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

ers relative TO these PORTIONS OF ground,
was the power of non-insertion but 1t ap-
pears to me that their not having been
inserted. leaves them exactly in the same
predieament 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 26th OF December. 1886,
subject to payment, and consequently to
public appropriation.
IF no objection can be made to this.
which. indeed, is warranted by the deeds of
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. Ii has been justly
observed in your letter last quoted that
they might with equal propriety ask pay
ment for streets, for these spaces differ In
nothing from the avenues but in extent
and every avenue might. by parity Of claim,
be reduced TO street or be charged to
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
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 VINO
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 impositions by purchasing lots
apparently on open areas on the. map. but
in reality only fronting stables or greater
nuisances; for these lots are too small to
admit OF houses all around and convent
ences within; so that 1t appears not only
against the plan of the city to insert them
(unless for public appropriations. which |
should advocated. but it 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- sirs with sincere
regard. your very respectful friend. ETC..
WILLIAM THORNTON.
General Washington
General washington'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 / must beg leave to premise
that when / left the chair of government it
was with a determination not to inter-
NEEDLE in any public matter which did not
Immediately concern me. and that | have
felt no disposition since to alter this de-
termination. But as you have requested
that | would give you my ideas on a GER
tain point which seems to have occupied
the attention of the Board of Commission
ers, and on which | presume my letters to
that body whilst | had the honor to ad-
minister the GovernmenD 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 fact 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 it,
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 d.
rect the judgment of foreigners and Others
who could not on the premises, make a
choice.
at 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 /
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 seruple to complain of both
the deception and injury.
But | am straying from my purpose
which was no more than simply to say (if
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 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, ESD
rhe 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
have been carried to the extreme |
point of such lots. At all events it is to |
be inferred from the extracts quoted that |
Washingtous wishes in regard to one of |
the NEST important esthetic features of the |
city have not been fulfilled, and it is the |
of those proposing the plan de- !
scrbed to meet. even though it be at |
late date, the views of the great man after |
whom the Capital City is named.
FOR EXPOSITION VISITORS.