The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-22
CapitaI-Making
Early Fight Over the Seat
of the National Government.

early history Of the country. Washing
ton was inaugurated in New York, April
Soth, 17Ss. Almost Immediately there
arose an agitation for a permanent 10
cation for the capital and before the end
OF 17S9. House passed a bill locating the
capital on the Susquehanna; amended IN
the Senate TO the Delaware; House
agreed adding some minor amendment
and the bill went over the session. The
dispute over the location Of the CAPITA
was al times acrimonious and quite
threatened the union Many propositions
were considered. all with the distinct
plan where the United States would have
exclusive jurisdiction
maryland and Virginia legislatures Of
feed to code a district TO be located or
th5 Potomac above tide water, ten miles
square. Il was finally agreed 10 locate
the capital on the Potomac between tide
water and Conococheaque, a village with
az Indian name, now unknown This
passed the House, was amended IN the
Senate and came back 20 the House. II
was a game Of politics The east with
New York was opposed 10 the location
in the woods" on the Potomac. Gerry
Of Massachusetts, very effectively ridi-
cuIed the proposition 10 carry the cap
ttal Of 10 CouOcocheaqUe. But the game
was laid in politics and argument and
-idicuIe could not prevail over self-in-
terest- Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Virginia and the other states south were
e unit, except South Carolina, which was
divided. Pennsylvania was 10 have the
capital at Philadelphia for ten years;
Maryland and Virginia were TO divide
honors over the federal district. The
final action Of the House over the
amended Senate oil was a battle royal
When It was perceived that the bill could
not be beaten on its merits by argument,
the plan was TO delay it for the session.
There were fmperfections in the bill, but
its advocates resolved TO accept IT as it
fered. The opposition played selfshness
against seIfshnsss. To locate the capt.
tai on the Susquehanua or Delaware was
cut 81 the question and Pennsylvania
ctood for the temporary location. Della
tvst,e was played for Wilmington. which
vas lost Maryland was tempted by the
east bank Of the Potomac and then
10y Baltimore" these and all eleven
emendments were defeated and the cap
ital was located between tide water and
Two Of the SIX votes from Maryland were
IN the negative. IN the belief that If the
bin was defeated Baltimore would get
the capital. This determined but did not
end the strife. Six times after the seat
Of government was formally located in
Washington did the enemies try to re-
move it. The capital bill once a law,
Washington appointed commissioners and
sr
and then the capital city within the dis
trict. The capital was located on a hill
in the woods and in the vicinity were
only two habitable residences, Dan Cor
rolls and Nathy Y0ung's
From the beginning there were con-
bubbles. Those who said the
states had no right to transfer their ju-
risdiction over the inhabitants Of the dis |
trict, and thus deprive them of their |
right Of representation. or voice, in the |
without their consent. The |
exclusive right to govern the district IS /
By the constitution lodged in Congress. !
The answers 70 this was the people were !
willing 10 acquiesce. and that was con- |
sent Ere long another proposition arose /
Of great interest TO the constitutional /
9ui05lers. After the government had been |
naugurated = great many questions came |
before Congress respecting the uumer- |
BUS rights Of Alexandria and George
town; questions affecting the navigation /
Of the Pacomac, making wharves, build /
ing acqueducts and so forth; in fine much /
tine was taken in Congress to look after |
these local matters and granting powers /
y local taxation for public improvements
50 1t was proposed TO cede back 10 the /
-tates the district except the capital city. /
Then the quhble-s took the other horn
# the dilemma. The people had acQuiesed |
n the concession from the state 10 the /
1nion and the union had no right to ret
-ocede 10 the states without the con-
sent OF the people OF the district and /
he resolution was defeated. Later the
Virginia portion was retro-ceded. There
has never been a time from the cession
II the ten mile district 20 the union till
he Porto Ricsn tariff act that a man
sould not find some one to dispute over
he meaning Of the constitution.
The streets Of Washington are laid out
n a peculiar fashion. The city is divid-
d into four quarters at a point just east
# the capital North east, south east,
forth west and south west. The sReets
vest from capital street (north and
SOUTH ard designated by letters A 3,
te-. north and south from capital street
asst. and the line for capital street west.
lein- through the Mall q National Park
n addition 70 this there are avenues
forming parauebgrams with Peunsyl-
-an5a avuue for 4 side. II the court
louse IN Wichita were assumed 70 he
ne White House and the Block residence
L the corner Of Hydraulic and Douglas
he Capital. and an avenue 10 feet wide
MADE from The one to the0ther. you
you'd have Pennsylvania avenue; extend
his q Riverside park and you have
Georgetown. Divide the city into four
.-arters by Hydraulic and Douglas av-
52ues and you have Washington. The
-y is mainly north west. Project New
-5rE avenue from the capital north west
il the two cross at right angles and
ou have another Of the street lines not
,aGe by the compass. Project Msssa-
huset-s avenue parallel with PennsyI-
ANA avenue and one-haIf mile from il |
o the north and YOU have the funda-
nental plan Of Washington city. Imagine |
he squares and triaugles this plan would /
aake and that at the avenue frtersec-
Ions are little parks and statues and you
ave a feature Of picturesque Washing
On
The bronze scatuary OF out OF door I
Washington IS @ striking feature O: the ,
tty In these times q NGilitarism one IS (
tack with The martial bearing OF the ,
aShirzco1 s-acuary. 7 was prone 10
Sk myself L the talk q expansion. san |
uan fil,I Manila Bay. and Santiago. had
sused the Washington statuary TO put
z its military clothes Georse Wash