The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-06
THE DISTRICT RECORDS.
The Commissioners Answer the En-
quiry of senator Mcmillan.

bhhF VI CfhaAbT
The District Commissioners yesterday
replied to the request Of Senator Mcmillan
Chairman Of the Senate Committee of the
District OF Columbia, relative TO the papers
and documents which originally formed a
part OF the early history OF Washington
under the administration Of the first Com
missioners. These papers, as is we'll
known, are in the custody Of the Surveyor
OF the District and the motive Of Senator
McMillan's enquiry was not only to ascer-
tain the number and character OF the pa
pers in question, but to learn by what au-
thority they were in the hands OF the Sur
| veyor instead of in the archives of the
| War Department.
In their reply the Commissioners trans
NIT report from the District Assessor
naming the papers and documents, as fol-
lows:
-Four books. Records Of Squares copies
Of original records, showing division and
allotment between the United States Com
missioners and the original proprietors
Twenty original sheets OF Records Of
Squares, as copied in books above referred
TO.
W. Sub-uiNlSloA HNOkS. M ana Is,
/ containing subdivisions Of original lots in
different squares and extending over the
period from 1909 TO 1860
'One book of Reservations. containing
| divisions of the low grounds into lots and
squares, a, B, c, d, and in reservations
10. H. and -
-Four books OF proceedings Of the Com,
missioners Of low grounds under act of
Congress tStats- at Large, vol 3, p. 69iD.
Original deeds Of lots in low grounds
"One book Of Surveyors returns OF
squares.
"one book OF register OF squares.
-Four books OF correspondence of the
original Commissioners, being copies of
the original letters made by order OF the
Surveyor, between 1871 and 1874.
"One book of Nicholas Kings grades.
"One book of Coyle's grades being copies
made from the original sheets by an en-
ploye Of the Surveyors Office.
"Ellicott's map OF the outlines OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Map of levels in sections. marked N
King. Surveyor 1881"
With reference to the legal authority by
which these books and papers are retained
in the custody OF the Surveyor OF the Dis
trict, the Commissioners refer Senator Nc
MILAN to the last annual report of the En-
gineer's Department, pages $40 and 143,
where the law upon the subject is record
ed. II appears from the statues there
quoted that the law relating to the matter
is contained principally in two acts OF Con-
eress, one enacted in 1909 and the other IN
1s4S. while acts OF 1886 and 1895 show the
legal continuity of the Surveyor OF the Dis
trict in office.
The act of Congress approved January
j. 1909. prescribes the duties Of the Sur
veyor OF Washington and proceeds as fol-
lows:
"All records Of the division Of squares
and lots heretofore made between the pub
lie and original proprietors, or which are
authorized by this act shall be kept in
the Office of the Surveyor Of the City Of
Washington, and all transcripts therefrom.
certified by him. shall be evidence equally
valid with the certified transcripts from |
the Keeper of the Office for Recording |
Deeds for the conveyance Of land in the |
county Of Washington"
The act of Congress approved May II, |
1913. In which the charter of the city was |
amended, provided that "the Office of the !
Surveyor Of the City OF Washington shall |
be the legal Office of record Of the plats /
OF all the property in the city Of Wash
ington."
The Surveyor of the District in his re-
port to the Commissioners has this to say
the point In question:
In view Of the provisions Of the 5ets
Of 1909 and Of 1913 It seems very difficult
10 reach any other conclusion than that the
office OF the Surveyor is the proper reposi-
tory Of all the original records affecting
n any way the determination OF the loca-
ion and boundaries OF any parcel OF land
within the city of Washington, whether
public or private"