The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-15
LANDMARKS OF THE CITY
Meridian and C0?ners.ones of the
Capital.
The First Among Things That Were
md the Second Almost ObIIternted
-congressionaI work Establishing
District Limits and Washington.
PROCLAMATION Changing Location.

OF the old District OF Columbia. the on
known as the Cornerstone and III
other the meridian stone."s the latter 1
. entirely obliterated and the former nearI
So
The Cornerstone" is still located wher,
, 1t was erected April 10, 1871, near Jones
Point. in the vicinity of Alexandria. bul
the lighthouse recently built there has in.
, corporated it within its wall so that II
Is in no wise dlstinguishable.
The act Of Congress directing that this
District OF ten miles square should b.
located "on the river Potomac. a, soma
place between the mouths OF the Eastern
Branch and Connogocheague,r was found
by President Washington I, put the Dfs-
trict too far above the river, and in bis
proclamation OF January "a, 1871. he pro-
vided for portion OF this district in the
following language: II do hereby declare
and make known that the location CT one
part Of said district OF ten miles SQUARE
shall be found by running four lines OF
| experiment in the following manner" etc
Congress recognizing the business of
Washington's view Of the matter. yassed
an amendatory act March 3, 1871. to the
effect that 1t shall be lawful for the
President to make any part OF the territory
| below the said limit and above the mouth
| OF Hunting Creek part of the said dis
trict, so as to include convenient par;
OF the Eastern Branch and the lands lying
on the lower side thereof, and also the
town of Alexandria" Then, on March 80,
1871, the President issued his proclama-
ton Tor the purpose OF amending and
completing the location of the whole dis
trict, in which the following passage oc-
ours:
Now. therefore, for the purpose Of
amending and completing the location of
| the whole of said territory of ten miles
| square. In conformity with the said
amendatory act Of Congress. I do hereby
declare and make known that the whole
Of said territory shall be located and in
Guided within the following lines, that Is
to say, beginning at Jones' Point and at
an angle in the Outside Of forty five de-
grees west Of north, and running in a
direct line ten miles from the first line;
then. beginning again at the same Jones'
Point and running another direct line at
a right angle from the first across the
Potomac ten miles for the second line;
then. from the determinations OF the first
and second lines. running two other
direct lines OF ten miles each, the one
crossing the Eastern Branch aforesaid,
and the other the Potomac, and meeting
each ether in a point
The commissioners appointed By Presi-
dent Washington January %. 1871. to
locate, define. and limit the Federal Dis
trict were Gov. Thomas Johnson, OF Mary
land; Hon. Daniel Carroll. OF the same
State, and Dr. David Stuart. of Virginia.
The first meeting Of these commissioners
was held at Georgetown, April H. 1921,
and three days later the ceremony cot lay
ing the cornerstone OF the new District
was conducted at Jones' Point. on which
occasion the following address was made
By Rev. James Muir:
"Amiable it is for brethren to dwell to-
gether in unity; it is more refreshing
than the dews on Hermon's Hill. May
this stone long commemorate the good
ness OF God. in those uncommon events
which have given America place among
nations Under this stone may jealousy
and selfishness be forever buried. From
this stone may a superstructure arise
whose glory. whose magniicence. whose
stability unequaled hitherto. shall
tonish the world and invite even the
savage OF the wilderness to shelter
under it's roof
The stone itself is about two feet high
and one foot square. From 1t was located
by Andrew Ellicott who was entrusted
with the carrying out OF L'Enfant's plan.
the meridianai centre line OF the District.
This line extended through the White
House north, along the centre Of Sixteenth
Street. and thence over Peters Hill. af-
terward called Meridian Hill. TO the inter-
section of the diagonal lines at the north
point of the District OF Columbia. about
one mile due west from Silver Springs.
Md Upon this line. about eighty yards
south OF the old standpipe. and near the
brow of the HILL was the house Of Commo-
dore David Porter the entrance door OF
which directly faced that OF the White
House. The farm upon which this man
sion stood was long known Meridian
Hill farm. On the edge Of the south lawn.
in close proximity to tps mansion. was
placed the meridian ste4e." This stone
high.
The north edge of it was circular. and
upon it was afterward placed brass sun
dial. From this stone Meridian Hill re-
,eived Its name.
Upon the extension of Sixteenth Street
md the removal of the hill the stone was
taken away by property owner. Who
used it as a carriage step in front OF his
premises on Fourteenth and r Streets.
o know. THE line crossing this meridian
inc at right angles and joining the two
'emaining corners of the rectangle COM
'rising the old District limits. extends
vest across the Potomac, passes near old
Fort Corcoran, and meets the angle of
he boundary lines near Falls Church."
IS point OF intersection with the meri-
lanai line being within a stones throw
Il the Washington Monument Eastward.
ha r0tt ~ ba
capitol, and on to the meeting OF the dag
mails at the eastern point Of the District.
Ibout three miles east OF Benning bridge.
At the crossing OF these centre lines.
lear the Washington Monument should
,e found the landmark Indicating the ex-
let centre Of the District. 1t was called
he jefferson stone. and. although there
5 nothing now to mark its location. 1t
itoci about one hundred and fifty yards
northwest OF the monument, on what was
he bank of the old Tiber Creek. II had
|. blue rock foundation. which was six
eet high on the creek side. and was COW
red by a huge sandstone cap. abou, FIVE
eet square and eight inches thick. This
ap stone and part OF the foundation were
emoved in 1872. by order OF General Bah
ock. Commissioner OF Public Buildings
nd Grounds. through a mistake as to its
ientity, and what remained was covered
p by earth several feet deep when the
oadway and grounds were made. 1t is
n the east side OF the road, between the
sh ponds and the intersection of Vir-
mia Avenue
There was another old landmark in the
nape of q stone the location of which II
Interesting TO note. This was the Cap
oil stone that stood little south OF
he Washington Monument, and about
ghty-five yards to the west. 1t was
NrntA ting nha