the
Presidents house-thence by the avenue to
the House for Congressman thence by
proper avenue Il have not the plan by me
to say which, to the Eastern branch, com
pretending the range of squares next to
and binding on the said avenues on the
east side, and to appoint early day for
the sale as moraa certainty Of their com
plet1on will warrant. ~
When l speak Of thesimportance of dis
patch, 1t does not proceed from any doubt
l harbor that thei enemies of the meas
ure can shake the establishment Of IT. for
1t Is with pleasure add as my opinion
that the roots Of the Permanent seat are
penetrating deep. and spreading far and
wide. The eastern states are not only get
ting more and more reconciled to the meas
ure. but are beginning to view it in a more
advantageous light as it respects their mol
icy and interests, and some members from
that quarter who owere its bitterest foes.
while the question: was pending in Con-
gress have now declared in uneouiyocal
terms to various people and at various
times that II attempts should be made to
repeal the law they would give 1t every on
p sition IN their power
Ihese sentiments Of the eastern neonIe
being pretty much known, will am per-
suaded. arrest the design IL a repeal had
been contemplated. but 1t will not pre-
4sI-